AG v Watts [2019] JRC 021 (11 February 2019)

JUDGMENT THE bAILIFF: 1. Mr Watts, you are here to be sentenced on an Indictment containing one charge only namely, being knowingly concerned in the evasion on the prohibition of importing controlled drugs into the Island namely, cocaine. The amount involved had a weight of 26.47 grams and a street value in Jersey of approximately £2,200 to £2,800.

2. Cocaine is a Class A drug and the sentencing policy of this Court is well established as will have been explained to you by your counsel. We have taken a starting point of 8 years' imprisonment in accordance with the authorities and that indeed has not been challenged, and we have listened carefully to the mitigation which your counsel has put forward on your behalf. We are going to reduce the sentence to 5 years' imprisonment, as has been requested.

3. We noted, with sadness that you apparently took up cocaine when you were in custody in the United Kingdom. If you think a little, you will realise that ten years at the age of 28, ten years' imprisonment you have not served it all, but 10 years' imprisonment since you attained majority is a considerable concession to make to drug trafficking and drug taking and the court expresses the hope that in serving your sentence over here that you will beat the habit and be able to get yourself organised because by the time you are released you will still have the whole of your life ahead of you and we earnestly suggest that you should try and do that.

4. We sentence you to 5 years' imprisonment and the drugs are to be forfeited and destroyed. Authorities Rimmer and Ors v Attorney General [2001] JLR 373 . Page Last Updated: 02 Apr 2019 BAILII: Copyright Policy | Disclaimers | Privacy Policy | Feedback | Donate to BAILII