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A five-strong gang behind a “conspiracy” to flood the island with over £500,000 of cannabis, and a dealer who planned to sell the drugs on, have been sent behind bars for a total of 45 years.
The squad of half-a-dozen middle-aged men received their sentences in the Royal Court on Thursday following the Police's 'Operation Raven' to topple a UK-based Organised Crime Group that viewed Jersey as a "soft target" for drug smuggling.
The Court heard how there were two arms to the smuggling operation - heroin and cannabis - and that one man, Alan Smitton (46), was across both.
He was jailed for 17 years - the largest sentence to be handed down by a Jersey court in years - while his heroin-smuggling co-conspirators, John Banach (49) and Simon Reeves (52) were imprisoned for 10-and-a-half years and seven-and-a-half years respectively.
Video: Four of the five-strong gang and their dealer connection leaving Court after hearing of their lengthy jail sentences.
Together, the trio brought in one of the largest hauls of the Class A drug the island had ever seen.
The cannabis gang, meanwhile, had six members who all played different roles in a conspiracy to supply the Class B drug across the island.
Alongside Smitton, Liverpudlians John O’Connor (61) and Neil Heskin (39), and Jerseymen David Arrowsmith (57), Paul Howes (59) and Norman Templeton-Brown (54) all appeared in the Royal Court on Thursday morning to learn how long they would be sent behind bars.
Crown Advocate Simon Thomas, Appearing for the prosecution, Crown Advocate Simon Thomas detailed the extensive surveillance operation by Jersey Police, who were monitoring the group of men and their interactions on the phone and in person between September and November 2017.
The plot, which linked Jersey and Merseyside, saw large “commercial quantities” of cannabis being stashed at different locations in the island – including Arrowsmith’s flat on the Inner Road and a garage owned by Templeton-Brown at Pied du Cotil on the way to Bellozane – with the intention to sell the drugs on to local dealers like Howes.
Pictured: The cannabis seized as a result of an extensive surveillance operation with the codename 'Raven' (States of Jersey Police).
The Court heard that it wasn't the first time that some of the men had been involved in a “criminal conspiracy” of this kind, with O’Connor, Heskin and Smitton having collaborated to bring cannabis into the island by boat back in 2006.
O’Connor, represented by Advocate Michael Haines, was described by the prosecution as the “organiser” of the affair, being the individual who the Crown say was “reporting directly to the ultimate owners of the drugs.” The Crown Advocate invited the Court to impose a sentence to imprison O’Connor for eight years and eight months.
His lawyer, however, characterised his role as more like that of a “foot soldier who followed orders” and made the case for a lower sentence of around six-and-a-half years’ imprisonment.
For Heskin, the Crown also sought a sentence of eight years and eight months due to his connections with the unknown individuals in Liverpool who would benefit from the drugs plot. Representing Heskin, Advocate Chris Hillier emphasised that his client was “not an organiser or a main director” of the scheme and that Heskin had “changed” in recent times – telling the Court that he now volunteers for Samaritans.
Smitton also fell into the category of being a “seasoned and professional drug dealer”, which warranted a sentence of 11-and-a-half years.
Pictured: (Left to right) Neil Heskin, John O'Connor, Alan Smitton, Norman Templeton-Brown, David Arrowsmith and Paul Howes.
On behalf of Smitton, Advocate Rebecca Morley-Kirk said her client was “not an organiser” and that his role was “limited to telephone calls and meetings.”
The largest quantity of drugs - namely 260 bars of cannabis resin weighing in at 24.4kg - were found at Arrowsmith’s address during a search on 9 November. These drugs were estimated to have a street value of between £390,000 and £520,000.
Advocate Adam Harrison told the Court that his Arrowsmith “joined the conspiracy at a relatively late stage” and he made references to his "good character" and “positive contribution” to Jersey to make the case for a lower sentence.
Advocate Paul Nicholls, representing Howes, who – unlike the others – was charged with a lesser charge of possession with the intent to supply rather than conspiracy as he only bought the drugs from the gang to sell them on in Jersey, also made arguments to the Court asking for a lower sentence than asked for by the Crown.
According to Templeton-Brown’s lawyer, Advocate James Bell, the 54-year-old's involvement in the plot didn't go beyond agreeing for his garage to be used to store the drugs whilst he was on holiday - something he described as “the most foolish decision he has ever made in his life.”
Pictured: The men were sentenced in the Royal Court.
Bailiff Sir William Bailhache – sitting with Jurats Averty, Christensen, Ramsden, Thomas and Pitman – handed down the men’s prison sentences, which were as follows:
Smitton was not sentenced at this occasion due to the further matter of the heroin conspiracy, for which he later received 17 years. The Bailiff informed the Court, however, that, had the cannabis plot been an isolated incident, Smitton would have been sentenced to nine years’ imprisonment.
Confiscation orders were also made in respect of O’Connor, Heskin and Howes so that they would surrender varying amounts of their 'tainted' cash.
The confiscation hearings for the other defendants were adjourned until 30 July of this year and an order for the forfeiture and destruction of the drugs was made.
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