Dealer given three year jail sentence

Friday 23 September 2016

A plasterer, who absconded from the Island earlier this year while awaiting trial, has been jailed for three years after admitting three drugs offences.

Scottish-born James Derrick, 33, was sentenced on Wednesday after the Royal Court heard he admitted possession of cocaine and two charges of supplying the drug.

A quantity of cocaine and £600 in cash was found in Derrick’s back pocket when he was arrested on August 5th last year in Seaton Lane by police officers. 

Derrick told officers “Why are you nicking me for possession with intent to supply when it’s just two grammes of coke, it’s for personal use?”

Later on in the interview Derrick said: “You’ve done whatever you’re going to do. Charge me or whatever, I can’t be arsed. It’s doing my nut now.”

Crown Advocate Conrad Yates said: “A search warrant was issued for his address in Pierson Road and a number of items were seized including £4,530 in cash from under the bed. Also seized was a plastic wrap containing 0.97 grams of cocaine.”

The total street value of cocaine found on Derrick, either in his flat or on his person, was £335. 

Advocate Yates added: “On September 18th, the defendant was re-interviewed. The phone had been found to contain various messages suggesting involvement in drug trafficking. 

“When officers put it to the defendant that the conversations were consistent with the sale of cocaine, the defendant responded ‘It’s your opinion mate’ and denied that the text messages were anything to do with drugs.”

A trial date for Derrick was set for April 18th at the Royal Court and the defendant was granted bail. Derrick absconded from the Island, returning on the eve of the trial. 

Advocate Yates said: “The aggravating features are that the defendant absconded while on bail This caused a delay and showed disregard for bail conditions imposed by this court.

An unsuccessful attempt was made to secure his arrest while he was in Scotland.”

Defending Advocate Niall MacDonald said Derrick had no previous convictions for drugs-related offences and voluntarily gave himself up to police officers when he returned to the Island. 

Advocate MacDonald said: “There is a significant amount of mitigation in his favour. 

“This was a very small quantity of cocaine and it was at the bottom end of supplying between adults who were already using cocaine. He was at the lowest end of the chain. 

“After the death of his father in 2015 he turned to drugs and alcohol as an inappropriate coping mechanism for his grief. He bought cocaine for himself and shared it with friends. 

“He has worked for four and a half years on zero hours contracts and has a very strong work ethic. He accepts responsibility for his behaviour and the guilty pleas he has entered underlines his remorse. 

“He is entitled to one last chance to overcome his addiction to alcohol and drugs. He has reached the crossroads of his life.”

In sentencing Derrick to three years in prison, Deputy Bailiff Tim Le Cocq said: “The Crown accepts this was for the social supply of drugs and we agree with that conclusion. 

“We note that you absconded while on bail but that was mitigated somewhat by the fact that you returned voluntarily.”