Ecstasy and cannabis dealer imprisoned for four years

Friday 26 August 2016

Liverpool-born Daniel King was handed a four year jail sentence yesterday by the Royal Court after admitting two counts of possession with intent to supply ecstasy and cannabis and one count of possession of cannabis.

King, 33, was told he had to “change his behaviour” in future by Bailiff William Bailhache, who sentenced him to four years imprisonment.

Police attended King’s partner’s flat at Liberation Court on February 19th and on arrival the defendant ran into the bathroom and dropped a plastic bag which contained a quantity of pills, suspected to be MDMA, or ecstasy. 

Crown Advocate Sara O’Donnell said the 130 tablets were analysed and were found to be ecstasy, while 94 grams of cannabis was found in the bedroom and 326 milligrams in the bathroom.   

Mrs O’Donnell said: A drugs expert estimates that the 130 tablets would have had a street value in Jersey of approximately £1,950 and the cannabis resin would have had a street value of between £1,410 and £1,880. 

“King stated the bag had been given to him by a friend and he denied knowing what the tablets were, although he did say he suspected they were ecstasy. He intended to return the tablets to his friend. He refused to name his friend.”

King, who had seven previous convictions for 23 offences, including two previous drugs offences.

Defending Advocate Edward Drummond said: “A friend simply left drugs at King’s girlfriend’s flat and King had a choice. He could have thrown them away or he could have called contacted the police. He didn’t. You don’t need friends like that, who put you into prison. 

“The defendant entered an early plea of guilty. He has not got a great record but he has no previous convictions for drug trafficking offences.    

“He left prison last year and got a job but lost the job and fell in with a bad crowd. He fully regrets what he has done. He wants to turn his life around and he is a doting father to his daughters.”

Sentencing King to four years in jail, Bailiff William Bailhache said: You have some real thinking to do while you are in prison.”