Man jailed for smuggling cocaine into Jersey

Monday 25 June 2018

Jersey's Royal Court has sentenced a 49-year-old man to five-and-a-half years in prison for attempting to bring £5,000 of cocaine into the island.

Darren Leon Spencer Dorrington, who's originally from Bristol, was sentenced earlier today.

The Court heard that on 16 February 2018, Dorrington attempted to bring in almost 60g of cocaine, which has a street value of around £5,000, but was stopped by Customs Officers after arriving on a Flybe flight from Bristol. 

Crown Advocate Matthew Maletroit said Dorrington had run up gambling debts, and the person he owed would “knock something off the bill” if he delivered the package of drugs to the island. He didn’t, however, name anyone else involved.

Dorrington pleaded guilty to the charges when he appeared in the Magistrate’s Court in February.

Defending him Advocate Adam Harrison said the pressure Dorrington was under was a “decisive factor” in why he committed the crime. He added Dorrington was suffering with arthritis which was affecting his ability to work as a freelance boxing trainer.

Dorrington has 15 previous convictions, however, none were drug related. Advocate Harrison noted that Dorrington has been involved in “charitable endeavours” such as coaching young children and raising money for a Bristol hospice. He apologised for his actions in a letter to the court.

Deputy Bailiff Tim Le Cocq said Dorrington's previous convictions were “not a good record," but added that his references “speak well” of Dorrington and are “genuine”

However, he said he “played a vital role” in the operation by acting as the courier:  “You did not appear to pay any regard to the effect of cocaine on the people of Jersey.”

Dorrington was handed a five-and-a-half-year sentence and the court ordered the destruction of the drugs.