Prison sentence for two men involved in “commercial” drugs operation

Monday 18 July 2016

Two men involved in what the prosecution has described as a “commercial operation” to import and sell cocaine have been sent to prison by Jersey’s Royal Court.

39-year-old Pole, Marcin Fiszer, will serve seven-and-a-half years behind bars after which he’ll be deported, and 23-year-old, Scot, Kieron Begley, five-and-a-half years.

Outlining the prosecution case Advocate Richard Pedley told the court Fiszer came to Jersey from St Malo on Saturday 19^th December last year and booked into a hotel in Kensington Place. He was later caught on CCTV meeting Begley at the nearby multi-storey car park in Patriotic Street. The two had become friends on an earlier visit.

The men were put under surveillance and followed to a flat at Le Marais. The occupant was away and had asked Begley to keep an eye on the property.

Later in the week the men were again seen going to the flat, and were arrested by customers officers as they left. Begley was found to have 53 grammes of cocaine, wrapped in plastic, hidden in his sock. Fiszer’s fingerprints were also on the package.

When the flat was searched officers found another 97 grammes of cocaine hidden under the bed, a set of electronic scales, cling film, and around £5,000 in a variety of currencies.

The court was told the combined 150 grammes of cocaine has an estimated Jersey street value of £18,000.

Begley’s defence lawyer, Advocate Robin Leeuwenburg, had asked the court to be lenient – and impose a community service order rather than a custodial sentence - saying his client was at a “crossroads” in his life. His fiancé has recently had a son, and a prison sentence could see the family break-up.

Advocate Leeuwenburg also stated his client was “not part of the criminal fraternity” and had only become involved in the deal because “it offered an opportunity to make some quick money." His client was under financial pressure because it was Christmas, and his partner was expecting their baby in January. In a letter to the court Begley wrote that he was “stupid, embarrassed and ashamed."

But Deputy Bailiff Tim Le Cocq, said he could only consider a non-custodial sentence under exceptional circumstances, and that there were none in this case. He told Begley “innocent third parties often suffer," and that potential offenders should bare this in mind when they are considering getting involved in criminal activities.

Fiszer’s lawyer, Advocate Jane Grace, said in sentencing her client the court should take into account that he had admitted his guilt, and that if the court was going to be lenient on Begley they should do the same for her client.

Sentencing, Deputy Bailiff Tim Le Cocq, said although Fiszer had admitted his guilt, he’d originally been uncooperative, and that once again there seemed to be no exceptional mitigating circumstances.