Cocaine couriers caught on A500 are jailed
TWO men have been jailed for two years after they acted as couriers of cocaine worth upto £15,000.
Nicholas Berrisford and Donovan Molloy were stopped on the A500 bringing the class A drug into the Potteries from Manchester on September 16 last year.
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Prosecutor Heather Chamberlin yesterday told Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court Berrisford was the driver and Molloy the passenger.
"They were both searched at the police station. Molloy said he had cocaine in his underwear and he produced a lump of cocaine, 27.9 grams, with a 73 per cent purity," said Miss Chamberlin.
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The court heard Berrisford was foundwith 27.7 grams of cocaine with a 74 per cent purity.
Both packages had a value of between £3,920 and £7,840.
The defendants' homes were searched and police found a set of digital scales in the laundry room at Molloy's address. And cannabis vegetation worth £115 was found at Berrisford's house.
Berrisford, aged 25, of Knypersley Road, Norton, and Molloy, aged 25, of Willowbrook Walk, Norton Heights, pleaded guilty to possession of cocaine with intent to supply. Berrisford also admitted possession of cannabis.
Paul Cliff, mitigating for Berrisford, said his client acted as a courier to repay a debt he accrued in relation to his own drug use.
But he said since his arrest Berrisford has made positive changes.
"He has stopped using illegal drugs, reduced his drinking and started to use the gym regularly," added Mr Cliff.
Robert Smith, representing Molloy, said his client experimented with cannabis at school which led to him using harder drugs.
"It has been the evil that pervaded his life," said Mr Smith.
He said Molloy had abstained from using cocaine for six or seven months.
"There was some pressure and an element of coercion to this offence," added Mr Smith.
"When faced with an offer he could not refuse from a main player, he felt he had no option but to comply."
Judge Robert Trevor-Jones said those who involve themselves in supplying class A drugs can expect to go to prison.
"Your cases are all too familiar," said the judge. "Because the two of you, some time ago, began to dabble with drugs, probably cannabis.
"Over time it turned to class A drugs and became one of the most addictive drugs, cocaine. Then, in turn, debts began to accumulate and that placed both of you in a vulnerable position as far as suppliers were concerned.
"You were asked to be couriers for significant amounts from Manchester back to Staffordshire. You were to receive gain, a reduction of debt to your supplier.
"In each case, almost an ounce of cocaine with a value of £8,000 if cut up on the streets. It is such an addictive drug. It causes misery, even worse. You crossed the line."
Judge Trevor-Jones added: "You both come from highly respectable and decent families. Both are young men of some talent. You are both in a settled relationship, both have expressed genuine remorse and you both have a decent work ethic. But there has to be an immediate custodial sentence for those involved in any form of supply of class A drugs."
Comments
by Yawns
Sunday, September 23 2012, 4:52PM
“Will you lot get a room yawns!”
by Redtone
Thursday, September 13 2012, 1:06AM
“I just get on with it... like I need approval from the 'normal folk'.
Best of luck with that money/job/mortgage con trick...”
by trinnie11
Wednesday, September 12 2012, 9:35PM
“has anyone thought that the only reason these lads did this was to make easy money if there wernt loads of people waiting to buy it then they cudnt sell it!!!”
by trinnie11
Wednesday, September 12 2012, 9:33PM
“has anyone thought that the real reason these lads did this was to make easy money nothing to do with all the comments”
by camband
Wednesday, September 12 2012, 9:14PM
“As usual, this, another 'drugs story' -is going around in circles, ever decreasing circles. Mostly it all depends on what bed you were born in.... and 'apples don't roll far from the tree' and all that jazz.
Becomes pointless really, because one side will never convince the other -especially if both are over a certain age when being set in ones' ways means just that -reasoned argument doesn't 'stand to reason'.
Reading the thread, I sometimes find myself -nodding off, until a word, not commonly used on here pops up -such as 'turgid'' -then the boredom factor kicks in and I find myself 'playing pun ball' and 'cross-over' words start to play havoc... so you get **** and rigid -coming out as a rather constipated stiff effort on the bogside..... and so on and so forth.
Pass the dutchie from the left hand side... OOPS, NEARLY FORGOT -how's the thread doin' on the speed cameras!”
by camband
Wednesday, September 12 2012, 8:59PM
“Fashionchops -you could be onto something here. Never thought of it that new light.”
by fissionchips
Wednesday, September 12 2012, 8:23PM
“Why don't stoners go for parity by campaigning to get fags and booze made illegal as well as cannabis?
Nah, they wouldn't would they, because condemning them is just a ruse as all that they really want is to lie in their stinking pit, pull a bit of cannabis from their bedside bush and then let it tell them that they aren't really scum and all without the fear of the BIG RED KEY calling.
Well they are scum, we all know it and will take fags, booze and cannabis in any quantity in order to forget their miserable snivelling selves.
Brain damaging cannabis will never be legalised because it lowers IQ, causes testicular cancer, lung cancer, paranoia and schizophrenia. The government of any colour would have to be as mad as stoners to legalise it and so they need educating to give up their disgusting addiction and rid the country of its cannabis problems.
COME ON STONERS GIVE UP!
Use this as a constant reminder to give up:
CANNABIS IS ILLEGAL
CANNABIS WILL ALWAYS BE ILLEGAL
STONERS ARE CRIMINALS
STONERS WILL ALWAYS BE CRIMINALS
CANNABIS IS THE FIRST STEP TO HARD DRUGS
CANNABIS HAS THEREFORE KILLED MILLIONS
STONERS ARE DANGEROUS SCUM
http://tinyurl.com/b3jwan
Aaannnndddddddd, sshhhhh, I'll say it quietly, "Stoners stink" :-) (-:”
by Johntoe
Wednesday, September 12 2012, 6:52PM
“Alberus, I often comment on drug related reports it's true, But they are FAR from the only reports I comment on,
I just have a problem with distorted facts and mass manipulation, For example this belief that some people have that 'some' drugs are illegal because our elected masters 'care' about our health and well being,
When in reality it's ALL about money and control, they 'allow' us to use alcohol, because that is their drug, the one they control and make money from, as they have done for centuries, they don't want us using other drugs, because there are too many, and they can neither control or make vast amounts of money in one area if 'demand' dissipates all over the place, the cost of implementing and enforcing scores of different rules, laws, and regulations would seriously cut into the profit margins,Nope, lets just keep the proles using 'our' drug, lets not upset the very powerful international drinks lobby,
Like you, I have witnessed first hand what drugs can do, they killed my father at 63, and I've lost several friends, ALL to alcohol, I have known several illegal drug users, as well as being an 'ex' one (cannabis only, no hard stuff like alcohol,) only known one person who died from illegal drug use though,If I have an opinion, I will express it, don't agree with it? fine, that's your right, it bores you?, that's cool, lots of stuff bores me,.... so I don't read it,”
by DJofTNE
Wednesday, September 12 2012, 6:15PM
“Another copy and paste from fission, he genuinely thinks he's educating us , what with mate, myths? Ha ha ha copy and paste that !!! Funny how you try to belittle people with your supposed intelligence but have yet to offer an argument of any sort, do you live under a bridge likte other trolls?”
by Alberus
Wednesday, September 12 2012, 5:54PM
“Er...I have previously commented on drug-related topics, having a personal and unwelcome connection with the aforementioned. On the other hand, I have no wish to make this subject my life's work nor the subject of a lengthy thesis unlike, it would seem, some other illustrious commentators on here.”