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Nov 09 - Local Man Jailed For Four Years In Cocaine Case

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A grandfather-of-five has been sentenced to four years in prison for possession with intent to supply more than 60g of cocaine with a street value of more than £3,500.

This morning, the Crown heard how Angel Ressa, of Maidstone House in Laguna Estate, was a widower who became addicted to alcohol, then drugs and subsequently cocaine after his wife of 44 years passed away from cancer.

A psychologist report ordered by his defence counsel in September earlier this year revealed Ressa was suffering from depression and addiction.

Appearing for his client at the Supreme Court, Francis Borastero-Porter explained that his client had entered an early guilty plea after his arrest in July. The Crown heard Ressa had started to sell the drug to fund his own addiction.

Mr Borastero-Porter said his four children only found out about his cocaine use after his arrest. After being remanded in custody in September, he has shown remorse and attended Narcotics Anonymous meetings. He has also been seen by a psychologist and has started a 12-step programme to tackle his addiction.

While sentencing, the Chief Justice Anthony Dudley said he was taking the defendant’s remorse, his early guilty plea and his long-standing addiction into consideration.

He added: “In the context of street dealing, 62g is an unusually high amount of cocaine.”

The incident dates back to the 24th July, earlier this year, when Ressa was stopped by Royal Gibraltar Police officers in the Marina Bay area on suspicion of possession of drugs. After a search was carried out, he was found to be carrying 12 individual wrappers, weighing 12 grams, of they suspected to be cocaine. Officers also carried out a search in his home, and found a further 50g of cocaine, money, drug paraphernalia and a mobile phone.

Ressa was taken to New Mole House Police Station where he was charged with possession, and possession with intent to supply.

Chief Justice Dudley sentenced Ressa to four years in prison for one count of possession with intent to supply, and no separate penalty for possession. He ordered the drugs to be destroyed, and said that in the future, any case involving more than 20g of cocaine would have to be tested for purity.

Carl Ramagge appeared for the Crown.



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