Mar 24 - Cocaine Dealer Jailed
A 24-year-old man who was addicted to cocaine since he was a teenager was sentenced yesterday to one year in prison for possession with intent to supply more than 5 grams of cocaine.
Jolan Dyer, of Tank Ramp, appeared at the Supreme Court after pleading guilty to one count of possession with intent to supply 5.934 grams of cocaine, one count of possession of 5.934 grams of cocaine and one count of possession of 88.76 grams of cannabis resin.
The Crown heard how the defendant was stopped by the Royal Gibraltar Police’s drugs squad in October 2014. Dyer was found to have a white powder, which later tested positive for cocaine, and some cannabis resin in his possession.
He was taken to New Mole House Police Station for questioning and was subsequently charged.
Appearing for Dyer, defence lawyer John Viales said his client was addicted to the drugs and was suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder. He said he was holding on to the drugs for a dealer, and was told that he could either keep them for his own consumption or sell them to others to pay off debts. Mr Viales said it was naivety and exploitation that drove his client to supply drugs to help repay his debts.
Mr Viales explained that his client has since overcome his addiction and has shown remorse. Following the arrest he entered a rehab programme and has started working.
While sentencing, Puisne Judge Karen Rammage Prescott said: “This was a historic and entrenched addiction to cocaine which spiralled out of control while you spiralled into debt.”
As it was his first offence, and as the probation officers agreed that he wasn’t likely to re-offend, Ms Justice Rammage Prescott sentenced him to 18 months in prison for possession with intent to supply the cocaine, which was reduced to 12 months in light of his early guilty plea.
There was no separate penalty for the possession charges, and she ordered the drugs to be destroyed.
Ishbel Armstrong appeared for the Crown.
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