Drug allegations against Port Erin man discharged

A man accused of producing around £25,000 of cocaine to the Island has been freed after delays to lab tests in the UK.

Anthony John Richard Lyons of the Edremony Estate in Port Erin appeared before magistrates at Douglas Courthouse via a videolink from the Isle of Man prison.

He’d pleaded not guilty to producing the class A drug and possessing it with intent to supply after police found a package containing 245 grammes of cocaine at his home on January 13.

But the court heard although police tests on the Island had identified the powder as cocaine, there are significant delays in forensic testing done in the UK.

Prosecutor James Robinson said results weren’t expected until late April – something defence advocate David Reynolds said was unfair to his 33 year old client.

Magistrates discharged the allegations but said a further summons might be issued in future once test results were received.