Father jailed after trying to protect son from 'drug barons' 

A drug courier from Merseyside has been jailed for two years after trying to protect his son from 'drug barons'. 

51-year-old Alex Conner was caught trying to import over 15 kilos of cannabis into the Isle of Man on June 17th.
 
The Huyton man was stopped and searched after disembarking the Mannanan - police found a secret compartment underneath the floor of the van he was driving. 

It contained cannabis bush and resin with a street value of almost £160,000. 

In police interview Connor denied knowledge of the drugs saying he'd bought the van at auction and left it on a friend's driveway unlocked and told officers he was on the Island to play golf. 

Conner later pleaded guilty to production of cannabis bush and resin and possession of the two substances with intent to supply. 

At Douglas Courthouse yesterday his basis of plea was read to the court - in it Conner said his son was heavily addicted to drugs, had accrued a substantial debt and was 'going downhill'. 

He said the drug barons had told his son they would kill him so he met with them to 'plead for his life' - Conner then came to an arrangement with them to transport drugs to the Island. 

Conner's advocate told the court he accepted responsibility for his actions but was under 'extreme pressure and coercion' at the time. 

Sentencing him Deemster Mongtomerie said Conner had little remorse for the offences as he believed he was helping his son saying 'you don't actually regret what you did'. 

As well as the custodial sentence Conner was banned from the Isle of Man for five years - the court was told he's already requested a transfer to a UK prison.