Jail for drug courier who brought cocaine to Island

A Cheshire drug courier who tried to import almost 50 grams of cocaine into the Isle of Man has been jailed. 

23-year-old Thomas Holden was stopped by customs officers after disembarking the boat from Liverpool on May 16th. 

He was taken to Police Headquarters where he was detained for a drugs search - officers recovered a package of white powder which he was holding in his buttocks. 

He admitted he was also concealing drugs internally and was taken to Noble's Hospital where he removed another package.

In total the cocaine had a street value of between £2,420 and £3,388 - Holden later pleaded guilty to production of the Class A substance and possession of it with intent to supply. 

At Douglas Courthouse yesterday Holden's advocate told the court he'd "fallen in with the wrong crowd" and got "mixed up in things he shouldn't be mixed up in". 

He said he'd been made redundant shortly before he was offered £1,000 to courier the drugs to the Island adding "his vulnerability was played upon". 

Sentencing him to four years and eight months in prison Deemster Montgomerie told him "you thought you'd make quick, easy money - there's no such thing". 

He also banned him from the Isle of Man for five years telling him "for goodness sake when you come out think about your future, think about your life, don't waste it in prison".