A FORMER Royal Marine who sold class A drugs in Jersey – then fled to the UK and changed his name in a bid to escape justice – has been jailed for more than ten years.
Sean Alexander Heatlie (56) was arrested in November 2022 after phone data from a separate investigation revealed he was involved in the supply of cocaine, the Royal Court heard.
He later breached his bail and absconded to the UK, where he changed his surname from Alexander to Heatlie by deed poll.
As part of the investigation, the police checked Heatlie’s bank statements and discovered that over a two-year period, he had received about £195,000 of unexplained funds.
In May 2022, Heatlie returned to Jersey using his new name and was arrested several days later and remanded in custody.
His phone was seized and examined and showed evidence of his involvement in cocaine importations to Jersey while he was in the UK.
In September, Heatlie was charged with additional offences, and pleaded guilty to all charges in October.
Crown Advocate Hallam said he was deemed at moderate risk of reconviction and recommended a sentence of ten years – comprising eight years for the drugs charges and two years for the possession of cash from criminal activity.
Advocate Allana Binnie, defending, asked for a shorter sentence of 8½ years.
“He had a variety of adverse childhood experiences. In adulthood he was discharged from the Marines, which he found very difficult to deal with.
“His marriage broke down. His wife was a heroin addict and he had to care for his children alone.”
She said Heatlie had first encountered cocaine in his 40s, adding: “He was suffering from depression and he found it very much improved his mood at the time.
“His use unfortunately spiralled and he began selling it to finance it.”
Heatlie was jailed for a total of ten years and four months.
The Bailiff, Sir Timothy Le Cocq, was sitting with Jurats Jane Ronge, Robert Christensen, Kim Averty, David Le Heuzé and Alison Opfermann.
Speaking after the case, Detective Sergeant Jim McGranahan, from the States police Drug Squad, said: “Heatlie thought he was getting away with dealing drugs in Jersey, he also thought by changing his name he would evade the authorities, but we caught up with him.
“The safety of our community is always at the forefront of our minds and we will continue to work hard to keep illegal drugs and those who deal in them off our streets.”
