A MAN who imported 28 grams of cocaine into Jersey hidden in a jar of instant coffee has been spared jail.
Matthew Bowman (42) was instead sentenced to 480 hours of community service in the Royal Court on Monday 9 September.
The court heard that Customs officers opened a parcel containing a chocolate egg, chocolates and a jar of instant coffee – in which, upon closer inspection, they found two small bags of cocaine.
Crown Advocate Lauren Taylor, prosecuting, said that at interview, Bowman admitted importing the cocaine, saying he had paid £1,000 for it in the UK. The court heard that the class A drugs would have had a street value of between £4,200 and £7,000.
Searches of Bowman’s phone revealed that he had been involved in the importation of drugs.
But Advocate Darry Robinson, defending, said that this had been Bowman’s only time importing this amount of drugs.
In the lead-up to the offence, he said, Bowman had suffered “work-related stress”.
He described Bowman as a hardworking man who had done fundraising for various charities.
Advocate Robinson said: “This was a stupid thing to do and he deeply regrets that.”
The prosecution asked for a four-year prison sentence.
Announcing the sentence of the Jurats, Sir William Bailhache, presiding, said: “It was a matter of fine margins and we hope that you do indeed learn from your experience.”
Following the sentencing, Jersey Customs and Immigration Service said: “The seizure demonstrates the level of control JCIS Officers have at all our borders, including items arriving via the post.
“Today’s sentencing shows the risks that people are taking if they get involved in drug trafficking activity.
“JCIS will continue to target the movement of controlled drugs across our border and the conviction of those involved.”
