A FORMER high-level cosmetic scalp technician who later became “a high-level trader within the drug dealing community” has been sent to prison for four and a half
years.
Alan Leigh (57) – whose Broad Street clinic specialised in dealing with baldness and receding hairlines – was convicted of possessing cannabis resin worth up to £420,000 and planning to supply it to Islanders.
The Superior Number of the Royal Court – which convenes for only the most serious
cases – heard that he had hidden 15.7kg of the class B drug in two camping bags.
A further 373 grams were found in his Ford Transit van along with £10,535 in
cash, believed to have come from drug dealing.
Crown Advocate Emma Hollywood, prosecuting, said the drugs had an estimated minimum street value of £252,000 to £420,000.
She said Leigh had placed the two bags in a storage unit in Rue du Bechet, Trinity.
A staff member who went to clean the unit on the morning of 12 February discovered them and alerted the police, who then installed four hidden cameras inside.
Leigh was caught on film that afternoon when he came looking for the drugs. He was
heard saying: “Where’s them bags gone? … You’re kidding me, you’re kidding me.”
When arrested, he told the police he owed money to a loan shark and had been asked to dispose of the drugs as repayment of the debt.
But analysis of his mobile phone showed he was engaged in selling them.
A Facebook message uncovered on Leigh’s account suggested that he had been intended to deal to a medicinal cannabis user, who said their prescription was not ready.
The Royal Court heard that the reasons given by Leigh for needing the loan had “changed throughout the interview”.
He firstly said he needed the money for an ADHD diagnosis for his child, but then changed his story to say that the money was needed for a private MRI for his back.
Advocate Hollywood said that when Leigh appeared at the Magistrate’s Court on 14 February he had pleaded not guilty, but at his indictment in the Royal Court he admitted the charges of possession of drugs with intent to supply them and possession of criminal
property.
Leigh has no previous convictions for drugs but a few for motoring offences and
one for shoplifting dating back 30 years.
The Crown Advocate said he was considered at low risk of reconviction and recommended a sentence of five years and four months.
Advocate Julia-Anne Dix, defending, argued for a shorter sentence.
Advocate Dix explained Leigh was a devoted father and grandfather who had lost his
hair and beauty business and had been unable to rebuild it after Covid, and had needed
to supplement his income.
She pointed out: “He was not living a lavish lifestyle.”
Advocate Dix added that Leigh had been using his time in custody well. “He is teaching the guitar, he is mentoring some of the younger prisoners, and he is helping in the library.
“He wants to do anything he can in custody to better himself.”
She suggested a sentence of four years and two months.
Commissioner Alan Binnington said Leigh was clearly “a high-level trader within the drug dealing community” but added: “There was no evidence to indicate a criminal lifestyle.”
Jurats Christensen, Dulake, Averty, Entwistle and Berry were sitting.
After the sentencing, Detective Sergeant Jim McGranahan from the States Police Drug Squad said: “Individuals like Leigh come to this island and exploit others’ suffering for their own gain, while contributing minimally to the welfare of the community.
“Our team continue to work tirelessly to prevent such activities.”
