A 30-year-old finance worker who described his own behaviour as “nothing short of disgraceful” has avoided jail after importing drugs and selling them on to friends.
Jonathan Andrew Falle was sentenced to 480 hours community service by the Royal Court today for one count of importing cocaine into the island, and three counts of being concerned in the supply of cocaine, MDMA and ketamine.
Crown Advocate Lauren Taylor, prosecuting, told the court that he had been caught by a Customs and Immigration officer working at Jersey Post’s headquarters, who opened a parcel addressed to Falle and found it contained a “small white box” with a pouch containing 2.04 grams of cocaine.
Falle was arrested and cautioned, and further parcels sent to his address – which the prosecution thought he had ordered before being arrested – contained more drugs.
In total, 9.26 grams of cocaine was imported in the further three parcels, and Falle’s phone showed that he used the app Telegram to order the drugs.
Crown Advocate Taylor said the drugs had a street value of between £1,350 and £2,250, and that the cocaine had an “extremely high purity” – meaning it could be cut down or sold at a premium.
She said that Falle was concerned in the supply of “at least” seven grams of cocaine, 15 MDMA tablets, one gram of MDMA, and one gram of cocaine.
Crown Advocate Taylor asked for a five-and-a-half-year jail sentence.
Advocate Adam Harrison, defending, explained that Falle had used drugs “from time to time” since his early 20s, but the situation had escalated in 2023 when he faced mental health difficulties and a “significant” family crisis.
The advocate said: “He fully accepts that his difficult circumstances are not an excuse for his conduct.”
Explaining that Falle had now realised the seriousness of his offending, Advocate Harrison read out a letter from the defendant.
Falle had written: “During the period of these offences, I demonstrated a complete lack of respect and regard for not only myself, but also those close to me, the island, and its community.”
He described his own behaviour as “nothing short of disgraceful”.
The time Falle had already spent in prison had opened his eyes to how serious his offending was, the court heard.
His probation officer made a “clear recommendation” for Falle to recieve a one-year probation order. During that time, he would be tested to make sure he stayed clear of drugs.
Delivering the sentence, Deputy Bailiff Robert MacRae said the Jurats had been split: two argued in favour of a shorter prison sentence, and three argued in favour of community service with a probation order.
The Deputy Bailiff said: “You have a strong relationship with your partner, who is disappointed by what you did, as indeed are the members of your family.”
Falle felt sorry to have “let down” his employer, who had supported him in difficult circumstances, the court heard.
Mr MacRae added that the case had “exceptional features” which meant the Jurats voted in favour of a community service order, together with a 12-month probation order.
Falle was sentenced to 480 hours of community service.
He was warned that if he failed to complete them or if he reoffended, he would face jail time.
