A 21-YEAR-OLD, previously involved in a syndicate that used schoolchildren to move drugs around Jersey, breached the conditions of his early release from prison by flying to Manchester to compete in a boxing competition.
Rory Ribeiro was jailed in May 2025 for his role in a drugs scheme that saw 55 schoolchildren coerced into delivering nearly £2 million worth of drugs around the Island.
He was sentenced to two years in prison for his involvement after pleading guilty to conspiracy import and supply cannabis, and supplying MDMA and cannabis.
On 27 March 2026, the Islander left prison less than one year into his sentence after being put on a Young Offender’s Institute Licence.
He appeared in the Magistrate’s Court yesterday, however, after pleading guilty to twice breaching the conditions of his early release under the YOI conditions.
Advocate Luisa Stuart, prosecuting, said the first breach occurred in June when Ribeiro made the decision to travel to Manchester to fight in a boxing competition.
She explained that he had been given “verbal permission” to participate in the event, but that this permission was “rescinded” by the Probation Service because of an unrelated allegation of criminal conduct.
“Notwithstanding that,” Advocate Stuart continued, “he travelled on 6 June by plane to Southampton and then onwards to Manchester [for the boxing fight]”.
The court heard that Ribeiro – who is working towards a Level 1 boxing coaching course -returned to Jersey on 8 June and was later arrested on 9 August for breaching his licence conditions.
Advocate Stuart said Ribeiro then breached his conditions again by travelling to Turkey on 20 July for a family holiday.
It was heard that the holiday caused him to miss a scheduled appointment with the Probation Service.
“The probation officer asked him why he had failed to disclose that he had been on a family holiday, and he said that he knew he wouldn’t get permission to leave”, the prosecutor added.
Advocate Lucy Marks, defending, confirmed that her client had travelled to Manchester for a “pre-planned” boxing competition.
“He had trained hard for it and he had sought permission to attend,” she stated. “That permission was granted and given in writing to Jersey Boxing Academy directly, but unfortunately that permission was rescinded two days before he was due to leave.”
She added that Ribeiro “felt aggrieved” that a “false” allegation of unrelated criminal conduct made against him “was going to have such a significant impact on something he had worked hard towards”.
“He and others had trained hard for this competition, and his boxing academy had put him forward and backed him – he felt he was going to be letting down others over something that he was adamant that he did not do”, she added.
Advocate Marks told the court that his second breach involved a family holiday to Turkey in celebration of her client’s 21st birthday.
“He chose to be honest and tell probation that he had been away,” Advocate Marks said. “It is possible that they would not have known that had he not been honest.”
Relief Magistrate Peter Harris, presiding, noted in his sentencing remarks that Ribeiro had been given a “very complimentary” reference by Charlie Franks, the founder of Jersey Boxing Academy.
“He’s very positive about your attitude to boxing,” Mr Harris relayed. “He says that you help with younger boxers and that some of them look up to you as a role model.
“[These offences] do not mean that you can’t be a good role model. I’m sure you can, but what sort of role model finds himself in court?”
He fined Ribeiro £250 for the first breach and £400 for the second, with the £650 total to be paid back at a rate of £50 per week.
“Good luck with your boxing, and if you are going to do a coaching badge, then be a good role model for younger boxers”, Mr Harris told him.
“I’ll try my best”, Ribeiro replied.
