‘Minders’ will be treated as dealers

Wednesday 4th August 2004, 12:00AM BST.

DRUG ‘minders’ can expect to be treated in the same way as traffickers. The warning came as 18-year-old Jordan Brown was sentenced to two years’ youth detention for possession with intent to supply.

He had 36 Ecstasy tablets, worth up to £540, hidden in bank cash bags under his bed when police carried out a search last year.

Brown was 17 at the time and denied the charge in the Royal Court in June.

He pleaded guilty to an alternative charge of possession.

Deputy Bailiff Geoff Rowland said the court was mindful that Ecstasy could be a killer.

‘The court has noted that since April, four people have come to court stating that they were minders,’ he said.

‘Looking after the drugs was a key link in the drug-trafficking chain.’

Defence advocate Martyn Baudains said that Brown was merely holding the tablets for a week as a favour.

In return, he was to have four free tablets.

‘His decision was foolish and he very much regrets it,’ said Advocate Baudains.

‘He now accepts his wrongdoing; there was no commercial motivation.’

Brown, who had no previous convictions, was visibly shaken in the court and Advocate Baudains said he was ‘terrified and physically sick’.

But in sentencing, the Deputy Bailiff said that Brown had given a completely different story when interviewed by police and that he could not be given a discount for a quick trial in June because he had not pleaded guilty.

A drug destruction order was also made.


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