Man jailed for agreeing to accept drugs via post

A man who had cocaine and cannabis sent through the post to him when he was "sofa surfing" at a friend's house has been jailed for 10 years.

The package meant for Lewis Kelly was intercepted at the postal sorting office in Braddan on 14 October.

Douglas Courthouse was told Kelly had agreed to accept the package, which contained cannabis with a street value of more than £50,000 and cannabis worth nearly £40,000, to pay off part of his own drug debt.

The 25-year-old had also been caught with 58 wraps of cannabis at his partner's home two days earlier.

The cannabis wraps, worth about £1,000, were found along with a set of scales and two grinders at the home of his partner on 12 October after police executed a warrant, the court was told.

A fingerprint on one of the wraps matched to Kelly.

Two days later, the parcel, sent from Manchester and addressed to Louis Oakey at an address on Bircham Avenue in Ramsey, was intercepted by postal staff.

Police visited the house and the man living there was arrested after searches were found on his phone relating to the delivery of packages from the UK to the island.

However, the social security division confirmed Kelly also went be the name Oakey and used it when claiming disability living allowance.

Kelly handed himself into police and admitted to making searches on the other man's mobile phone, claiming he had sold his own.

Kelly pleaded guilty to the importation of cocaine, the importation of cannabis, and possession of cannabis with intent to supply.

His defence advocate said he had a accrued a drug debt of between £15,000 and £20,000 and had thought the package would only contain cannabis.

Deemster Graeme Cook said the fact the other man had initially been arrested for the offences was an aggravating factor.

The deemster said Kelly may have been "duped" by those sending the drugs to the island, but that did not induce "any sympathy from me".

He said the island was trying to rid itself of drugs so long sentences were warranted.

Read more stories from the Isle of Man on the BBC, watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer and follow BBC Isle of Man on Facebook and X.