Alderney cannabis importation was a family affair

Sunday 16 August 2020

A father and son duo from Alderney have been sentenced to 18 months in prison for a number of cannabis offences, while two brothers have been given lengthy community service orders for their involvement.

Stephen, 51, and Dylan, 21, Jenkins both faced a count of importing the Class B drug via Guernsey's postal service, along with other offences.

They appeared in court alongside Daniel, 26, and Jack, 25, Gates, who had been running a chip shop together in Alderney at the time of the offences. 

The group was first brought to law enforcement's attention in January last year, when customs officers were on duty at Guernsey Post. A parcel addressed to Dylan Jenkins caught their eye and, on opening it, they found a package labelled 'herbs for health', containing 244g of cannabis resin.

Three days later, police officers turned up at the 21-year-old's flat in Alderney and arrested him. His phone was seized and he was taken to the island's police station for questioning. He denied knowledge of the package multiple times, suggesting someone else must have used his name and address, knowing that the post box at his block of flats was usually left unlocked.

Pictured: Dylan Jenkins was taken to Alderney police station for questioning.

He did, however, admit that he was a regular user of cannabis to self-medicate for his ADHD.

The defendant's phone was analysed and officers found messages between Dylan and his father, expressing frustration at how little cannabis was available in the island and hatching a plan to import the drug.

Others were involved, so officers couldn't determine exactly who placed or paid for the order, but it was determined that the father and son were clearly involved.

Further messages suggested both Gates brothers had been aware the package was due to arrive, with Daniel Gates asking that Jenkins senior head over to the chip shop after picking it up, so the resin could be cut up. Jack said he would meet them at the shop, as did Dylan who agreed to bring scales with him.

For this discussion, Dylan Jenkins, Jack Gates and Daniel Gates were all charged with conspiracy to supply.

Pictured: The group had planned to split the cannabis resin at the chip shop (file image).

Jack Gates told the others he would keep 20g aside to sell for £15 per gram, as he needed the cash, and he was later charged with offering to supply, in relation to this message.

The other three defendants were all arrested in April 2019, at which point Jenkins senior told officers they would find more "hash" in his home. On searching the property, they came across 5.41g of cannabis resin which he had for personal use, and he was charged with possession of a Class B drug.

 At first, the 51-year-old pleaded not guilty to being involved in the importation offence but changed his plea before the trial went to court.

In his mitigation, Advocate Chris Green said Stephen Jenkins felt he was "rather on the periphery of [the importation] offence," - hence his not guilty plea - but reminded the court his client had been "very co-operative and frank" with officers about the amount he had for personal use.

Advocate Green said the older Jenkins had lived in Alderney for 22 years, in which time he had made a "positive impact" on the community - a statement which was backed up by his many character references.

Pictured: Using the Bailiwick's postal service to import drugs is always seen as an aggravating factor.

Advocate Fay Warrilow addressed the court on behalf of his son Dylan, reiterating that he had been just 20-years-old at the time of the offences.

"The course of his interviews and his conduct demonstrate his youth and his naivety," she said. "This is the first drugs offence he has ever committed and he's resolved that it will be his last. There is a submission that use of cannabis has been somewhat normalised in his life. This has been an ongoing struggle for him, but he has hopes for the future."

The Gates brothers were represented by Advocate Sam Steel, who spoke for Daniel, and Advocate Mark Priaulx, who spoke for Jack.

Both advocates touched on their client's "hard-working" attitudes and positive roles within the Alderney community.

Pictured: Daniel Gates lost his chip shop business as a result of his offences.

Advocate Steel mentioned how his client had lost his chip shop business, which he set up himself, as a result of the "reputational damage" his wrongdoing had caused.

"Mr Daniel Gates realises he has nobody to blame but himself," he added.

After an hour of deliberation, Judge Russell Finch and the nine Jurats decided to send Stephen and Dylan Jenkins straight to custody, while giving the two brothers a chance to change their ways. They will both have to carry out 200 hours of community service, as a direct alternative to 15 months in prison, which they could serve if they don't complete the unpaid work.

"You are walking today," Judge Finch told them. "You saw what happened to the other two. You won't walk again [so] don't come back here."

Pictured top: The four defendants were sentenced in the Royal Court on Friday.