Imported drugs in video game case

Thursday 07 May 2020

An experienced chef will serve a lengthy community service order after cannabis resin concealed inside a Pro Evolution Soccer 2008 case was intercepted at Guernsey Post Office.

Lewis Mason, 30, was sentenced to 180 hours of community service for importing 10.39g of cannabis resin as the Royal Court decided to show him "hospitality and benevolence" in opting against sending him to prison.

Mason, originally from the UK, moved over to Guernsey in July 2019 because he wanted to "get over" problems back home, where he has two previous drug offences dated 11 and five years ago. 

On 8 October 2019, staff at Envoy House intercepted a package for Mason which contained a Pro Evolution Soccer 2008 Xbox case.

Upon inspection, cannabis resin was found inside the case weighing a total of 10.39g. He was later arrested at his staff accommodation and immediately admitted to having made a "stupid mistake".

Text messages showed that he had been in contact with a drug dealer in the UK in the days before the delivery, also asking if the dealer would offer a discounted price if he placed a larger order in the future. 

His Advocate David Thompson said his client had suffered a difficult and traumatic childhood and that he had been "groomed" as a young man by an older man, who had cast "a sinister and evil influence" over Mason's life and was the reason he started taking drugs a decade ago.

Pictured: The drugs were intercepted at the post office.

There was no evidence of Mason attempting to import drugs into the island before this one-off incident.

"Although [any drug offence] has to be taken seriously, this was an extremely small amount intended solely for personal use."

Whilst on conditional bail, Advocate Thompson said his client had lost his job in hospitality due to the corona virus but had managed to secure some work in a local supermarket in addition to some volunteer work. 

Once the hospitality sector makes a revival, he predicted that Mason would be in hot demand as experienced chefs will likely be in short supply.

In summing up, Deputy Bailiff Richard McMahon said: "There seems to be a pattern of turning to drugs when the going gets tough, however you have expressed your remorse for making a silly mistake this time around."

The court was concerned that without a severe deterrent, Mason "would not learn his lesson". Mr McMahon challenged Mason to put his drug offending behind him.

"If you abuse the hospitality that has been afforded to you again, it is unlikely that such a benevolent approach will follow."

Mason was sentenced to 180 hours of community service once the unpaid work scheme, which is currently suspended due to the corona virus, gets back underway. 

Pictured top: Guernsey's Royal Court and inset, an image of PES 2008 taken from Wikipedia.