Mission: Impossible!

Thursday 07 May 2020

A man, who recently moved to Guernsey from the UK, has been sentenced to a lengthy community service order after attempting to import cannabis through the postal system using a 'Mission: Impossible' DVD case.

Darren Briney, 35, had been living in the island for just a few weeks when he got in touch with a contact in the West Midlands and asked that they send him the Class B drug.

But, customs officers who were on duty at the post office on 1 August last year, intercepted the package before it could reach him.

Inside the first envelope - addressed to Briney using a false name - officers found 6.8g of herbal cannabis.

While the drug was under further investigation, the defendant noticed he hadn't received his expected package and asked that the contact try again. This time, 2.01g of herbal cannabis was hidden inside a 'Mission: Impossible' DVD case and sent in another padded envelope.

Once again, customs officers were on duty at the post office when the package came through and found the drugs before they reached the defendant.

Pictured: The cannabis was found in a 'Mission: Impossible' DVD case.

At this point, it was later noted that he sent a message to his UK contact telling them: "it didn't make it through again - try tracking it".

Guernsey Police searched Briney's home, where they found two grinders and a set of digital scales. He was arrested and taken to the police station for questioning.

The defendant told officers that he had transferred some money in return for a DVD boxset, but claimed he couldn't remember how much or who he had sent it to. He then refused to comment on any further questions.

However, he did comply with police in agreeing to give the pin number to his mobile phone.

A number of messages were found between the Briney and the contact, referring to the cannabis packages. He was also found to have messaged another contact about the offence: "I haven't found anyone out here and I've tried to have it sent to me twice".

But, in his mitigation, Advocate Phoebe Cobb told the Royal Court how the defendant has since changed his ways.

Pictured: The defendant was sentenced in the Royal Court.

"He has turned a corner in terms of recreational drug use since his arrest," she said. "This was an enormous mistake on his part and he should have dealt with his mental struggles differently."

She explained how Briney had faced "traumatic experiences" in his life and how he had "turned to inappropriate methods to try and help him cope".

"He has had a number of months to reflect on what he's done - something that is a punishment in itself - and he is confident that he won't be back before this court again," she added. "He is incredibly sorry."

The Deputy Bailiff, Richard McMahon, and the Jurats took Briney's previous good character into account and eventually agreed that his "strong personal mitigation" should save him from a custodial sentence.

 "You wasted no time in trying to obtain cannabis here before turning to friends in England," said Mr McMahon.

"Misusing the postal system in this way is an aggravating factor and you had only been a new arrival for a matter of weeks. But, you have now managed to settle better into island life.

Pictured: Messages were found between the defendant and his contact in the UK.

"The title of the DVD used to hold the cannabis was rather prophetic for you!

"If this has been a wake up call for you, at least some good has come of it."

Briney was sentenced to 180 hours of community service as a direct alternative to 12 months in prison, which he will have to serve if he doesn't complete the work.

"In this way you can give something positive back to the island without being a burden on the taxpayer," Mr McMahon told him.

"We very much hope that we never see you back here again, and that you turn out to do good service for the community." 

Pictured top: Guernsey's Post Office.