Ordered drugs in the post using name of "arch-enemy"

Tuesday 03 August 2021

A young woman was caught dealing drugs and then ordering cannabis for herself online during lockdown as she awaited sentencing.

Summer Bienvenu, 21, was sentenced to two years, four months in prison for the supply and importation of cannabis, along with refusing to provide her pin code during the investigation into the importation charge.

The Royal Court heard how the defendant had been at her home when police raided the property at 02:20 on 13 June 2020. Following a search of the property - which was hosting a party - a total of 69.7g of cannabis, a bong and other drug paraphernalia were found. 

In interview with police, Bienvenu denied any knowledge of the drugs seized at the property and was adamant she wasn’t responsible for them, arguing that she was simply in the wrong place at the wrong time.

She later provided access to her phone, which revealed evidence that Bienvenu had been involved with the distribution and supply of cannabis over a period of four weeks. 

Bienvenu said she dealt around 60g to 70g of cannabis per week, partly in order to fund her own drug use, but remained adamant that the drugs found at her address during the party were nothing to do with her.

In February this year, while on bail for the first offence, Bienvenu ordered cannabis in the post using the name of a woman she described as her "arch-enemy". When she turned up at the post office to collect the package, which contained 13.95g of cannabis, border agents were waiting and arrested her. 

In custody, her real identity became apparent to officers. At the time, she insisted that she had not ordered any drugs.

In interview, Bienvenu reportedly told police she posed as the other woman because she wanted to find out what was in the package and go round to her house "to chuck it at her and start something".

On this occasion, Bienvenu refused to give up her pin code. Investigators managed to get into it regardless, uncovering transaction details.

Advocate Sam Steel told the Court that his client had reverted to using cannabis, which she had been introduced to aged 16, following recent and significant traumatic experiences.

The Class B drug had become "readily available" to her and she had supplied it on behalf of someone else. Advocate Steel accepted that Bienvenu had made a "foolish decision" to order cannabis for her personal use during lockdown.

"She is frightened of going to prison for the very first time today," said Advocate Steel of his client. "She should have thought about that, of course, before supplying and importing drugs. 

"However the question for the Court is whether custody is inevitable."

It was noted in Court that Bienvenu had not complied with a community service order imposed five years ago. Advocate Steel argued that Bienvenu had matured since, was facing her first drug conviction, and that the Probation Report described a non-custodial sentence as "feasible" in the circumstances. 

He implored the Court "to show exceptional mercy" to his client, who is heavily-pregnant.

Bienvenu was sentenced on the basis of dealing 60-70g of cannabis over a period of four weeks between May and June 2020. 

A starting point of four years, eight months was set. However, Judge Finch noted that Bienvenu was a young parent with another child on the way.

He added: "The 50% discount afforded to you is larger than would usually be the case, principally because of your age and personal circumstances."

However, he said personal mitigation could only extend so far. 

"You have had a hard life but also, as stated, you reoffended on bail. That is a notable aggravating feature [...] as is the use of the postal system."

Bienvenu was sentenced to two years in prison for the supply charge, two years concurrent for the importation charge, and four months consecutive for not granting access to her phone when ordered to.

In total, the defendant was sentenced to two years, four months at Les Nicolles.