Teen drug dealer caught with two mobiles and 60g of cannabis

Sunday 29 April 2018

18 months youth detention has been given to a 19-year-old after he was caught with 62g of cannabis, two mobile phones, and around £250 cash in his car last summer.

Connor Priaulx, who was 18 at the time of the incident, was initially pulled over by police because of suspicious driving.

When police officers searched his car they found a bag, which he admitted had "some weed" inside. That amounted to around 1.5gs, but officers also found a larger block of nearly 60g as well. This was worth between £1,240 and £1,860 at Guernsey street value. Police also seized a large sum of cash and two separate mobile phones. Later, upon searching Priaulx's home address, more cash and digital scales were found.

Initially Priaulx refused to give the passcodes to either phone to police, so a legal order had to be passed through the Royal Court before, after seeking legal advice, the passcodes were submitted.

On one of the mobiles, messages to a group of around 25 people were found, asking them to "hit him up" if they wanted to purchase any cannabis. A series of different conversations were read out in court which led police to believe Priaulx was selling cannabis resin to other individuals - these included conversations regarding the amount of grams they wished to purchase, and where they wished to make the transactions.

When the messages were found, Priaulx was charged with supplying a controlled drug. He pleaded guilty at the earliest date in the Royal Court. 

Since the charge was made, the situation has caused a great deal of family tension for Priaulx, his defence advocate said. He was himself "addicted to cannabis" which "destroyed his relationship" with his parents. Reportedly, he turned to dealing cannabis to be able to fund his own addiction. He has already begun to make amends by contacting Drug Concern off of his own back and stopping use of the substance. 

For the efforts Priaulx has already been said to have made, the court gave him a sentence discount of one half, down from three years - but it was decided a non-custodial sentence was not suitable.

"it is apparent you were still an active dealer when you were caught," Judge Russell Finch said. "Your sentence would very likely have been a lot longer if you were older, the misuse of drugs is one of the scourges of Europe at this time and people who deal them in the community need to face the consequences for their actions." 

Following Priaulx's 18 month sentence, he will be under a compulsory supervision order to ensure he does not reoffend.