Cocaine courier jailed for four years

Sep 5 2008 by Paul Mannion, Chester Chronicle

A CRACK cocaine courier who was arrested at Chester Railway Station with £1,400 of the class A drug has been jailed for four years.

Gary Bryant, 35, of Anglesey, was ordered to transport 140 wraps of the highly addictive drug from Liverpool to dealers in North Wales to clear his own drug debt.

Recorder of Chester Judge Elgan Edwards commended two British Transport Police officers, Joan Moore and Geoffrey Robinson, for their actions which led to Bryant’s arrest.

He said: “I am very impressed by the conduct of the British Transport Police who spotted something amiss and as a result of their actions they have prevented a sizeable degree of public harm being done. I issue a Crown Court commendation to both of them.”

Bryant was seen by officers acting suspiciously walking across a bridge linking the platforms at the station on Monday, June 23, at about 11pm.

Peter Hussey, prosecuting, said: “Officers approached him and suspected that he may be in possession of drugs. From his pocket he produced a plastic bag about the size of a golf ball with a number of smaller packages within. Analysis revealed it was crack cocaine and that there were 140 bags of £10 deals ready for selling. He was travelling from Liverpool to Bangor.”

Bryant, a father-of-three, pleaded guilty at Chester Crown Court on Monday to possession of the class A drug with intent to supply.

Andrew Green, defending, said: “For much of his life he has had a long-standing addiction to class A drugs.

“In 2000 he moved to Anglesey and effectively started a new life. For a repeat offender with a history of addiction to hold down any semblance of family life and stay away from the courts would have taken some resolve and determination.”

Judge Edwards originally sentenced Bryant to five years imprisonment but reduced it to four after listening to Mr Green’s argument.

The drugs and a mobile phone will be destroyed.