A man has been jailed for nine years for his part in smuggling heroin to the island.

Paul Henry Campbell, of Oak Road, Pulrose, was caught after his fingerprints were found on a package that another man had smuggled on to the Manx ferry hidden in his anus.

Campbell, who is 46, denied any involvement but was found guilty by a jury after a trial of being concerned in the production of heroin to the island by another.

The drugs, weighing 88.83 grams, were valued at between £8,883 and £25,760.

At the Court of General Gaol Delivery, Deemster Alastair Montgomerie said while passing sentence: ’Drugs like heroin destroy individuals. They destroy families. It can even destroy communities.

’What on earth ever made you become involved in this enterprise? It was an extremely catastrophic decision to become involved. You’ll have a long time to consider it.’

The court heard that, on November 26, 2017, 41-year-old Ian Kevin Connolly, of Normandale Road in Walton, was detained by police as he got off the Ben-my-Chree arriving in the island from Birkenhead.

He was taken to Noble’s Hospital where he produced three packages from his anus.

The packages were sent for analysis and later confirmed as containing heroin.

sentenced

Connolly was sentenced in December 2017 after admitting production of heroin to the island and possessing it with intent to supply.

Fingerprint evidence on the packages led police to Campbell but he denied being involved.

He said that he had been in Liverpool and had associated with a friend of Connolly, which is when he thought his fingerprints may be have got onto the bag which was later used.

However, he was found guilty by a jury after a two-day trial in February this year.

On Thursday, defence advocate David Reynolds said that his client continued to deny his involvement.

Mr Reynolds said that Campbell was currently on methadone, a heroin substitute, but had been reducing his usage.

’He is working to get off drugs as quickly as he can,’ said the advocate. ’He wants to become drug- free. He has continued to engage with the Drug and Alcohol Team (DAT) and mental health services. He has had issues with his nerves for many years.

’He has gone and thought about the reasons why he started taking drugs in the first place. He had a traumatic experience when quite young, something he kept to himself for many years.

’It was only when he was released from remand that he sought help.

’All his offending has been drug or alcohol-related. He tells me it has been sometime since he drank alcohol.

’He knows he’s going to receive a custodial sentence and wants to try to use the time to improve his education to live a better lifestyle on his release.

’He realises there are still temptations in prison. There is the opportunity to be able to find drugs. But he’s determined not to be one of those people and remain drug-free.’

The court heard that, in 2003, Campbell was convicted of possessing cocaine with intent to supply, for which he received a suspended sentence.

Deemster Montgomerie told Campbell: ’In many ways that suspended sentence may not have done you a favour. Thereafter you’ve continued in your drug habit.

’It perhaps did you no favours looking at what you became involved in.

’You’ve continued to deny your guilt. I hope at some stage during your lengthy period in prison you will resolve that issue.

’Your aim according to your counsel is to become drug-free. You owe that to your family. They are the ones who are going to have to bear the brunt of your offending.’