Two drug dealers, jailed for a total of more than 26 years after almost a kilogram of cocaine was found hidden in a storage unit, are appealing their sentences.

Samsha Sanghera, 49, and Ross Alexander Beggs-Cairney, 38, were convicted of involvement in a plot to bring a substantial quantity of the Class A drug onto the streets of the Isle of Man.

Beggs-Cairney, of Manor Lane, Douglas, was also found in possession of more than 300g of cocaine at his Wash and Glow car valeting business on the White Hoe Industrial Estate.

Both men were sentenced at the Court of General Gaol Delivery in June.

Their appeal hearing has been listed for October 19 before Judge of Appeal Anthony Cross KC.

Sanghera, of Carlton Road, Rugby, Warwickshire, previously admitted possessing cocaine with intent to supply. Beggs-Cairney admitted possessing cocaine with intent to supply, being concerned in the supply of cocaine and possessing criminal property.

Prosecuting advocate Roger Kane told the court in June that Sanghera booked a storage unit at Ronaldsway Industrial Estate on November 7 last year.

He also booked accommodation on the island on November 12 and December 13.

CCTV footage captured Sanghera arriving at the storage unit in a van driven by Beggs-Cairney on November 12.

Beggs-Cairney was arrested on December 17 while driving along the Old Castletown Road. Officers found more than £1,700 in cash in the vehicle, along with a key to the storage unit.

A search of his car valeting business uncovered a further £8,600 in cash and quantities of white powder, later confirmed to be 311.6g of cocaine with a street value of £31,150.

Sanghera was arrested later the same day in Douglas. Officers found two keys to the storage unit in his possession.

When police searched the unit, they discovered an Amazon box containing almost a kilogram of cocaine with a street value of £99,800, along with weighing scales and clingfilm.

Beggs-Cairney's fingerprints were found on the box, while Sanghera's fingerprints were found on items inside it.

CCTV also showed Sanghera entering the storage unit on two occasions and being the only person seen accessing it.

Sanghera has no relevant previous convictions, while Beggs-Cairney has a number of previous convictions for drug-related offences.

Advocate Paul Rodgers, representing Beggs-Cairney, said his client accepted he had made a ‘grave error of judgment’.

Advocate David Reynolds, representing Sanghera, said his client had been pressured into bringing drugs to the island.

He told the court: ‘My client had been employed as a sales manager for motor vehicles on a commission basis. This meant he did not always have a steady income and found himself in debt and took out a loan with the wrong people.’

Sentencing the pair, Deemster Graeme Cook said a ‘serious’ quantity of cocaine was involved.

Beggs-Cairney was jailed for 14 years, while Sanghera was sentenced to 12 years and nine months.

The Deemster also ordered Sanghera to be excluded from the island for five years following his release.