Guest 640- Registered: 21 Apr 2007
- Posts: 7,819
19 January 2009
16:0913234#1
For the attention of News Desks
Date: 17 January 2008
£1.8m heroin smuggler jailed
A lorry driver from Liverpool was jailed for nine years yesterday after pleading guilty to smuggling 40 kilos of heroin into the UK. The drugs, which were hidden on the engine block under his cab, had an estimated street value of £1.8 million.
Malcolm Bragg, Investigation Assistant Director for HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) said:
"HM Revenue & Customs investigators and UK Border Agency staff are at the forefront of the fight to stop drugs entering the UK and to reduce the associated harm to our communities.
In partnership with prosecutors from the Revenue & Customs Prosecutions Office (RCPO) we aim to protect society from this activity wherever we detect it.
The sentence handed down by the court will act as a deterrent to those involved in drug trafficking and clearly shows that crime doesn't pay. Anyone with information relating to smuggled goods or other illegal activities should contact HMRC's 24 hour hotline on 0800 59 5000."
Canterbury Crown Court heard that Anthony Connolly, 43, of North Sudley Road, Liverpool was stopped by UK Border Agency (UKBA) officers at the Inward Freight Controls at Dover Eastern Docks on 17 September 2008. Connolly was the sole occupant of a lorry carrying a consignment of beer from Holland. After questioning Connolly, UKBA officers asked him to tilt the cab forward and found the engine block covered in lead flashing. Beneath the lead were two holdalls containing numerous brown wrapped packages, the contents of which tested positive to heroin.
Connolly was arrested and the investigation passed to HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) officers for further investigation.
This case was successfully prosecuted by the Revenue & Customs Prosecutions Office (RCPO). RCPO is an independent prosecuting authority that reports to the Attorney General, and is responsible for the prosecution of all HMRC cases in England and Wales.
Guest 653- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,540
19 January 2009
16:2613236#2
Good catch - well done the HMRC. There must have been good intelligence on this one.
Roger
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
19 January 2009
20:1513250#3
you just don't expect a scouser to be that devious, do you?
19 January 2009
21:4613256#4
Can anyone - anyone - explain to me why, in light of this, 4 scumbags who raped and burned a learning disabled 16 year old girl will be out within 2-3 years of sentencing of 6 to 9 years each? They sniggered and pranced about in the dock while the girl gave evidence, with her family in the court and their friends egging them on. Why are these pieces if filth not dying in prison? How can they be let out, with the risk they present to decent souls? Why are they only sentenced to 6-9 years for what has to be a hideous crime? What does this say about us?
Ross Miller
- Location: London Road, Dover
- Registered: 17 Sep 2008
- Posts: 3,709
19 January 2009
21:5513260#5
Not sure of the why Bern.
I do know that sentencing policy is all over the shop due to successive governments over the last 30 years making hotch potch amendments in response to public/media pressure. What government needs to do is sit down with the judges, the prison service and the police and re-assess the tariffs assigned to every crime so that we get a more appropriate balance between crimes against the person and crimes against property.
"Dream as if you'll live forever. Live as if you'll die today." - James Dean
"Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength,
While loving someone deeply gives you courage" - Laozi
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
19 January 2009
23:1713266#6
bern
i saw that on the news earlier, i found it too upsetting to post the details on here.
the girl has a mental age of 9, is now totally disfigured, the mental and physical pain must have been horrendous.
even taking into account the young ages of the convicted, surely broadmoor for life is the only option?
the antics in the dock should double any sentence anyway.
20 January 2009
08:4313276#7
I couldn't agree more Howard. People who have no remorse are likely to re-offend, and besides, the crime was so horrific, so clearly intended, so brutal, I cannot understand how such lenient sentences were delivered. Yes, Ross, the system is in bits, and we need a simpler, more cohesive policy. If anything demonstrates that, this case does.
Guest 653- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,540
20 January 2009
09:3113281#8
I believe the judges have it all wrong - even when government guidelines are "advising" stiffer sentences, the judges are as lenient as can be, which to my mind is sick.
The judges are there to protect us and they are failing in that duty.
Crimes of violence should have as severe a sentence as can be and in this instance, life.
The trouble is that even a life sentence nowadays is usually only ten years or so and that sniggering in court should, I agree double the sentence - no remorse, no leniency - at all.
There have been appeals against too lenient a sentence, this seems one of those cases.
The (very) sad thing is that we, the "common people" can see what is wrong with the system, but no one with responsibility, or the judges, will act, they are living in a completely different world to us.
Roger
Guest 674- Registered: 25 Jun 2008
- Posts: 3,391
20 January 2009
09:3813282#9
Good he jailed, but there is a problem already of jails being full, where to send people
having to release people early
and round and round we go
Guest 641- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 2,335
20 January 2009
09:4313284#10
I was shocked when I heard this, they should have been sent down for life and their friends should also be charged with contempt of court. What is wrong with the law in this country, where some judges give menial sentences for heinous crimes.
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
20 January 2009
20:4013345#11
this giggling in court is quite common now from murderers and rapists.
they plead not guilty, knowing that they will be convicted, just to amuse themselves at the expense of the victims and/or their families.
Guest 653- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,540
21 January 2009
09:2113387#12
People should only be jailed for non-white crimes - ie fraud, tax-evasion, council tax non-payment etc. should be dealt with differently.
Burglars, murderers, rapists child-molesters etc. should go to jail - for a very long time, a very long time.
Roger
Ross Miller- Location: London Road, Dover
- Registered: 17 Sep 2008
- Posts: 3,709
21 January 2009
22:2713426#13
I hope that was a typo Keith...
and what you really meant was non-white collar...
"Dream as if you'll live forever. Live as if you'll die today." - James Dean
"Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength,
While loving someone deeply gives you courage" - Laozi
Guest 653- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,540
22 January 2009
08:4213443#14
It was me Ross who put non-white crimes - I couldn't remember the term for the non-violent crimes like tax fraud etc.
Roger
Guest 674- Registered: 25 Jun 2008
- Posts: 3,391
22 January 2009
08:4813446#15
Ross
Not sure hat you meant
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
22 January 2009
20:2713523#16
i just assumed that roger was referring to white collar crimes.
22 January 2009
21:2813542#17
Good - established that the typo meant tax and benefit crimes that don't leave a young vulnerable girl burned and afraid. Now - about the scum who do things like that: why are they allowed to serve so little time, to be freed to prey on more vulnerable people for fun - and we all know they will - and to be free to do the things the girl they damaged will be afraid or unable to do?
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
22 January 2009
22:0013550#18
bern
i would rather not think about it, until parliament and the judiciary start to live in the real world, they will not understand
how the person on the street feels about these things.
22 January 2009
23:3013557#19
It's not just the Person on the Street, it's Right and Wrong. It's Justice and Injustice. And it's Evil and Punishment. And it's protection for us and it's consequences for those who need consequences before they understand the difference between Right and Wrong.
Guest 677- Registered: 8 Jul 2008
- Posts: 150
23 January 2009
22:5813680#20
Maybe those scum bags will experience in their 2-3 years inside a little of what they put that poor girl through hmm?
It's not the man in my life, its the life in my man!!
