Dealer who supplied drugs to inmates lands himself in prison

Tuesday 25 July 2023

A 39-year-old drug dealer who gave cocaine and cannabis resin to an inmate in La Moye prison has now started a jail sentence there himself.

Shane Derek Lloyd had at first claimed the large quantities of drugs found in his two properties were for his own consumption.

But he later pleaded guilty to two charges of possession of drugs with intent to supply and five charges of being concerned in the supply of drugs. He was jailed for 11 years and four months.

Advocate Lauren Hallam, prosecuting, told the Royal Court on Monday that, on the morning of 10 March, Police officers had gone to Lloyd’s home in St Saviour and discovered cocaine, cannabis resin and drugs paraphernalia such as electronic scales and resealable plastic bags. Later that morning they went to a property he rented in Trinity and found more cocaine and cannabis there.

In total 81g of cocaine and 1.25kg of cannabis resin were discovered, with a combined estimated street value of £43,210.

They also discovered a phone containing details of drug deals, including supplying cocaine and cannabis resin to a prisoner in La Moye in October. The advocate said some had been thrown over a wall and some had been carried in by a female visitor to the prison.

Pictured: Lloyd threw drugs over the wall into HMP La Moye.

Advocate Hallam recommended a sentence of 12 years, saying: "The defendant is not of good character. He is at high risk of re-offending."

Advocate Allana Binnie, defending, argued for a sentence of eight years.

She said Lloyd had a longstanding drugs habit, so some of the drugs had been for his personal use.

Lloyd had claimed that he had only found the drugs, and also offered to supply the name of a drug dealer, but neither of these were accepted by prosecutors. However Advocate Binnie stressed: "There is no evidence that he was involved in the importation itself."

And she added: "He was in an extremely bad state in March. He is thankful he was arrested, before he did more harm to himself or others."

Deputy Bailiff Robert MacRae described Lloyd as "a professional drug dealer" and told him: "You were heavily involved in drug dealing in Jersey on a commercial basis, and you were actively supplying cocaine and cannabis to a serving prisoner in La Moye for onward supply inside the prison.

"Dealing in drugs is very serious and this was particularly serious, with the risk of bullying, violence and anti-social behaviour from introducing drugs to such an environment."

Pictured: He was sentenced in the Royal Court yesterday.

The other Jurats presiding were Jane Ronge, Robert Christensen, Gareth Hughes, Alison Opferman and Mike Berry.

After the sentencing Detective Sergeant Jim McGranahan, who heads the Drug Squad, said: "We are committed to removing illegal drugs from Jersey and seeing those responsible for supplying them put before the courts.

"We continue to work with our partners and other agencies to protect our community from the harm these drugs can cause."