Woman accused of involvement in boyfriend's drugs gang

Tuesday 22 January 2019

A 27-year-old woman yesterday faced day one of a trial into whether she was involved in a conspiracy to flood the island with £500,000 worth of cannabis alongside her boyfriend and his gang of fellow "seasoned criminals".

April Daisy Hodges is facing one charge of planning to "fraudulently evade the prohibition on the importation of a controlled drug", but is denying her involvement.

Crown Advocate Simon Thomas told Jurats Collette Crill and Pam Pitman that Ms Hodges had "knowingly involved herself" in the supply of cannabis in Jersey between September and December 2017. He said that this was part of an organised drugs gang, describing some of the gang's members as "seasoned criminals".

He named Ms Hodges' alleged co-conspirators as John' O'Connor, Alan Smitton, David Arrowsmith, Paul Howes and Norman Templeton-Brown, adding that they had all pleaded guilty to the same charge faced by Ms Hodges and were awaiting sentencing - but Ms Hodges maintains her innocence.

Pictured: Crown Advocate Simon Thomas said that Ms Hodges had knowingly involved herself in the supply of drugs.

The Crown Advocate told Court that the police discovered cannabis worth "well over half a million pounds" in a Jersey flat, but that "the conspiracy most likely involved an ever greater quantity".

He explained that the supply was organised from Liverpool, where Ms Hodges and her boyfriend, Neil Heskin, were from. He described Heskin as responsible for collecting the proceeds of drugs in Jersey and bringing it back to Liverpool.

He said that Heskin and Ms Hodges had been in a relationship for 11 months when the alleged offences occurred. The Court heard that in October 2017, Ms Hodges travelled with Heskin to Jersey after having booked and paid for the flights and accommodation herself. The Court also heard she had also booked flights for O'Connor, who was described as the man responsible of the drugs operation in Jersey.

Pictured: The Court heard that Ms Hodges' phone records showed she had been in contact with one of the gang members before her visit to Jersey.

The Crown Advocate said that Ms Hodges' phone records showed she had been in contact with Smitton, who is said to have co-ordinated the supply of drugs to Jersey suppliers, just four days before her arrival in Jersey. He also said that shortly after her arrival in Jersey, Ms Hodges had made two deposits in cash, worth £460, to her bank account.

The Crown Advocate said Ms Hodges knew of, and participated in the conspiracy.

Yesterday, the Jurats heard from Detective Constables who were involved in the surveillance of the drugs gang, and saw Ms Hodges and Heskin meet other members of the gang.

The trial continues today under the direction of Royal Court Comissioner Julian Clyde-Smith.