Eight-month prison sentence for man who hid money in secret compartment

Liverpool man came to Island to clear drug debt

A Liverpool man has been given an eight-month prison sentence for a financial crime after sniffer dogs found almost £50,000 hidden in a secret compartment in his vehicle.

Forty-year-old Thomas William Harrison was arrested while waiting to board a sailing at the Sea Terminal in Douglas in February.

Police searched Harrison's vehicle after he appeared nervous and was physically sick while waiting for the crossing.

A detection dog identified a hidden compartment in the passenger side of the Renault Twingo, in which four bundles of cash totalling £47,530 were hidden.

Harrison had previously admitted attempting to remove criminal property from the Island, and at his sentencing hearing his advocate explained he had accrued a drugs debt while out of work.

As a result, he was asked to come to the Island to clear the debt, and was not responsible for installing the secret compartment.

The court heard he was embarrassed and ashamed by his offending, and has been continuing with his education while in jail.

Deemster Cook imposed an eight-month prison sentence, as well as issuing a confiscation order for the money and a deprivation order to seize the vehicle involved.