16 people sentenced over two days in largest mass-sentencing exercise
Seven people involved in supplying cocaine to undercover police officers on the Isle of Man have been sentenced today (21 June).
The second day of sentencing for ‘Operation Nightjar’ has concluded at Douglas Courthouse.
The mass-sentencing exercise is believed to be the largest held at the Isle of Man Courts of Justice.
At the Court of General Gaol Delivery five defendants received custodial sentences, totalling more than 19 years, and one was handed a suspended prison sentence.
Yesterday (20 June) five people were jailed with four receiving suspended sentences; you can find out more HERE.
Sentencing today’s defendants Deemster Graeme Cook told them: "The operation targeted the night-time drug dealing activity which feeds the business models of organised crime groups."
'Operation Nightjar'
Operation Nightjar focused on the supply of Class A drugs in the ‘nighttime economy’.
Undercover officers targeted the defendants, predominantly in or around licensed premises, between July and November last year.
Posing as people who wanted to buy cocaine - or 'sniff' - the covert officers sought out people who would supply them with it; in many cases using social media including Snapchat and WhatsApp.
In some cases they repeatedly approached defendants with the prosecutor telling the court it was a 'tactical move' to try and target them on three occasions.
As a result of the operation, and the covert evidence gathered from it, the defendants – 16 men and two women - were charged with offences under the Misuse of Drugs Act.
You can find out more about Operation Nightjar HERE.
Sentencing
The defendants below were sentenced today for being involved in the supply of the following amounts of cocaine:
28.6 grams
Dylan McCallion, of The Laurels in Douglas, pleaded guilty to supplying the Class A drug and possessing cocaine with intent to supply.
The 24-year-old had also pleaded guilty to two offences of possession of criminal property.
On 8 September last year McCallion, who had no previous convictions, handed over two wraps of cocaine on Crellin's Hill in Douglas after he was contacted by undercover officers.
When police arrested him in January this year they found 27.4 grams of cocaine, at his home, which had a street value of £2,700 along with £2,360 in cash and a Rolex watch.
His advocate told the court his client had got involved with drugs through the gym adding: "Mr McCallion has clearly been leading a double life."
Sentence: 6 YEARS CUSTODY
..........
3.43 grams
Gemma Louise Bartlett, of Demesne Road in Douglas, pleaded guilty to three offences of supplying 3.4 grams of the Class A drug.
The 35-year-old also admitted one offence of possessing cocaine and three of possessing Class C substances.
On 30 September Bartlett’s Snapchat details were shared with undercover officers working in Jaks by fellow defendant Robert Ward.
After being asked if she could supply cocaine she turned up and handed over two wraps of the drug.
A week later, on 7 October, she supplied another two wraps after being contacted by the officers again; 10 days after that she handed over another two deals in return for cash.
Bartlett’s advocate told the court his client had no previous convictions and was selling the drug to fund her own issues with substance misuse at the time.
He added that Bartlett had a ‘very good job’ before her arrest, which she had now lost, and that she'd hit ‘rock bottom’ adding: “Now she starts at the bottom rung."
Describing it as a "wake-up call" for her the advocate added: "She’s a person who does not deserve prison immediately – she deserves a second chance.”
Sentence: 2 YEARS 6 MONTHS CUSTODY
“She wasn’t dealing to children on street corners. She wasn’t dealing to junkies on street corners.”
- Peter Taylor (Advocate) -
..........
2.9 grams
Robert John Ward, of New Castletown Road in Douglas, pleaded guilty to two offences of being concerned in the supply of the Class A drug.
The 36-year-old spoke to undercover officers working in Jaks on 30 September last year regarding the supply of drugs; he shared fellow defendant Gemma Bartlett’s Snapchat details with them.
On 7 October Ward received a text message from the officers asking for more cocaine and he told them once again that Bartlett would ‘sort them out’.
Officers had further contact with Ward over Snapchat – sending images of the snowflake emoji to indicate they wanted to buy more cocaine - but Ward told them: “Most of my go-to’s are dry.”
Ward’s advocate told the court his client had been ‘half drunk’ when engaging with the officers and there had been a ‘certain vulnerability’ to him at the time.
“He’s not a dealer – he never has been,” he added describing how Ward had made no money from his involvement and was only putting officers in contact with someone who could source the drug.
“He will never forgive himself for how he has behaved on these two occasions,” the advocate added: “I submit he has learnt, and teaches others, a salutary lesson.”
Sentence: 2 YEARS CUSTODY SUSPENDED FOR TWO YEARS
“He has become almost a crusader against drugs out of this.”
- Jim Travers (Advocate) -
..........
2.6 grams
Goran Lucasz Gasinski, of Palace Terrace in Douglas, pleaded guilty to three offences of supplying 2.6 grams of the Class A drug.
The 22-year-old was contacted over Snapchat by the undercover officers on 23 September 2023 and agreed to provide cocaine to them on three occasions over a two-week period.
Gasinski's advocate told the court his client’s eyes had now been ‘opened’ adding: “It is no way to spend his young life.”
Sentence: 2 YEARS 8 MONTHS CUSTODY
..........
2.4 grams
Ethan Georgeson, of Birch Hill Grove in Onchan, pleaded guilty to three offences of supplying the Class A drug and two of possessing cannabis.
The 22-year-old also admitted two unrelated offences of common assault and using threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour.
In September last year undercover police officers got hold of the 22-year-old’s Snapchat details and began engaging with him asking for ‘sniff’.
He met them on three occasions in Douglas where he sold them 2.4 grams of cocaine.
Georgeson's advocate told the court challenging life experiences had led him to ‘abuse drugs and alcohol’ adding: “He is intent on moving away from the drug scene.”
Sentence: 2 YEARS 10 MONTHS CUSTODY
“He is still of an age where he can still turn this around if he wants to.”
- Jane Gray (Advocate) -
..........
1.1 grams
Connor Schofield Shearman, of Westmoreland Road in Douglas, pleaded guilty to two offences of supplying the Class A drug.
The 32-year-old was contacted by an undercover officer on Snapchat on 19 October last year and agreed to supply 0.5 grams of cocaine for £100.
He was contacted again on 3 November by an officer asking: “You about to sort us?” and agreed to supply 0.6 grams.
Shearman’s advocate told the court: “Immediate custody is inevitable,” adding: “He’s messed up twice now – he won’t be doing it again.”
Sentence: 3 YEARS 2 MONTHS CUSTODY
..........1 gram
Thomas Parsons, formerly of Waverley Terrace, pleaded guilty to two offences of supplying Class A drugs.
The 24-year-old was contacted by undercover officers via Snapchat, in September last year, who asked them to supply him with cocaine; he did so on two occasions during that month.
Parsons’ advocate told the court his client accepted he needed to ‘disassociate with negative influences’ in his life moving forward.
Sentence: 2 YEARS 5 MONTHS CUSTODY
…
Sentencing continues ...
Two defendants are still due to be sentenced.
Louis Thomas, of no fixed address, has been charged with three offences of supplying the Class A drug cocaine.
He failed to appear at Douglas Courthouse; a warrant for his arrest, not backed for bail, remains in place.
Steven Paul Menton, of Boilley Spittal in Peel, had previously pleaded guilty to supplying 0.5 grams of cocaine on 12 August 2023.
The 41-year-old’s attendance from court was excused and his case was adjourned to 12 July.
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