Two young men who jetted off for a three-week holiday in Thailand ended up in the dock after being stopped at Manchester Airport on their return. Lewis Ellis and James Poutch had travelled to the South-east Asian country in April to attend the Water Festival. But when they landed back in the UK, they were stopped by customs officials — and questioned about what they were bringing home.
Ellis, 20, immediately came clean, telling officers: “I have cannabis in my bag, I may as well tell you because you’re going to see it.”
Border Force officers went on to discover a total of 37 kilograms of cannabis, packed in vacuum-sealed plastic packages, inside the two men’s luggage. Both later pleaded guilty to being concerned in the fraudulent evasion of a prohibition on the importation of class B drugs. Don’t miss a court report by signing upto our crime newsletter here
A judge later described their actions as “naïve and stupid” and handed down suspended sentences.
Prosecutor Georgia Kennedy-Curnow told the court that Ellis and Poutch, 19, were stopped at Manchester Airport after arriving on a flight from Bangkok via Abu Dhabi. She said Ellis explained he had been on a leisure trip with a friend he knew from school.
A search of Ellis’ suitcase revealed 19.83 kilograms of cannabis.
Poutch was stopped shortly after. He told officials he had packed the suitcase himself and was not carrying it on anyone else’s behalf. His luggage contained 17.22 kilograms of the drug.
“The defendant said he had lost his phone abroad and both defendants gave no comment in their interviews,” Ms Kennedy-Curnow said.
Defence barrister Simon Hustler, representing both men, told the court: “The defendants would not seek to persuade the court that this was anything other than naked stupidity by two young men.
“Their families are in court today and are as livid as they were when they were before the lower court.”
Mr Hustler added that Ellis, who had eight previous convictions, was now in a “last chance saloon.”
Sentencing the pair, Recorder Geoffrey Lowe said: “You had an operational function in the chain, to courier these drugs into another country.
“This was naive and stupid for both of you – you exposed yourselves to the risk of imprisonment.”
Poutch, of Fenby Gardens, Bradford, received a 16-month sentence, suspended for two years.
Mr Hustler explained that both men had paid for the trip themselves and initially travelled with the intention of attending the Water Festival. It was during their time in Thailand that they encountered individuals and agreed to transport the drugs.
Ellis, of no fixed abode, was sentenced to 18 months, also suspended for two years.
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Both were ordered to complete 240 hours of unpaid work and 20 rehabilitation activity requirement days.
A judge later described their actions as ‘naïve and stupid’ Read More
