A drug trafficker shouted “get in there” after being told he would not be going to prison as a court case concluded.
Paul Barrett, a former soldier, was stopped by customs officers at Newcastle Airport after arriving on a Jet2 flight from Faro. When confronted, he admitted, “I've got some weed,” and said he had accumulated debts from cocaine and gambling addictions.
The 38-year-old, of Southport Road, Ormskirk, Lancashire, was sentenced at Newcastle Crown Court to 18 months, suspended for two years, with 100 hours of unpaid work.
Intercepted at baggage claim
Barrett had landed at the airport at about 2pm on May 4 and was stopped after collecting his suitcase from the carousel. Prosecutor Neil Jones said: “He confirmed he was a solo traveller and all of the bags were his own. Asked if he had packed them, he said he had not packed the suitcase, which had been given to him.”
Jones said that when Barrett was asked about the contents, he replied: “I'm going to be honest with you, I'm carrying some weed. I've got a debt I owe.”
Drug haul worth £80,000
Inside the case, customs officers discovered four packages containing 20.5 kilos of cannabis resin and another package holding 1.12 kilos of ketamine. The wholesale value of the drugs was £80,000, and they would have been worth considerably more when broken down into deals.
Barrett, an army veteran who suffers from PTSD, said in a prepared statement that he had struggled with cocaine and gambling addictions since leaving the military.
Previous convictions and sentence
He has 18 previous convictions, including possession of cocaine with intent to supply, for which he received a suspended sentence in 2023. He also has convictions for involvement in the supply of ketamine, possessing cocaine and drug driving.
For his latest offences, he admitted two counts of being involved in the fraudulent evasion of the prohibition on the importation of cannabis and ketamine.
Chris Knox, defending, said: “He understands what a mess he has made by getting involved in drugs. He very much gets the message and he understands almost all of his difficulties in relation to the courts have arisen from his involvement with drugs. He is desperate to get back to the care of his children and he has a job offer and the employment involves him being subjected to drug tests.”
Judge Sarah Mallet told Barrett, who had been remanded in custody, that she would give him “one last chance.” Barrett, appearing by video link from prison, said: “Thank your for the opportunity ma'am and I won't let you down. I'm thinking of my children.” After being told he would be released that day, he was heard exclaiming “get in there” as he exited the video-link room.
