Man caught with £49k of cocaine under car seat jailed

A man who travelled to the Isle of Man by ferry with more than £49,000 of cocaine in a bag under the driver's seat of his car has been jailed for nine years.

Scott Goulden, who had a bicycle in the boot of the car, told port authorities he was visiting the island to go cycling with a friend called John, but could give no other details about the man.

A search of his vehicle found the cocaine along with a large quantity of ketamine in a plastic bag partially concealed under the mat in the footwell.

Douglas Courthouse heard the 37-year-old also admitted travelling to the island on three occasions to pick up criminal cash for an organised crime group in Greater Manchester.

The court heard Goulden had arrived in Douglas on the ferry from Heysham on 13 February at about 17:30 GMT.

Port authorities spotted defects on the black Ford Focus including exposed wires on the headlight and a partially detached rear number plate and signalled for him to pull over.

He tested positive in a drug wipe test for cocaine after officers noticed a small snap bag with traces of white powder in it sticking out of an empty cigarette packet on the passenger seat and was arrested.

A search of the car uncovered the ketamine, which had a street value of between £39,540 and £49,425, and cocaine under the seat.

The court was told messages on his phone showed he had previously travelled to the island on 1 and 16 October and 21 December to collect cash to take back to the UK, including a sum of £11,500.

When questioned he admitted he had first come into contact with an organised crime group in October last year and had been making the trips to collect sums of money for £500 a journey.

He said he had then agreed to accept £5,000 to transport the drugs to the island as his business polishing car wheels was "in trouble".

He pleaded guilty to the importation of cocaine, the importation of ketamine, possession of both drugs with intent to supply, and possession of cocaine.

He also admitted two counts of driving under the influence of drugs, and three counts of money laundering.

Goulden's defence advocate said it "beggars belief" that anyone would risk the prison terms imposed on the island for Class A drug offences and it had been "indicative of the desperation in their lives".

In a letter to the court, his mother said she had brought up her sons to "steer clear of drink and drugs" and she was "totally disgusted and ashamed of him".

"I can't cope with the thought of one of my boys in prison," the letter added.

Sentencing him, Deemster Graeme Cook said his claim to have travelled to the island to meet a friend was "just an out and out lie".

He said the posters on display at the port in Heysham provided a clear warning of the penalties those importing drugs to the island would face.

Goulden was also banned from driving for five years, will have to take an advanced driving test before regaining his licence, and banned from returning to the island for five years after his release.

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