Drug dealer to serve more time after failed appeal

A drug dealer has been ordered to serve an additional five months in prison after an appeal against his sentence was dismissed.

Liam Bradley, 32, was jailed for nine years and four months in October for playing a "leading role" in a plot to bring up to £111,840 of cocaine to the island and transporting about £15,000 back to the UK.

A challenge against the length of his sentence was heard by Judge of Appeal Anthony Cross KC, Deemster Christopher Arrowsmith and Deemster Michael Hopmeier.

Dismissing the application, the panel determined that Bradley's sentence was "unappealable" and instead made a loss of time order, effectively restarting part of the sentence already served.

His defence advocate had argued that the sentence was too high, however the prosecution said the sentencing deemster had been "generous" and the term could have been higher.

The panel said that the appeal was "wholly unmeritorious" and that they had "given serious consideration" to increasing his sentence, but drew back from that.

However, they made a loss of time order, meaning that Bradley will have to serve five months again - representing the period between the launch of the appeal on 17 November and its dismissal on 20 April.

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