Man jailed after £4,000 of cocaine and WWII missile found at his home
A YOUNG parent has been sent to prison for possessing drugs and ammunition after police discovered a Second World War missile while raiding his home in Weston-super-Mare.
James Horrigan and his girlfriend Melissa Watton were found in joint possession of over £4,000 of cocaine when officers searched their house in March last year.
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But during the raid of their former home on Shrubbery Avenue, Horrigan's antique ammunition was also found.
At a Bristol Crown Court hearing Horrigan, 27, was sentenced to two years and four months in jail while partner Watton, also 27, was given a two-year sentence, suspended for nine months.
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The court heard that on March 17, police entered the house of the couple – who have two young children, aged two and six – looking for drugs.
Officers found a "large amount of drugs in a locked safe box", according to prosecutor Simon Goodman.
In total there was cocaine worth more than £4,000 found in the house alongside cannabis and methadone.
But during the search police also recovered Second World War 12.357 magnum calibre pistol rounds and a 0.308 jacketed soft point missile round from a similar era.
In interview Horrigan admitted possessing the ammunition, which he said he had no way of using.
He also admitted possessing the drugs, but for personal use. Text messages later proved his "significant" role in dealing the drug.
Mr Goodman said Watton admitted "some involvement" and claimed she "feared if she didn't comply with the dealing it would have had family implications."
Defending Horrigan, Jonathan Stanniland said there was "no criminal intention" with the ammunition which had been in his possession since he was a child.
He added the purity of the drugs was so low – three to four percent – meant the amount which was of a "marketable quality" was less.
Finally, he said Horrigan had been struggling with addiction to cocaine since becoming hooked while working in the catering industry.
Defending Watton, Derek Perry told the court how there was a history of domestic abuse in the "young and fragile family unit".
He argued that as Watton herself had grown up in a family divided by abuse, she did everything she could to keep her young family together.
He said: "By selling drugs to the people who came she was trying to do the best for the children."
Judge Michael Longman ordered £190 seized in the raid be confiscated.
Comments
by theparcel
Tuesday, January 29 2013, 12:51PM
“"Finally, he said Horrigan had been struggling with addiction to cocaine since becoming hooked while working in the catering industry"
So that's one industry to avoid!
"police also recovered Second World War 12.357 magnum calibre pistol rounds and a 0.308 jacketed soft point missile round.
Drug dealers always have to "protect their stash"!
"In total there was cocaine worth more than £4,000 found in the house alongside cannabis and methadone. He also admitted possessing the drugs, but for personal use."
Either he's gotta huge addiction problem or he was dealing!
Simple innit!”
by Jimenez47
Monday, January 14 2013, 8:05PM
“Personally I like to store my stash in a hollowed out V2 rocket. I tell the landlady I'm making a model of Thunderbird 1. That's a joke by the way.”
by Elsewhereman
Monday, January 14 2013, 2:22PM
“Missile? Another wonderful bit of non-fact checking. A ".308 jacketed soft point" is a bullet! And actually smaller than the magnum rounds also discovered.
The clue would be in the fact that .308 is a smaller number than .357.”