A drug courier who transported heroin from Cornwall to Merseyside thought he was going to get five years in jail but was given a "pleasant surprise" by a judge.
Joseph Duffy was caught transporting £22,000 heroin and £8,200 cash into Merseyside and told police: "I’ll get five years for this". A judge at Exeter Crown Court told Duffy that he had a nice surprise for him and then jailed him for less than half the time he expected.
Recorder Mr Kevin de Haan, QC, reduced the sentence after hearing that Duffy had been exploited by a County Lines gang because he suffers from ADHD, dyslexia and suspected autism. Duffy was recruited by the gang to transport the drugs to the South West and to return with cash but police learned of the trip and intercepted him.
