A pub landlady allowed her premises to be used as a drugs factory where fake solicitors' letters were dipped in psychoactive substances before being sent into HMP Northumberland.
Preston landlady Lorraine Jackson permitted the cellar and manager’s accommodation of her pub, The Gamull, to be used as a base for the illicit operation, Lancs Live reports. Sheets of paper were dipped into the Class B drug spice and posted to the Acklington jail, where police said they could be sold for as much as £900.
The letters were sent to HMP Northumberland with Rule 39 stamp and the name ABV Solicitors - meaning prison staff weren’t allowed to view the contents. But suspicious staff discovered the name was fake and altered police.
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Jackson denied being involved in the conspiracy but admitted allowing her premises to be used in the operation, which was run by her daughter Shannon Jackson and prisoner Asaiah Facey.
Facey, 31, was previously jailed for four years for his role in the operation and 26-year-old Shannon Jackson, Facey's girlfriend, has already completed an 18-month sentence for her role. On Friday (June 10), Lorraine Jackson appeared at Preston Crown Court to be sentenced for permitting the premises to be used for drug activity.
Prosecuting, Paul Brookwell said: “There was an operation in which drugs, namely spice, were laced into papers in a liquid form. In some cases they will have been dipped once, twice or three times, increasing their strength and value.”
Letters had been sent from post offices around Preston, with most deliveries paid for using Shannon Jackson’s bank card. The pre-stamped letters had also been bought using Shannon Jackson’s card and the delivery note was found in Lorraine Jackson’s bedroom.
According to Mr Brookwell, police were unable to work out exactly how much money had been made but 11 letters were intercepted, most of which contained multiple sheets of laced paper. Messages and bank payments provided evidence of another 19 and a handwritten note referenced five more. Four bank payments from one prisoner were linked to the sale of spice and totalled more than £1,300.
Describing Lorraine Jackson’s involvement, Mr Brookwell said she was only being prosecuted for permitting the premises to be used and not in relation to a now dropped charge that she was more involved in the conspiracy. But he said it was clear she was aware of what was going on, as evidenced by the items found openly on show in the building and a video of her singing about dipping the paper into drugs. He said she had no relevant previous convictions and suggested that her licence could be revoked as part of the punishment.
Defending, David Traynor said Lorraine Jackson, 51, did not benefit financially other than through borrowing money from her daughter. He disputed the judge’s suggestion that the sentencing guidelines should be higher due to the use of business premises as it did not take place in any public areas or use the pub as a front.
“It is entirely different to a barmaid dealing drugs, pretending to sell drinks but actually selling drugs,” he said.
Mr Traynor said she was hard working and submitted letters from customers who praised her “positive contribution to the community, particularly in relation to the older community”. He said she was highly regarded by the brewery and that there was a plan for her to remain there as a barmaid under a new licensee if loses her licence. He said she is unlikely to ever offend again and should not automatically be sent to prison.
Sentencing Jackson, Judge Heather Lloyd said the landlady had showed denial and lack of remorse for what she had done. She added: “You are the custodian of the Gamull public house where you live with your daughters and your grandchild.
“One of your references says you have made the public house important for the community and you don’t put up with any messing from young people. However, I don’t think the community would be happy to hear you were allowing the premises to be used to peddle drugs, spice is a scourge in the community. I doubt too that the brewery would be happy to hear it.”
HJH Lloyd said it was clear she was aware of the operation, through singing about it, sending messages to Facey’s phone which he wasn’t allowed in prison, and through the presence of the letters and stamps in the house. She handed down a 23-week jail sentence, which she suspended for 12 months.
Lorraine Jackson, of Longridge Road, was also ordered to complete 100 hours of unpaid work and 20 days of rehabilitation activities.
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