A man who has twice been convicted of drug trafficking offences told a judge: "I wouldn't class myself as a drug dealer."
Kelsey Higgins was allowed to read a letter he had penned to the court as he was sentenced for his part in a million pound cocaine ring. In it, the dad-of-two stated he had "done a favour" for co-conspirator John Butler in return for £150 - claiming that he allowed a bag to be stored in the boot of his car for a matter of hours on one occasion, and that he was unaware of its contents.
Appearing before Liverpool Crown Court via video link to HMP Liverpool, he said: "I have had time to reflect on my actions and I am truly sorry for this. I would not class myself as a drug dealer.
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"I did not know what was in the bag. I thought it was ketamine. I feel I have brought shame on my family. I have brought this all on myself to make £150.
"I did not supply any drugs and I have not dealt any drugs for many years. I know the difference between wrong and right, and I could have said no."
A trial previously heard that Daniel Doran - of Hall Lane in Kirkby - was a serving prisoner at HMP Risley in Warrington between December 2021 and February 2022, with fellow defendant Megan Woodham having been employed as a health worker in the jail. David Watson, prosecuting, described how they - together with co-defendants Higgins and Butler - were "involved in the supply of a very large quantity of high purity cocaine".
The inmate had access to a mobile phone while behind bars and "organised the moving of cocaine from location to location" from his cell "under the noses of authorities". Woodham was said to have "formed some sort of relationship" with the 32-year-old through her work and would "willingly assist him by allowing her home address to be used for the storage of parcels" of drugs.
Higgins meanwhile was described as a close associate of Doran's cousin Butler, who was arrested while travelling to his home in possession of 10kg of cocaine on January 8 last year. His Volkwagen Golf was stopped by police on Dunnings Bridge Road, near to the junction with Heyshaw Road in Netherton and heading in the direction of the Bootle area.
Officers discovered a black bag in the passenger footwell which contained 10 1kg packages of the class A drugs. These illicit substances had an estimated street value of up to a million pounds.
This seizure sparked an investigation by Merseyside Police, with Butler's seized phone revealing his communications with co-conspirators. He was described as having been "used to carry out criminal tasks" by Doran.
The probe also uncovered a "separate agreement" between 30-year-old Woodham and Doran, in which she "agreed to assist him by taking delivery of packages of ketamine from his criminal associates". She then smuggled these drugs into Risley prison, going undetected thanks to her job, and handed them over to the inmate.
Doran was found guilty of conspiracy to supply cocaine but admitted conspiracy to supply ketamine and was jailed for 15 years by Judge Stuart Driver KC on Tuesday. Appearing on video from HMP Altcourse, he shook his head before laughing.
Higgins, of Ridgewood Drive in Orrell Park, was convicted of conspiracy to supply cocaine by a jury. He was handed 13-and-a-half years and similarly reacted by shaking his head before taking off his glasses, leaning back and smiling.
The 26-year-old plasterer's 12 previous convictions for 20 offences include a prison term of 44 months, imposed in 2016 for conspiracy to supply heroin and crack cocaine. This came after an undercover sting into a street dealing operation.
Woodham, of Ormskirk Road in Pemberton, was found guilty of conspiracy to supply cocaine and ketamine. She burst into tears after being jailed for six years then turned to members of her family in the public gallery and said: "I love you."
Butler, of Clements Way in Tower Hill, was jailed for eight years in February last year. The 27-year-old admitted possession of cocaine with intent to supply.
Meanwhile, Doran's mum Valerie Doran was found guilty of money laundering. The 54-year-old, also of Hall Lane, will be sentenced later this month.
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