Man smuggles thousands of pounds worth of cocaine to Island

Fifty-year-old produces 82 grammes of the drug

A man's been remanded in custody after admitting trying to bring thousand of pounds worth of cocaine to the Island.

Fifty-year-old Francis Westhead, who is homeless, appeared before High Bailiff Jayne Hughes at Douglas courthouse.

He admitted producing cocaine and possessing the class A drug with intent to supply it.

Prosecution advocate Rebecca Cubbon told the hearing police stopped Westhead at Ronaldsway Airport as he got off an easyJet flight from Liverpool at 7:30am on 29 November.

Officers questioned Westhead, and when they asked if he was bringing drugs to the Island he admitted he was trying to smuggle cocaine.

They took him to Noble's Hospital, suspecting he was carrying the cocaine internally, and he later produced six packages of drugs weighing 82 grammes worth £8,210.

He told police he had financial difficulties and brought the drugs to the Isle of Man in exchange for having his debts wiped clean.

Mrs Hughes remanded Westhead to the Isle of Man Prison and committed him to the Court of General Gaol Delivery, where he'll be sentenced on 16 December.