Darby Roberts, 25, was jailed for seven years at Douglas Courthouse for drug supply.[1] He had pleaded guilty to possessing cocaine, MDMA and cannabis with intent to supply.[1] He was jailed for seven years for possessing cocaine with intent to supply, five years for the MDMA count and four years for the cannabis count, all to run concurrently.[2]

Darby Roberts was stopped by police on Main Road in Greeba at about 4.40pm on 18 October because of the speed he was driving.[3] Police had stopped Roberts’ Ford Transit van at Greeba on 18 October over concerns of excessive speed.[2] A search of his car found 180 MDMA tablets and cocaine that was later valued at £3,150.[1] Police then found £114,292 of cannabis in his property, stashed in sealed bags in a hatch, along with £1,292 of cash hidden in rubber gloves and an envelope and electronic weighing scales.[1] In total officers found 31.5 grams of cocaine valued at £3,150, 5.7 kilos of cannabis valued at £114,294 and 180 MDMA tablets valued at between £1,800 and £2,700.[2]

The prosecutor told the court that police had identified a number of messages from people seeking drugs.[1] Interviewed the following day, Roberts said the cocaine was for personal use but gave no comment on the cannabis and cash.[1] He insisted his partner had nothing to do with the drugs found.[2]

The court heard Roberts had no previous convictions and that references described him as a hard-working man who had given back to the community through charity work.[1] Roberts, of Ballawattleworth Estate, had no previous convictions and showed genuine remorse.[2] Deemster Graeme Cook said he struggled to understand why Roberts became involved in this sort of activity and that Roberts was someone who should have known better.[1]