Illicit drugs and organized crime continue to cast long shadows over the UK prison system, with recent court cases highlighting the complex, persistent challenges posed by smuggling and trafficking. Two cases, both making headlines in 2025, reveal not only the ingenuity and desperation of those involved, but also the heavy toll such crimes exact on individuals, families, and society at large.
On July 12, 2023, Nathan Jones, a 28-year-old from Rhos, walked into HMP Berwyn as a visitor. But his nervous demeanor immediately raised suspicions among prison staff, as reported by North Wales Live. Officers decided to search him. When confronted, Jones initially claimed his anxiety was due to having smoked a joint, but the truth soon emerged. Hidden around his groin was a ‘sausage-shaped’ parcel, wrapped in film. Inside, authorities discovered 54.9 grams of ketamine and 46.9 grams of cannabis—drugs with a combined prison value that could reach well over £13,000, depending on how they were sold behind bars.
According to the prosecution, Jones had a significant criminal history, with 20 previous convictions for 44 offences, several of them drug-related. His defense, as presented in Mold Crown Court, painted a picture of coercion and desperation. "Desperate times called for desperate measures, in Mr Jones' view," his lawyer explained, describing how Jones, after receiving what he thought was free cocaine, found himself indebted to more sophisticated dealers. When he couldn't repay, threats were made against his family—especially his mother—if he refused to smuggle drugs into prison.
But Judge Simon Mills was unmoved by these explanations. He told Jones, "Back in 2023, you took a pretty substantial quantity of class B drugs into Berwyn prison. You'll have walked past any number of signs warning you of the consequences of doing so. And according to the pre-sentence report, which I have read, you don't really show any sort of insight into the consequences of having drugs in prison." The judge emphasized the corrosive impact of drugs on inmates, stating, "Prison, when the court has to impose it, should be a shelter. A safe haven from drugs. But because people like you and others find all sorts of ways to convey them into prison, people are not able to escape from them."
Jones’ attempt to smuggle drugs, which the defense admitted "didn't get past the first hurdle," resulted in a 10-month custodial sentence to be served immediately. Judge Mills underscored the seriousness of the offense, noting Jones’ poor record with previous community orders and the need for a firm response. "That's why these offences are taken so seriously. That's why those notices you walked past are there. And people who take drugs into prison should know the courts will deal with them with immediate custodial sentences."
While Jones’ case unfolded in the context of prison smuggling, another, far larger operation was being dissected in the Court of Appeal. Mark Dermott, once a car factory worker, became a key figure in a nationwide cocaine supply plot that stretched from Newcastle to London between November 2018 and June 2019. According to Liverpool Echo, Dermott kept a meticulous ‘tick list’ referencing dozens of cocaine transactions, with the value of drugs traded estimated between £1.7 million and £2 million. More alarming still was the discovery of two fully operational Russian Makarov pistols and ammunition hidden in the loft of his family home.
Dermott was one of six men sentenced in February 2020 for their roles in the conspiracy, which involved the movement of cocaine worth up to £8 million. The operation was orchestrated by James Kelly, who directed couriers to distribute drugs sourced in Merseyside to cities across England and Wales. His brother Stephen managed the group's finances, laundering the vast profits. Much of their communication took place on encrypted EncroChat phones. Dermott, operating independently, supplied cocaine to the group and was arrested in June 2019 after being observed transferring a bag containing four kilograms of cocaine to another conspirator.
When police searched Dermott’s home, they found not only the pistols and ammunition, but also mobile phones, cash counters, a drugs press, and the infamous tick list. The judge at his original sentencing described Dermott as an "intelligent man," but added, "the guns were lethal weapons and their only purpose for someone in the drugs business is to terrorise, maim and kill." The judge further condemned the group’s activities: "Their business caused degradation and harm for addicts, their families and the wider community."
Initially sentenced to 19 years and six months, Dermott later appealed, arguing that he had received inadequate legal advice regarding the benefits of an early guilty plea. The Court of Appeal, after considering evidence that his solicitor had failed to inform him about the potential one-third sentence reduction, agreed that Dermott’s representation had been lacking. Lord Justice Dingemans, presiding over the case, called it "a very unusual situation," particularly as legal privilege was waived to allow the details to be aired in court. Ultimately, Dermott’s sentence was reduced by two years and two months, reflecting what it would likely have been had he been properly advised at the outset.
Dermott’s story, like Jones’, is one of descent into criminality following personal hardship. After losing his job and struggling with mental health issues, he became involved in the drug trade. The court heard that Dermott was concerned his mother and sister might be arrested due to the firearms being found in their shared home, adding another layer of complexity to his decision-making and the consequences for his family.
The other men involved in the conspiracy received lengthy sentences, with James Kelly sentenced to 19 years, Stephen Kelly to 20 years and nine months, Dean Woods to 12 years, Paul Speedy to eight years and eight months, and Liam Hart to six years and nine months. Sentencing Judge Watson condemned the presence of "genuine weapons" in the operation, warning of their "insidious and corrosive effect on the well-being of communities."
Both cases underscore the challenges faced by the criminal justice system in tackling the twin scourges of drug trafficking and prison smuggling. From the desperate acts of individuals coerced by threats, to the calculated logistics of nationwide conspiracies, the human costs are stark. The courts, for their part, continue to deliver stern warnings and custodial sentences, hoping to deter others and protect the vulnerable from the ravages of drugs and violence. Yet as these stories show, the battle is far from over, and the ingenuity of those involved in the trade means vigilance remains essential.
With every conviction, the courts seek not just to punish, but to send a message: that the damage wrought by drugs—inside and outside prison walls—will not be tolerated, and that the law will pursue those responsible, no matter how complex or desperate their circumstances.
