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Watkins loses appeal against drugs sentence
Page 13
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II A Kent driver who was found with more than 100kg of cannabis resin in his cab when stopped at the Channel Tunnel has lost an appeal against his nine-year prison sentence.
Edwin James Watkins of Mountbatten Avenue, Chatham was jailed on 12 July after being found guilty of importing the drug.
Rejecting the appeal Judge Sir Lawrence Verney, the Recorder of London, said: "The sentence was in no way improper and we uphold it. It was a bold attempt to import drugs_ The street value of the drugs was various ly estimated at between £189,000 and £417,000. Whichever figure is taken, this was a quantity with substantial value and a deterrent sentence is called for."
When stopped and searched at the Channel Tunnel freight terminal, Watkins' truck was found to contain seven holdalls packed with 126.5kg of cannabis.
When first asked about the contents he said: "It is what you think it is."
But at trial he claimed he believed he was smuggling tobacco for which he was to be paid £5,000. His counsel, William Glossop, said: "He was a chance courier used on a single occasion. His defence at trial was that he was in a very low state. He had been thrown out of his home, was working all hours and was tired and gullible. He was looking after four children; his partner is standing by him."