A lorry driver facing serious drugs charges has been granted bail despite police objections.
Forty-two-year-old Jonathan Keith Dinsmore whose address is subject to a reporting restriction, is accused of possessing, intending to supply and being concerned in the supply of cannabis on dates between 1 November 2024 and 17 January this year.
It is further alleged he was in possession of criminal property.
A detective constable told Omagh Magistrates’ Court Dinsmore was arrested following a search of his home and during interview made several admissions.
This related to him making comments to other lorry drivers last year that he would “do anything for extra money.”
An arrangement was made for Dinsmore to transport large boxes of herbal cannabis from England into Northern Ireland, which he did on three occasions.
Each time, he used a burner phone supplied by an organised crime gang and would be contacted at various times along the journey.
The drugs were collected and brought to Belfast by ferry and removed by others or driven by Dinsmore to specific points to be handed over.
On each occasion he was paid £2,000.
He also confirmed he recruited another lorry driver to carry out the same role, directing him to transport drugs but these were allegedly “passed to the wrong persons.”
Dinsmore believed this was around 47 kilos of drugs with a street value of £700,000.
Police found £1,000 strapped to a mobile phone on a fence post on a country road near Dinsmore’s home, which he confirmed placing there to avoid detection.
The court heard he and the other driver are now required to pay the crime gang £100,000 for the lost drugs.
Objecting to bail the detective said, “We are in receipt of information that criminal gangs may target the defendant’s address.”
District Judge Peter Magill remarked, “There’s a concept of protective custody and while I understand the defendant may be in danger, that’s for police to manage. If he’s lost drugs there’s no way he can pay this gang £100,000.”
The detective also felt if Dinsmore is released he may try to contact gang members and, “Going by seized phones and CCTV footage, he may perhaps be more acquainted with them that he originally stated. We don’t think he was entirely frank.”
Under defence cross-examination the detective confirmed without Dinsmore’s admissions there would have been no grounds to charge him at all.
No drugs were found in the house and he led police to the site of the burner phone and cash of his own volition.
Judge Magill remarked, “The defendant strikes me as the sort of person organised criminal gangs want, who doesn’t have any history of drug or serious crime involvement. They want somebody who is – I think the phrase is – a clean banana. He’s unlikely to be pulled in. They rely on people like him to do it and of course they are as disposable to crime gangs as the burner phones.”
The defence said, “He would be below the radar. It would be highly unlikely the defendant would contact any of this gang bearing in mind the admissions made in interview and the information he has given police.”
In response the detective stated, “I don’t believe he would initiate contact, but we are concerned persons in this gang may try to ascertain details on him.”
Following consideration Judge Magill decided bail could be granted in the sum of £500 with residence at an address approved by police.
Dinsmore must also provide details of his phone and allow police to access it.
The case will return to court on March 4.
