A lorry driver, Jonathan Dinsmore, faces drug charges but was granted bail. Police objected due to gang involvement.
A detective constable spoke in Omagh Magistrates’ Court. Dinsmore was arrested after a home search and admitted things during questioning. He told other drivers he wanted extra money, apparently last year.
Dinsmore agreed to move cannabis boxes, transporting them from England to Northern Ireland three times. A crime gang gave him a burner phone and contacted him during each trip. Someone picked up the drugs and took them by ferry to Belfast, where they were removed.
Sometimes Dinsmore drove the drugs to specific locations, receiving £2000 each time. He also recruited another driver and instructed that driver to transport drugs too. The drugs were “passed to the wrong persons.” Dinsmore thought it was 47 kilos, valued them at £700,000.
Police found £1000 near his home, attached to a phone on a fence. Dinsmore said he put it there to hide it. He and the other driver owe the gang £100,000 for the lost drugs. The detective objected to bail, saying gangs might target Dinsmore’s home.
Judge Peter Magill addressed concerns about Dinsmore’s safety, stating that police must manage that. He doubted Dinsmore could pay the gang. The detective thought Dinsmore might contact the gang and said Dinsmore’s phone showed he knew them better than he said. “We don’t think he was entirely frank,” the detective stated.
The defense lawyer questioned the detective, who confirmed charges needed Dinsmore’s statements. Police found no drugs in his house. He showed police where he hid the phone and cash himself. Judge Magill called Dinsmore the type gangs target, wanting someone without a drug record, using “clean” people easily disposed of like burner phones.
The defense lawyer added he’d be under the radar and that Dinsmore wouldn’t contact the gang. He already made many admissions to police and gave them information. The detective wasn’t convinced, saying someone might try to contact Dinsmore.
Judge Magill decided to grant bail of £500. Dinsmore must live at an address approved by police and give police his phone details. The case returns to court on March 4.