Darlington cannabis carrier acted as Bangkok 'drug mule' to wipe debt

Kyle Nimmo previously admitted to importing class B drugs after his luggage was searched on arrival at Heathrow Airport on a flight from Bangkok last September 6.

Customs officers found 32 vacuum-packed packages, containing 20kg of cannabis, in a search of a case.

Nimmo said due to a £12,000 drug debt he was threatened with being stabbed and “instructed” to attempt to bring the cannabis consignment into the country.

The 24-year-old defendant of Cumberland Street, Darlington, received a 17-month sentence, suspended for two years, at Isleworth Crown Court, in west London, on May 15.

He was also ordered to perform 80 hours’ unpaid work and attend 25 rehabilitation activity days, overseen by the Probation Service.

He appeared before Durham Crown Court on Friday (August 14), having admitted breaching the order, with still 75 hours of the unpaid work element outstanding and none of the rehabilitation activity days completed.

Durham Crown Court. (Image: The Northern Echo)

Uzma Khan, prosecuting, said the defendant attended his first unpaid work session in June, but was deemed unfit having passed out after taking the drug zopiclone, which led to an ambulance being called.

Miss Khan said there has been a recent “re-engagement” with the Probation Service which has seen some of the unpaid work being completed.

Chris Morrison, for Nimmo, said he spent time in Wormwood Scrubs prison after his arrest with the “contraband” at Heathrow Airport.

Mr Morrison said on his return to the North East the defendant was faced with the sad news of the deaths of two friends, one through overdose and the other suicide, which provided a “salutary lesson”.

But, now living back at his mother’s address he has found work, in construction, at a site in Eaglesclife, and is making efforts to “better himself.”

“So, there’s still some hope for this man, who is still young at 24,” added Mr Morrison.

Judge Edward Legard told Nimmo it may be that he was “fortunate” to have received the suspended sentence and he was sure the sentencing judge will have made clear the potential consequences of failing to comply with the order.

But the judge said the defendant’s recent re-engagement with the Probation Service may reflect, “an improvement in attitude”, which he hopes continues.

Marking the breach with a £500 fine, payable in six weeks, Judge Legard told Nimmo that he is “testing the patience” of the courts and if he fails to comply with the rest of the order “it’s almost certain” that he would be going straight to prison.

“I can’t be clearer than that. This is your last chance.”