Julian Tavernier, 29, returned to Durham today to hear the criminal proceeds ruling almost six months after being jailed by the same court for six years for the failed drug smuggling bid. The earlier hearing, in March, was told Tavernier, whose family originates in the Dominican Republic, concealed the class A drug stash in a biscuit tin posted to his then girlfriend, in County Durham, from the Caribbean island in late August last year. Police intercepted the package after being tipped off by Customs officials when it arrived at Gatwick Airport among mail from the Dominican Republic. The parcel was re-sealed and sent on to the intended address, in Seaham.
An under-cover officer posing as a parcel delivery driver called at the house, in Bethune Avenue, where Cheryl Pattison signed for the package. Police raided the house five minutes later and arrested Pattison and her sister, Kirsty Mackay, who tried to flee from the back door with the package. Tavernier, Pattison's partner at the time, was later arrested on his return to the country.
Tavernier, then 28, Pattison, 29, and her sister, 25-year-old Kirsty Mackay all admitted being concerned in the importation of a prohibited drug. Pattison and Mackay were each jailed for five years for their part in the crime. Although the court was yesterday told Tavernier's estimated benefits from the drug trade were £30,314, Judge John Evans was only able to order confiscation of the remaining £7,979 assets from the sale of the car.
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