SENTENCING STATEMENTS
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HMA v Kristopher Purvis
Apr 16, 2025
On sentencing, Lord Summers said:
"Mr Purvis pled guilty to two charges. Both relate to the same course of criminal behaviour and are sentenced in cumulo.
While on a trip to Mexico with a friend he took possession of over 45kg of cocaine, a class A drug. The drugs were contained in packages and placed in two suitcases smeared with mustard, no doubt to put sniffer dogs off the scent.
He was caught at Edinburgh Airport and has remained in custody since that day. On any view 45kg is an exceptionally large haul of drugs. It is estimated that the drugs had a street value in the region of £4-5 million. Had he not been detected he would have been paid a substantial sum of money for taking the drugs into the UK.
The Sentencing Guidelines used in England and Wales cater for quantities of drugs up to 5kg. Where the quantity is significantly in excess of that amount the guidelines indicate that a sentence of around 20 years may be appropriate where the supply is of a commercial nature.
I accept that it may not be appropriate to describe the supply as commercial in nature. That suggests supplies of an industrial quantity. But equally the supply is well above the maximum sentences described in the guidelines. The appropriate penalty lies between these two ranges.
In that circumstance I have carefully considered Mr Purvis’s level of culpability. He is 35 years of age and is not able to plead immaturity. He is a first time offender and has shown remorse for his conduct and some insight into the serious nature of these offences. He has stated that he undertook the task of bringing these drugs into the country in order to repay a drug debt and that he was a cocaine user. I accept on the basis of the Crown Narrative that he did not organise the drugs operation in question and that his role was that of a drugs mule or courier. In light however of the substantial quantity of drugs a high sentence is called for. He knew the weight of the suitcases and he knew from whom he had received the drugs. He knew he was being paid handsomely to bring the drugs into the UK. He knew drugs are capable of causing immense harm to society. The larger the quantity the greater the damage.
Given the substantial quantity of drugs I have come to the conclusion that a headline sentence of 15 years is appropriate. He pled guilty at the earliest opportunity and I will reduce the sentence by one third to a term of ten years imprisonment. This will take effect from 24 July 2024."