Wolverhampton siblings transported heroin to pay off debts

Police intercepted Amy Simpson at Stafford on her way to Stoke-on-Trent with more than £16,000 worth of the drug, Stafford Crown Court heard.

She was the front seat passenger in a Citroen stopped by officers on the A34 at Redhill on October 2 last year, said Mr Neil Ahuja, prosecuting.

She was asked if she had anything illicit and she handed over a bag containing 252g of heroin.

She told the police: "Ok, I've been doing this for about two years. I was going to the Windmill pub in Stoke-on-Trent. I don't know what it is, I get a telephone call and a man comes and takes it off me."

Her brother Jason Simpson was later arrested at their home in Wolverhampton. A dealer's list and two mobile phones were seized they contained text messages with Jason giving instructions to his sister.

When questioned, Jason Simpson admitted taking drugs to Stoke once or twice a week to pay off drug debts and he had asked his sister to do it as well.

Jason Simpson, aged 33 of Wayside, Wolverhampton and his sister Amy, aged 20, of the same address, both admitted being concerned in the supply of drugs and she also admitted possessing drugs with intent to supply.

He was jailed for three years and his sister sent to youth custody for two years.

Recorder Ms Abigail Nixon told them: "Unfortunately the story I have been told is a sad one the courts hear time and time again - drug use, drug debts and drug dealing to pay off those debts. I accept both of you felt pressured to carry out the dealing, but both of you had an opportunity to stop.

"It is extremely difficult to quantify the amount of drugs you were dealing.

Miss Jane Sarginson, for Jason Simpson, said he started taking cocaine after losing his job three years ago. Although his girlfriend stopped his drug taking 18 months ago, he still had the problem of debts and he dealer came round and threatened him. He was told that if he delivered a package, the debt would be cleared, but it was a lie - the 'debt' was doubled.

The dealers gave him a mobile phone and he would received texted instructions. "Two packages would arrive and he would take the packages as instructed on the texts. He concedes his sister became involved, she didn't make as many deliveries as he did. She knew of the threats he was under and she became worried for him."

Mr Bernard Porter, for Amy, said: "She was aware pressure was being brought to bear on him. She thought, naively, it would alleviate the threats being made to her brother."