A thirty eight year old man has been jailed by Deemster Doyle for a total of six years.

Steven Barry Watterson . .of Berrywoods Avenue in Douglas . . appeared at General Jail for sentence after admitting five offences of conspiring to import and supply drugs.

Peter Carle prosecuting said the defendant was part of drugs operation Jamie carried out on the Island in 2002.

Watterson . . a key conspirator . . was a target for undercover police. He was involved with two Liverpool men . . . .and obtained large quantities of drugs for the officers . . and was paid substantial sums of money. The drugs involved were cocaine . . ecstasy . . cannabis resin . .and MDMA crystals.

The offences were committed between May and July 2002. Watterson absconded from the Island the day before his trial which was due to start on October 11th 2005. He subsequently handed himself in at police headquarters in June of this year.

His advocate said that Watterson . . who had previous convictions for drugs . . had no convictions for the last ten years. He was coerced by the officers and because he was vulnerable at the time complied. He deeply regretted getting involved in drugs again . . and assured the court he would not be getting involved again.

Deemster Doyle said people getting involved in drugs could expect severe sentences.

He said that drugs posed a threat to the Island