Unforced error as pair’s elaborate smuggling scheme smashed after they were stopped on the motorway in an uninsured car
Stephen Fraser and Tyler Cousins(Image: Humberside Police)
Two men devised an elaborate way to smuggle drugs into a prison – using a two-metre-long catapult that fired tennis balls crammed with drugs. They used similar-sized potatoes to measure distance and trajectory before launching the drugs in tennis balls, a court heard.
Stephen Fraser, 37, formerly of Baptist Place, Bridlington, but later of Fifth Avenue, Leeds, and Tyler Cousins, 22, of Redcap Drive, Bridlington, each admitted possessing cocaine, cannabis, Zopliclone, Buprenorphine and Pregabalin with intent to supply on February 19.
Harry Bradford, prosecuting, told Grimsby Crown Court that an unmarked police car trailed a silver Ford Focus southbound on the M18 because details of the car showed that it was not insured. It was stopped on the motorway at about 4.10pm and police found drugs and a catapult.
The car was being driven by Fraser and police became suspicious due to the smell of cannabis around. Officers found a rucksack in the car. It contained tennis balls, which had cannabis and cocaine in them.
There were also 100 Pregabalin tablets and some potatoes. The police officers also seized a two-metre-long catapult and an iPhone.
Analysis of the phone showed messages between Fraser and an inmate in prison discussing how to fire the drug-filled tennis balls into the prison grounds to supply inmates.
It was not known which prison the drugs were destined for, although the car was stopped in the Doncaster area, said Mr Bradford.
The messages described how the potatoes were used as dummies to gauge the distance. One message read: “Tell them I fired six, but lost two.”
The messages also discussed sums of money, which ran into “thousands of pounds.” There was also reference to “getting a better catapult to improve supply”.
When the two men were arrested, they made no comment in the police interview. Fraser had convictions for 30 previous offences, two of which were for supplying Class A drugs.
He had previously been given a two-year suspended prison sentence. Fraser was a “third-strike” offender for possession with intent to supply Class A drugs. Cousins had two previous offences for dissimilar matters.
Ben Hammersley, mitigating, said that Fraser pleaded guilty at an early opportunity. Craig Lowe, representing Cousins, submitted references and a letter from the defendant.
Fraser was jailed for five years and seven months. Cousins was given a two-year suspended prison sentence and 20 days’ rehabilitation.
Deputy circuit judge Timothy Clayson said the sentencing hearing was “a wake up call” for Cousins. He told Cousins: “I’m satisfied it was not your idea. You are only 22 years.
“There are realistic prospects for rehabilitation. You can’t say you don’t have support because you do. You have been given a great chance. At 22, it is all down to you.”
Cousins would be helped by probation officers. “You should treat them as your best friends,” said the deputy circuit judge. “If you are open with them, they can help you with just about anything. You have got your chance so make the most of it.”
At a separate case before Hull Crown Court in February, Fraser was told by a judge: “You are a bloody fool” after he was caught with cannabis – despite earlier narrowly avoiding prison for crack cocaine dealing. He was originally one of nine runners for a Class A drugs gang headed by three other men in the Bridlington area.
He had been given a two-year suspended prison sentence in March last year. Fraser admitted breaching the suspended sentence by possessing cannabis on December 11.
The court heard that day that police spotted a car in Market Place, Bridlington, that was suspected of being linked to drug supply in the area. The car took an “illogical and evasive route” to Parkfield Drive and parked in Nursery Grove.
When the car was next seen, Fraser had left it. A search was launched and Fraser was seen walking along Scarborough Road towards Burstall Hill.
Fraser put his hands inside his jacket but police pulled them away. He managed to pull a small plastic bag out of his front jacket pocket and dropped it near his foot. An officer picked this up.
It was found to be green herbal cannabis for his own use.
Judge Gurdial Singh said that Fraser had been “a bloody idiot” to be in possession of drugs in breach of a suspended prison sentence. He told Fraser: “You are a bloody fool. You could have no complaints if I locked you up.”
He was, that day, fined £100 and was ordered to pay £85 costs and a £20 victims’ surcharge. “You should pay the costs for your own stupidity and think yourself lucky not to be going to prison,” said Judge Singh.
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