Droitwich student jailed for two years for importing cocaine from Costa Rica

A DRUG-DEALING university student from Droitwich who imported £500 worth of cocaine from Costa Rica by using the ‘dark web’ and paying by Bitcoin wept as he was jailed for two years at Gloucester crown court.

Jordan Richards-Chiverton of Hipkiss Gardens was studying in Cheltenham and living in Arle Gardens when he placed the order for the drug in Aug/Sept 2014, the court was told.

But the parcel aroused suspicion at a postal handling centre in Coventry and police were alerted. Richards-Chiverton was arrested when he went to his local post office to collect it.

He admitted attempting to evade the prohibition on the importation of cocaine and was jailed by Recorder Paul Grumbar, who called it a ‘sophisticated’ offence.

Prosecutor Julian Kesner said the intercepted parcel contained 13.5grams of cocaine worth between £420 and £560.

It was monitored and Richards-Chiverton was arrested when he went to collect it on September 9, 2014.

At his home police found digital scales, a laptop and a diary containing a ‘dealers list’ of purchasers and amounts.

“The laptop showed how he had made this purchase – using the dark web where guns, ammunition and drugs are sold by criminals over the internet,” said Mr Grumbar.

“Bitcoin was used for payment, not cash.

“He had the user name Luigi.

“This is the very first case I have been involved in where the dark web and Bitcoin are used.”

The computer also revealed Richards-Chiverton had ordered cannabis in the same way in June 2014.

There was a text on Richards-Chiverton’s phone from someone called ‘Lecay’ saying ‘Let’s make some money together this year.’ Mr Kesner said that was dated September 3, the start of the university year.

The same person texted “I am looking to make £10K at uni. We can make that sh*t together.”

Richards-Chiverton had replied “I am definitely in. I just worry that if I invest I may lose it.”

Ekwall Singh-Tiwana, defending, said Richards-Chiverton had grown up in a very disadvantaged family in Birmingham where there were gangs with guns and drugs who bullied people like him.

Despite that he had done well academically, was accepted at university and was doing well until he failed all his exams last year as a result of stress after his arrest.

Richards-Chiverton had become a heavy cannabis user at college and fell into debt to his dealers, which was why he fell to the temptation too suply, he added.

He urged the court to pass a suspended sentence so Richards-Chiverton could continue his studies and help support his mother, who had serious health issues, and his 15-year-old sister

But Recorder Grumbar said the case was too serious for anything other than an immediate jail term.

“It seems to be despite all the evidence your counsel has drawn to my attention that you were a hard-working, studious and promising young man that essentially you gave into greed and thought this was an easy way of making money,” added Mr Grumbar.

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