A 31-year-old Albanian national who entered the United Kingdom by crossing the English Channel in a small boat has been sentenced to two years in prison after being convicted of multiple offences including drug possession with intent to supply and attempting to flee from police officers.
Eles Mandri, who has no fixed address, was observed by officers on July 27 operating a silver Mercedes E-Class vehicle on the Wood Farm estate in Oxford.
Officers noted that the defendant attracted their attention after overtaking a learner driver who was travelling at the permitted speed limit.
The police vehicle drew alongside Mandri, who initially complied with signals to stop.
However, as an officer approached the passenger window and established that Mandri was alone in the vehicle, he suddenly accelerated away.
A brief pursuit commenced, during which officers observed the defendant abandon his vehicle and attempt to scale a gate leading to a rear garden.
He was detained by officers and the gate sustained damage during the incident.
A search of Mandri’s person and vehicle was conducted.
Officers discovered £760 in currency and a minor quantity of cannabis.
Within a sock located inside the car, sixteen bags containing white powder were recovered, which subsequent testing confirmed to be cocaine.
Further enquiries revealed that Mandri was operating the vehicle with an Albanian driving licence and without valid insurance cover.
During questioning by police, Mandri stated that the cannabis was intended for personal consumption and that he had fled because he had panicked.
He acknowledged that his entry into the United Kingdom had been undocumented.
The prosecution indicated that Mandri had reported experiencing threats, violence and exploitation.
The court was informed that Mandri had no prior criminal convictions recorded in the United Kingdom.
The defence stated that Mandri fully understood that a custodial sentence was the most probable outcome and expressed genuine remorse for his conduct, recognising the gravity of the offences committed.
Proceedings were told that Mandri had responded to an advertisement on social media seeking workers for a construction position.
Upon commencing his second day of employment, he was provided with a vehicle and coerced into distributing controlled substances.
The defence submitted that Mandri had been uncertain of whom he could rely upon.
The presiding judge observed that Mandri had arrived in the country via a small boat approximately two years prior and possessed neither legal entitlement to remain nor permission to undertake employment.
The court stated that drug trafficking causes extensive harm and strongly condemned the defendant’s criminal conduct.
In addition to the two-year custodial sentence, Mandri received eight penalty points on his driving record.
Orders were made for the seizure and destruction of the cash, controlled substances and the vehicle.