R v Sam Coleman
[2024] EWCA Crim 706
R v Samuel Black
30 August 2024
[2024] EWCA Crim 1225
Court of Appeal
A man was sentenced to over 21 years in prison for dealing large amounts of drugs, laundering money, and having illegal guns. He appealed his sentence, but the court said the sentence was fair considering the serious crimes he committed. The court did not find his excuse for a late guilty plea convincing and didn't give him as much leniency as he hoped for.
Key Facts
- •Samuel Black pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply drugs (cocaine and cannabis), money laundering, and conspiracy to sell or transfer prohibited weapons.
- •Offenses occurred between March 27, 2020, and June 13, 2020.
- •At least 9kg of cocaine and 60kg of cannabis were involved.
- •Over £2 million in cash was handled, including money laundering for another organized crime group.
- •Black possessed and attempted to procure firearms, including a revolver and a semi-automatic pistol.
- •Black had seven previous convictions but none resulted in a custodial sentence.
- •Black was diagnosed with ADHD.
- •Black initially pleaded not guilty but changed his plea before trial.
- •The judge gave a 17.5% discount for the guilty plea.
Legal Principles
Sentencing for drug trafficking and money laundering offences.
Sentencing guidelines for Class A and B drugs, money laundering.
Totality principle in sentencing.
Case law on concurrent and consecutive sentences.
Credit for guilty pleas.
Sentencing guidelines.
Outcomes
Appeal dismissed.
The court found the sentence of 21 years and six months imprisonment not manifestly excessive. The judge appropriately considered the quantity of drugs, the money laundering, the weapons offences and the totality principle. The discount for the guilty plea was deemed appropriate given the circumstances. The weapons offence was correctly treated as revealing Black's role in the drug operation, not simply as an aggravating factor.