MONTEGO BAY, St James – A 74-year-old Englishwoman who was said to be suffering from myriad medical problems was yesterday sentenced to nine months in prison and fined $250,000, after pleading guilty in the Montego Bay Resident Magistrate’s Court to trying to smuggle 5.75lbs of cocaine out of the island.

Jean Cardill, who the court heard is partially deaf, is suffering from breast cancer, has a painful growth in her back and will soon need a hip replacement, was held at the Sangster International Airport on January 8 with the drug strapped to her waist.

Cardill arrived in the island on January 1 and was leaving with her grandson’s 19-year-old girlfriend who had accompanied her on the trip.

The Englishwoman was sentenced to 12 months in prison and fined $100,000 or six months for possession of cocaine and 12 months for dealing in cocaine. Both charges will run concurrently. She was also sentenced to 12 months and fined $150,000 or six months for taking steps to export cocaine. The latter sentence will run consecutive to the first two. She was also sentenced to nine months in prison.

Senior Resident Magistrate Winsome Henry had originally sentenced the elderly to 12 months but acquiesced to pleading from attorney-at-law Adrian Dayes to lower the sentence.

The attorney who had made a lengthy mitigation plea on the accused’s behalf had begged the magistrate not to impose a custodial sentence given the woman’s age and medical condition. He told the court that it was very likely his client could die in prison or be forced to undergo major surgery while being incarcerated.

He said her actions were not motivated by greed, but a combination of fear and intrigue and she was not offered any monetary compensation for the job.

The attorney told the court that the woman had been approached while she was a guest in an all-inclusive resort in Montego Bay by someone she came to fear.

He added that his cleint was a “victim of the drugs war” and asked the magistrate to take into consideration her previous 73 years of good character.

In handing down sentence RM Henry said it was always difficult in sentencing someone at that age, but said the amount of drugs Cardill was held with was substantial and the court had to bear in mind those who might have been affected by the drug.

The magistrate said she also needed to send a message to those who recruited people like the accused woman, who believe that they would not be sent to prison if caught.