Girl, 13, cleared in £1m heroin case
For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails
Sign up to our free breaking news emails
Sign up to our free breaking news emails
A girl of 13 accused of smuggling nearly £1m of heroin into Britain had the case against her dropped yesterday after a judge was told she was "more sinned against than sinning".
The girl, from Bradford, was forced into the crime by someone with a "parental role" over her, Manchester Crown Court heard. She had been a victim before and had a "genuine fear" of people around her, James Rae, for the prosecution, said.
The girl arrived at Manchester airport from Pakistan in April with heroin hidden in six cushions and a leather jacket. The total weight was 11.21kg (24lb 8oz) with a purity of between 56 per cent and 62 per cent. "This was equivalent to 6.66kg (14lb 8oz) of 100 per cent pure diamorphine with an estimated street value of £900,000," Mr Rae said. "When this child was stopped by a Customs officer she appeared to be travelling alone."
But the defence had blamed another person involved in drug smuggling, referred to by the girl as "uncle" tough they were not related, and claimed the girl was acting under duress, which the prosecution did not dispute, he said.
Someone with a parental role was involved in drug smuggling, although it was not her natural father or any "current associate" of his. "It has become quite apparent this child is more sinned against than sinning. The Crown has been gravely concerned at the thought that any person with a parental role should be allowed to use their child in this way, and that criminal responsibility can be evaded in that way.
"But it would be wrong to seek to penalise the child in such circumstances. This child has been a victim to a significant degree, such that will have justified her to have had genuine fear of some of those around her."
Sir Rhys Davies QC, the judge, entered a not-guilty verdict and discharged the girl, but said it was right proceedings had been commenced. He said the girl's future would be decided by the family court.
The girl was in court when the not-guilty verdict was formally given. Dressed in a light blue fleece, jeans and trainers, she appeared frail as she sat next to her legal team.
Her mother and father refused to comment outside court. Peter Wright QC, for the defence, said she was being kept in secure local authority accommodation.
A Customs and Excise spokesman said the case might be reopened if further evidence was found.