A HIV-positive mother-of-three, caught at Gatwick Airport with nearly £100,000 worth of cocaine after stepping off a flight from the Caribbean, has been jailed for five years.
Trinidad-born Dona Latchman, 34, had 1,000 gms of 66% pure cocaine and $630 U.S. on her when arrested.
She has been in custody since her arrest almost three months ago and deportation papers have been served.
Her lawyer told Croydon Crown Court last week: "She got into financial difficulties when her husband died eight years ago of a HIV-related illness.
"When she discovered she was HIV-positive she lost her job at a restaurant and drifted into prostitution."
An ex-boyfriend asked Latchman to smuggle the cocaine.
She also has malaria, suspected womb cancer and her sixteen year-old daughter is pregnant.
Judge Nicholas Ainley told the defendant: "I accept it was financial desperation that drove you to do what you did."
No comments:
Post a Comment