Valerie Peloe and Alan Dawson admitted a series of offences at court this week
Alan Dawson and Valerie Peloe pleaded guilty to a series of drugs offences on the Isle of Man(Image: Facebook)
A couple from Merseyside will likely face a significant prison term after nearly a kilo of cocaine was found at an Isle of Man hotel. Alan Dawson and Valerie Peloe, both of South Road in Waterloo, appeared before a court on the island where they admitted a string of offences.
The local media has reported the pair pleaded guilty to possessing cocaine with intent to supply, being concerned in importing cocaine, possession of cocaine and possession of criminal cash totalling £700.
The court was told on Tuesday that the case involved the seizure of nearly a kilo of cocaine found on March 26. The possession charges were said to relate to smaller amounts of cocaine found, weighing 0.7g and 0.4g.
Dawson, 44, also pleaded guilty to a charge of driving while disqualified, committed on Harris Promenade in Douglas, also on March 26.
The Isle of Man Today reported he had already been banned from driving by a Merseyside court in August 2023.
Because of the seriousness of the offences, the judge sent Dawson and Peloe, 47, to the higher Court of General Gaol Delivery. They will appear there on May 1.
No bail applications were made and they are both currently remanded at the Isle of Man Prison. The court heard the pair needed to have contact with each other as they both had respective children.
The ECHO has previously reported extensively on drugs cases involving Merseyside natives journeying to the Isle of Man. Drug gangs from the mainland continue to target the island because of its lucrative market which allows drugs to be sold for a considerably higher price.
The island’s police force previously told the ECHO that nearly 40% of its prison was populated by organised crime members, mainly from the north west region.
Detective Inspector Jamie Tomlinson previously told the ECHO: “My message is simple to anyone else who is considering taking this risk. If you make the conscious decision to bring drugs to our island, there is a very strong possibility you will be apprehended at our ports and when you are, you will be dealt with severely by our courts.
“You can expect to spend many years behind bars here, away from family, friends and loved ones. I am extremely keen to educate any person who is considering being used as a drugs ‘mule’ as to likely outcomes should they be tempted to bring drugs into our island.
“I wish to also make it clear that we are not like the United Kingdom as we have our own laws, procedures and sentencing powers.
“Contrary to what people are told, we have the ability to keep suspected offenders within our custody until we either seize controlled drugs from that individual or show that they are not carrying any controlled substances internally. This process is not subject to time restraints.”
Peloe and Dawson previously appeared in the press after the latter proposed on Llandudno Pier in July 2024. Speaking to the local newspaper, Peloe said her partner got down on one knee to Amy Winehouse’s version of ‘Valerie’, before the pier staff “came over with a bottle of prosecco for us”.
She told the paper the pair were planning on getting married the following year, adding the proposal was “the happiest day of my life until next year”.