Budding jockey escapes prison after cannabis and cocaine found in police raid

26 October 2023 , 12:12

1296     0

Oran Brown who appeared at Letterkenny Circuit Court on drugs charges. (Image: SM-IR Irish Pictures )

A young amateur jockey has avoided jail after a cache of drugs was found in his home.

Oran Brown, a 22-year-old who is licensed by the BHA, received a three-and-a-half year prison sentence, suspended for three-and-a-half years, when he appeared in court in Letterkenny, Co Donegal.

Brown, who the court was told now worked in Britain and was due to ride at Cheltenham this weekend, was living in Lifford and working as a joiner in 2020 when his home was raided by Gardai, acting on a tip-off.

They discovered a large amount of cannabis and cocaine with a combined street value of nearly £10,000, according to a report by Donegal Live.

Officers also found drug-dealing paraphernalia plus over £8,000 in cash inside a safe while Brown was in possession of a quantity of cannabis and a grinder. Brown’s barrister Peter Nolan BL told the court Brown had started out as an apprentice jockey until “weight got the better of him”.

'I ventured into Alcatraz after dark and was terrified by what I saw and heard'

Nolan said Brown took cocaine to stabilise his weight but became more involved when his career never took off. Brown had no previous convictions and a probation and welfare report said the incident had brought “deep remorse and shame”.

Nolan said his client had “learned a serious lesson”, adding, “Stupidity led him to these circumstances.” Brown was also ordered to carry out 240 hours of community service in lieu of 16 months in prison on the charge of unlawful possession of cocaine.

“This is an unusual case where he deserves a second chance,” said Judge John Aylmer. “It is with some hesitation, but it is a case that it may be dealt with better on a non-custodial basis given all of the features. “

Jon Lees