Trucker pulled over on A55 was deported drugs plotter

An HGV driver stopped on the A55 on Anglesey had been convicted of a drugs plot and deported. Paul Flynn, who had been travelling between Ireland and North Wales, said he thought his deportation order was over.

But it had not lapsed and today a judge at Caernarfon Crown Court jailed him for four months for knowingly entering the UK in breach of a deportation order. Prosecutor Elen Owen said Flynn, 58, of Castle Park, Ashbourne, County Meath, Ireland, had been convicted of an offence in London and served with a deportation order in June 1995.

Then in 2015 he was convicted for his part in a conspiracy involving Class A drugs and jailed for 10 years at Blackfriars Crown Court in London. But on October 8 this year a police officer on general traffic duties stopped his HGV lorry on the A55 at Gaerwen. You can sign up for all the latest court stories here

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Flynn said he was a long-distance lorry driver for a haulage company but his deportation order was noticed, the court heard. Richard Edwards, defending, said Flynn thought his deportation order was no longer in place given the length of time since it was imposed.

Flynn had driven a bin lorry for Haringey Council in London and worked more recently as a haulier, including for his present employers for three years. He had been stopped by customs officers and police in the past, but "nothing was said about breaching the deportation order", added defence barrister.

He added: "He should have checked but he did not think he was (still) subject to it. He feels a little aggrieved that he was released into the community to work in London and he has now found himself in breach of this order."

He would also like his laptop and phone, which were seized, back as soon as possible, he added. Jailing him, the judge Her Honour Nicola Jones told Flynn the onus had been on him to check if the order was still in place.

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