Latest news with #Ellis
Wales Online
2 hours ago
- Wales Online
Holidaymakers caught smuggling 37kg of cannabis after dream Thai trip
Holidaymakers caught smuggling 37kg of cannabis after dream Thai trip A judge later described their actions as 'naïve and stupid' Lewis Ellis and James Poutch have been sentenced Two young men who jetted off for a three-week holiday in Thailand ended up in the dock after being stopped at Manchester Airport on their return. Lewis Ellis and James Poutch had travelled to the South-east Asian country in April to attend the Water Festival. But when they landed back in the UK, they were stopped by customs officials — and questioned about what they were bringing home. Ellis, 20, immediately came clean, telling officers: 'I have cannabis in my bag, I may as well tell you because you're going to see it.' Border Force officers went on to discover a total of 37 kilograms of cannabis, packed in vacuum-sealed plastic packages, inside the two men's luggage. Both later pleaded guilty to being concerned in the fraudulent evasion of a prohibition on the importation of class B drugs. Don't miss a court report by signing up to our crime newsletter here A judge later described their actions as 'naïve and stupid' and handed down suspended sentences. Prosecutor Georgia Kennedy-Curnow told the court that Ellis and Poutch, 19, were stopped at Manchester Airport after arriving on a flight from Bangkok via Abu Dhabi. She said Ellis explained he had been on a leisure trip with a friend he knew from school. A search of Ellis' suitcase revealed 19.83 kilograms of cannabis. James Poutch (Image: Facebook ) Poutch was stopped shortly after. He told officials he had packed the suitcase himself and was not carrying it on anyone else's behalf. His luggage contained 17.22 kilograms of the drug. 'The defendant said he had lost his phone abroad and both defendants gave no comment in their interviews,' Ms Kennedy-Curnow said. Defence barrister Simon Hustler, representing both men, told the court: 'The defendants would not seek to persuade the court that this was anything other than naked stupidity by two young men. 'Their families are in court today and are as livid as they were when they were before the lower court.' Lewis Ellis (Image: Facebook ) Mr Hustler added that Ellis, who had eight previous convictions, was now in a 'last chance saloon.' Sentencing the pair, Recorder Geoffrey Lowe said: 'You had an operational function in the chain, to courier these drugs into another country. 'This was naive and stupid for both of you - you exposed yourselves to the risk of imprisonment.' Poutch, of Fenby Gardens, Bradford, received a 16-month sentence, suspended for two years. Mr Hustler explained that both men had paid for the trip themselves and initially travelled with the intention of attending the Water Festival. It was during their time in Thailand that they encountered individuals and agreed to transport the drugs. Ellis, of no fixed abode, was sentenced to 18 months, also suspended for two years. Article continues below Both were ordered to complete 240 hours of unpaid work and 20 rehabilitation activity requirement days.
Daily Mirror
3 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
School mates partied hard on holiday - but it ended very badly at UK airport
School pals Lewis Ellis and James Poutch spent three-weeks in Thailand for a festival - they ended up in court after their bags were searched at Manchester Airport Two British school mates who went away on a three-week party holiday in Thailand received a shock when they landed back in the UK. Lewis Ellis and James Poutch were pulled aside at Manchester Airport and ended up in court because of what they brought back to the UK. Ellis, 20, and Poutch, 19, had travelled to South East Asia for the Water Festival, which is meant to symbolise new beginnings and cleansing troubles, in April. And customs officials in the UK found a total of 37 kilos of drugs in plastic-sealed packages in both of their suitcases when they returned. Both of the young men were stopped after flying home from Bangkok via Abu Dhabi and were confronted by officials. Ellis was pulled over first and told customs officers he had been on a three-week leisure trip with a friend he knew from school. When asked about the contents of his suitcase, the 20-year-old said: "I have cannabis in my bag, I may as well tell you because you're going to see it." 19.83 kilos of cannabis were found in his bag, reports Manchester Evening News. Poutch was then spoken to by customs staff. He told them he packed his suitcase himself and was not looking after it for somebody else. Officers discovered 17.22 kilos in his suitcase. Later in court, Georgia Kennedy-Curnow, prosecuting, said: "The defendant said he had lost his phone abroad and both defendants gave no comment in their interviews." Representing both, Simon Hustler said they had paid for the holiday and travelled there to attend the Water festival. But, while they were there, they came into contact with individuals in Thailand and they decided to transport the drugs. Ellis and Poutch were handed suspended sentences as the judge dubbed the incident "naïve and stupid". Sentencing, Recorder Geoffrey Lowe said: "You had an operational function in the chain, to courier these drugs into another country. This was naive and stupid for both of you - you exposed yourselves to the risk of imprisonment." Poutch, from Bradford, was handed 16 months suspended for two years and Ellis was given a 18 months suspended for two years. The young men were also both ordered to complete 240 hours unpaid work and 20 rehabilitation activity requirement days. Hustler told the court: "The defendants would not seek to persuade the court that this was anything other than naked stupidity by two young men. Their families are in court today and are as livid as they were when they were before the lower court." He said for Ellis, who had eight previous convictions on his record, this was a "last chance saloon".
Yahoo
19 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
2008 NFL draft do-over has the Saints passing on a former first-round bust
How do you define an NFL draft bust? Is it someone who doesn't last long in the league, or a player who just doesn't meet expectations? Depending on how harshly you grade draft picks, your opinion could fall between either one of those extremes. And that brings us to former New Orleans Saints first-round draft pick Sedrick Ellis, who the team traded up to get back in 2008. Pro Football Focus analysts Max Chadwick, Dalton Wasserman, and Trevor Sikkema spun the clock all the way back for a do-over of that draft class using the benefits of hindsight. And they didn't have the Saints trading up three spots from No. 10 to pick Ellis, or even drafting him at all. Instead, they went with future three-time Pro Bowl wide receiver DeSean Jackson. Advertisement PFF's explanation? Surrounding Drew Brees with more weapons to start his Saints career, adding Jackson to a receiving corps that already featured Marques Colston, Lance Moore, and Devery Henderson, plus running backs Reggie Bush and Pierre Thomas. The Saints also had Robert Meachem coming off of rookie-year knee surgery but Jackson would've given the receiving corps significantly more juice. While Ellis wasn't taken in the first round of this redraft (which isn't too surprising; he washed out of the league after playing out his five-year rookie contract with the Saints), one of his teammates was. Carl Nicks was picked in the fifth round by New Orleans but in this do-over went at No. 18 overall to the Houston Texans. Here's why: Nicks was forced to retire after just six seasons due to a MRSA infection. He was named a first-team All-Pro once, a second-team All-Pro once and a Pro Bowler twice. He earned an 83.0-plus PFF overall grade in each of his four seasons with New Orleans, and even recorded 77.0-plus PFF overall grades in each of his seasons with the Buccaneers before retiring. He is one of the best value picks in this draft. If not for that unfortunate injury Nicks may have made his case for the Pro Football Hall of Fame just like his tag-team partner Jahri Evans did. It's a shame his career didn't last longer in New Orleans. He was one of three members of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers who were diagnosed with MRSA infections, two of whom had their careers cut short by it. Playing for Houston or staying with the Saints may have made a world of difference for him. This article originally appeared on Saints Wire: Saints dodge draft bust, miss potential HOFer in 2008 draft do-over
Yahoo
a day ago
- General
- Yahoo
APS cancels last day at Ellis, IJ over 'potential safety concern' to students
May 30—Due to what was termed as a "potential safety concern," at Ellis Middle School, the Austin Public Schools District has made the decision to cancel the last day of school for both Ellis Middle School and IJ Holton Intermediate School. In a letter to district parents, Superintendent Dr. Joey Page made the announcement earlier this morning. "Due to the timing of this report and our need to fully assess the situation, we have made the decision to cancel the last day of school for Ellis Middle School students," Page explained in the letter. "Additionall, IJ Holton, due to its close proximity to Ellis, will also be closed to students." Citing the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, Page said he was unable to go into details regarding the situation saying only that the district was working with law enforcement to investigate the threat's nature and that it is "taking every precaution to ensure the safety of our community." "All threats of violence — even those made in jest — are taken seriously and may result in student discipline, including possible expulsion and involvement of law enforcement," Page's letter said. Austin Police Chief David McKichan confirmed that the district had reached out to the Austin Police Department, which continues to look into the threats. "Austin Public Schools received information about a potential safety concern involving students at Ellis Middle School. They did contact us to investigate, and that investigation is ongoing," McKichan said in a statement. "We do have two School Resource Officers (SRO) assigned to the school district. One of those is dedicated to the Ellis/IJH joint campus and is assigned this case. The other SRO, and any of our other staff, would of course assist as needed." The letter ended with Page urging parents or their students that if they hear of any threats to call 911 to report it.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Man sentenced to 174 years in prison for prostituting a runaway teen
The Brief Leroy Ellis Jr., 32, was sentenced to 174 years in prison for forcing a runaway teen into prostitution, the Maricopa County Attorney's Office said on May 29. The teen was commended by county attorney Rachel Mitchell for testifying in the suspect's trial by jury. MARICOPA COUNTY, Ariz. - A 32-year-old man was sentenced to nearly two centuries in prison for forcing a runaway teen to work as a prostitute, the Maricopa County Attorney's Office said. What we know Leroy Ellis Jr. was sentenced to 174 years in prison after a jury found him guilty of child sex trafficking and committing a dangerous crime against children. "In 2022, the victim – who was 15 at the time - traveled from California to Arizona after meeting Ellis on Facebook. After she arrived in Phoenix, Ellis groomed her to start working for him as a prostitute right after her 16th birthday," the county attorney's office said on May 29. "The victim testified that over the next several months she gave everything she earned from sex to the defendant. On at least two occasions, she had sex so Ellis would have money to pay for his son's birthday party and buy presents." MCAO says texts between the victim and Ellis show that he would approve her "dates" and the prices. The office also says she was "branded" with tattoos of Ellis' name and nickname in large letters. Those tattoos were seen in photos he'd post online for "sex advertisements." "This woman showed incredible bravery by testifying about how she was manipulated and victimized by the defendant," said Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell. "Thank you to the Phoenix Police detectives who rescued her from a life of prostitution, and to the prosecution team in my office for finding justice for this woman who has been so horribly abused." What you can do Click here to learn more about resources in Arizona for trafficking victims.
