Latest news with #OranBrown
Daily Mirror
21-05-2025
- Daily Mirror
Arrest warrant issued by judge for budding jockey 'in hiding' over drug debt
Oran Brown, from Co Donegal, was a licensed amateur rider based in Gloucestershire until last year but is being sought after failing to complete a community service order An arrest warrant has been issued by a judge for a budding jockey who has failed to complete a community service order. Oran Brown, 24, was licensed as an amateur jockey by the BHA based in Gloucestershire until April last year. He was reportedly due to have a mount at Cheltenham's Showcase meeting in October 2023 but in the week leading up to the meeting he 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. He was living in Lifford and working as a joiner in 2020 when his home was raided by Garda, who discovered a large amount of cannabis and cocaine with a combined street value of nearly £10,000. Officers also found other 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. He was ordered to carry out 240 hours of community service in lieu of 16 months in prison on the charge of unlawful possession of cocaine. At that hearing Judge John Aylmer said 'This is an unusual case where he deserves a second chance. 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.' In April this year the probation service brought the case back to court because Brown had not completed his sentence. The case was adjourned so Brown could come to court to explain why he had not complied with the order, but his barrister Peter Nolan, according to said: 'Oran Brown has an individual looking for him to pay a drug debt. 'He is in hiding. He can't comply with the community service order as he is in fear of third parties.' The probation service said it had been trying to reach Brown by phone and by post since November last year without success. He had not carried out any of the community service required. Judge Aylmer issued an arrest warrant saying he was satisfied Brown was aware of the community service order.
Sunday World
20-05-2025
- Sunday World
Arrest warrant issued for jockey ‘in hiding' over drug debt
Oran Brown was convicted in court after being caught with over €11,000 worth of drugs A Judge has ordered an arrest warrant to be issued for a Co Donegal horse-racing jockey who is 'in hiding' over a drug debt after he failed to complete a community service order. Oran Brown was convicted in court after being caught with over €11,000 worth of drugs at his home in June, 2020. In 2023, the Lifford sportsman was ordered to do 240 hours of community service after Gardai raided his home and found drugs and cash. Last month, Donegal Circuit Court heard that he has been unable to undertake that part of his sentence. The case was adjourned to today to see if Brown could be contacted to explain why he had not undertaken the community service in lieu of the prison sentence. Brown's barrister, Mr Peter Nolan explained that his client has been in hiding over a drug debt. 'Oran Brown has an individual looking for him to pay a drug debt. 'He is in hiding. He can't comply with the community service order as he is in fear of third parties,' he said. The case was brought back before the court by the Probation Service due to Brown's non-compliance with the order. The case was mentioned again today but the Probation Service told the court that they had made 'numerous efforts' to contact Brown but had still not heard back from him. A spokesperson for the service said they had tried to reach the accused by phone and had sent him letters since last November but had still not heard back from him. They also confirmed that Brown had not completed ANY of the 240 community service hours imposed in lieu of time in jail. Judge John Aylmer said he was satisfied that Brown was aware of the order and issued a warrant. Previously, Brown was sentenced to a three-and-half-year term in prison, which was suspended for three and a half years, for the possession of cannabis for the purpose of selling or supplying to others. He was also ordered to complete 240 hours of community service in lieu of 6 months in prison on a charge of the unlawful possession of cocaine. Gardai, armed with a search warrant, swooped on Brown's home at Collate, Lifford on June 25, 2020. Detectives seized €8,668 worth of cannabis and cocaine with a street value of €2,504.81. Some of the cannabis was found in deal bags. A Zopiclone tablet, valued at €2, was also located in the raid. A grinder, weighing scales and a quantity of Ziploc bags were also found. Quantities of Diazepam and Xanax were found in a Tommy Hilfiger bag in the property while gardai observed a line of suspected cocaine on top of a dresser. A quantity of cocaine was found inside a safe, which also contained €7,225 and £2,480 sterling in cash. Brown was searched and a cylinder containing cannabis and a grinder was located on his person. Almost £9,000 in cash was found inside a safe and, after being arrested, Brown told Gardai he 'smoked a lot of weed and sniffed cocaine'. He added: "I won't lie, I sold a few bags of weed too." Brown said the cash was given to him by his parents and grandparents for his birthday the month before. He refused to give gardai the PIN for his mobile phone as he said there was 'stuff on the phone' that he didn't want them to see. Detective Garda Michelle Kelly said gardai were unable to access data from the phone as the PIN was not provided. In court in 2023, Mr Nolan said his client, who he said was a 'conditional apprentice' at the time, began taking cocaine 'to keep the weight stabilised'. 'Stupidity led him to these circumstances,' Mr Nolan said. At the time of sentencing Judge Aylmer said 'It was clear from all the paraphernalia found on the premises that there was a significant amount of dealing going on. 'This is an unusual case where he deserves a second chance. 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."
BreakingNews.ie
20-05-2025
- BreakingNews.ie
Judge issues warrant for 'in hiding' jockey after he fails to do community service for drugs charge
A Judge has ordered an arrest warrant to be issued for a Co Donegal horse-racing jockey who is 'in hiding' over a drug debt after he failed to complete a community service order. Oran Brown was convicted in court after being caught with over €11,000 worth of drugs at his home in June 2020. Advertisement In 2023, the Lifford sportsman was ordered to do 240 hours of community service after gardaí raided his home and found drugs and cash. Last month, Donegal Circuit Court heard that he has been unable to undertake that part of his sentence. The case was adjourned to today to see if Brown could be contacted to explain why he had not undertaken the community service in lieu of the prison sentence. Brown's barrister, Mr Peter Nolan, explained that his client has been in hiding over a drug debt. Advertisement 'Oran Brown has an individual looking for him to pay a drug debt. 'He is in hiding. He can't comply with the community service order as he is in fear of third parties,' he said. The case was brought back before the court by the Probation Service due to Brown's non-compliance with the order. The case was mentioned again on Tuesday, but the Probation Service told the court that they had made 'numerous efforts' to contact Brown but had still not heard back from him. Advertisement A spokesperson for the service said they had tried to reach the accused by phone and had sent him letters since last November, but had still not heard back from him. They also confirmed that Brown had not completed any of the 240 community service hours imposed in lieu of time in jail. Judge John Aylmer said he was satisfied that Brown was aware of the order and issued a warrant. Previously, Brown was sentenced to a three-and-a-half-year term in prison, which was suspended for three and a half years, for the possession of cannabis for the purpose of selling or supplying to others. Advertisement He was also ordered to complete 240 hours of community service in lieu of 6 months in prison on a charge of the unlawful possession of cocaine. Gardai, armed with a search warrant, swooped on Brown's home at Collate, Lifford on June 25th, 2020. Detectives seized €8,668 worth of cannabis and cocaine with a street value of €2,504.81. Some of the cannabis was found in deal bags. A Zopiclone tablet, valued at €2, was also located in the raid. Advertisement A grinder, weighing scales and a quantity of Ziploc bags were also found. Quantities of Diazepam and Xanax were found in a Tommy Hilfiger bag in the property, while gardaí observed a line of suspected cocaine on top of a dresser. A quantity of cocaine was found inside a safe, which also contained €7,225 and £2,480 sterling in cash. Brown was searched, and a cylinder containing cannabis and a grinder was located on his person. Almost £9,000 in cash was found inside a safe and, after being arrested, Brown told gardaí he 'smoked a lot of weed and sniffed cocaine'. He added, "I won't lie, I sold a few bags of weed too." Brown said the cash was given to him by his parents and grandparents for his birthday the month before. He refused to give gardaí the PIN for his mobile phone as he said there was 'stuff on the phone' that he didn't want them to see. Detective Garda Michelle Kelly said gardaí were unable to access data from the phone as the PIN was not provided. In court in 2023, Mr Nolan said his client, who he said was a 'conditional apprentice' at the time, began taking cocaine 'to keep the weight stabilised'. 'Stupidity led him to these circumstances,' Mr Nolan said. At the time of sentencing, Judge Aylmer said, 'It was clear from all the paraphernalia found on the premises that there was a significant amount of dealing going on. 'This is an unusual case where he deserves a second chance. 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."
