sentence should begin from the date of his appeal which would have added eight months to his sentence. Sir James did not make such a ruling. He was merely voicing his opinion.

A convicted Jamaican drug smuggler yesterday had his appeal bid rejected, before it even began.

Cassel Reid was jailed for ten years after admitting bringing cocaine worth more than $130,000 into Bermuda last April.

He pleaded guilty to importation of a controlled drug and possession with intent to supply.

Yesterday, his attorney, Ms Elizabeth Christopher, appeared at Appeals Court seeking leave to appeal against the ten-year sentence.

She said father-of-three Reid, 36, of Montego Bay, suffered from a medical condition, which was not identified in court, and that the offence was a result of emotional stress.

Ms Christopher also stated the cocaine was pure cocaine and not in its crack form which usually merited a stiffer sentence.

Reid had swallowed the drug before entering Bermuda and Mr. Brian Calhoun, for the Crown, said: "A lot of people get drugs into Bermuda by this type of method because it has such a low chance of detection. The sentence is not excessive at all.'' Appeal Court President the Hon. Sir James Astwood yesterday denied leave to appeal against the sentence.

He further ruled it should begin from the date of the appeal, yesterday, effectively adding eight months to Reid's sentence.