Puisne Judge Ian Kawaley locked up a British drug mule for eight years last week after the man admitted he admitted bringing in $300,840 worth of heroin last year.

Meyrick Patrick, of Kentworth Court, Birmingham, had 107.86 grams of diamorphine in his luggage after a flight from London on June 24, 2004.

Mr. Justice Kawaley heard that Patrick, 45, was an unemployed father of two when he was approached by a man named ?Karl? to smuggle drugs here and be paid ?5,000 on his return.

The defendant told Police he was told he would be collected at the Airport by an unknown person and that person would know what he looked like by how he was dressed.

Crown counsel Wayne Caines said a Police narcotics expert said the heroin had an estimated street value of $300,840 and suspected the drug were not for personal use but for supply. Patrick told the court: ?I would like to take this opportunity to apologise for an act that was totally out of character. I am very sorry for what?s gone down, I have embarrassed myself and the country.?

After touchdown at 7.15 p.m., Patrick collected his luggage but was called aside and questioned by a Customs officer. He denied having drugs, but appeared nervous and fidgety to the officer.

Other officers were called to assist, Mr. Caines continued, but Patrick placed his hands in the crotch area of his trousers and tried to get away from the officers. They took him to a search room and a cylindrical object fell onto the floor. Mr. Caines said that when asked what was in it, Patrick said: ?I had on what they gave to me.?

After further questioning as to what was in the package, he replied: ?It is a Class A drug I think, I don?t know.?

He was arrested and taken to King Edward VII Memorial Hospital where he was given an abdominal X-ray. Nothing unusual was noted.

Patrick?s lawyer Elizabeth Christopher said her client had cooperated in providing as much information as he could in assisting the Police with their investigation, including providing name of the name of the person who gave him the drug and the contact.

She said when Patrick arrived he was suffering from numerous of medical conditions when he arrived in Bermuda, including possibly suffering from heart palpitations and possibly suffering from a heart attack.

The court also heard that the defendant is a diabetic. Ms Christopher said Patrick was a soft target for drug dealers and vulnerable to being a drug courier.

She added: ?Mr. Patrick is a classic person to assist with a controlled delivery.?

She also said it is clear from Patrick?s statement that he was not aware of the particular type of drug he was importing.

?He was aware that he was bringing a controlled drug, a serious drug as opposed to marijuana. He admitted to having a Class A drug but he did not know it was heroin,? Ms Christopher said.