A father of one was jailed for ten years yesterday after pleading guilty to smuggling over $300,000 worth of drugs.

Nathan Paul Richardson, 24, of Table Rock Avenue in Pembroke, was sentenced to ten years for importing 77 grammes of diamorphine -- heroin -- worth $313,120 and four years for importing 78.3 grams of cocaine, worth $19,250.

The jail terms will run concurrently and the eight months he spent in custody, thus far, would be taken into consideration.

Richardson, a technician at All Seasons Air Conditioning, admitted a person approached him during a trip to Jamaica in 1999 and offered to give him $8,000 to transport a package to Bermuda.

He also admitted to knowing the package contained drugs.

On August 1, 1999, he arrived at the International Airport via Atlanta and was subjected to a secondary inspection at Customs.

Customs officers found three shoe polish brushes inside a Kiwi Athletic Footwear Kit. The brushes were heavier than expected.

An officer drilled a hole in one brush and found white powder.

Defence lawyer Venous Telford said Richardson's previous good character should lessen the duration of his custodial sentence.

However, the Court of Appeal established a precedent that the youth and previous good character of a person should not apply in the factoring of punishment for drug importation.

And, the maximum punishment for drug importation is the same as the punishment for murder said Chief Justice Austin Ward -- life imprisonment.

Mr. Justice Ward said: "What the legislature across the hall has done, it has equated the bringing of drugs onto this Island with the taking of someone's life.

"That is why the courts have little latitude.

"Once you start at that height, you can only drop to a certain depth.'' Crown counsel Charmaine Smith said: "The sentence can take several factors into consideration.

"The type of drug, it's quantity, value of the quantity and the effects that quantity can have to the society of Bermuda.

"Little or no consideration should be given to his youth and previous record,'' she added.

Ms Telford rallied a series of witnesses to Richardson's good character claim, including Reverend Conway Simmons of AME St. Paul, Richardson's mother Nelda Sampson and employer Sandy Marshall.

Mr. Justice Ward said: "He's not going to be sentenced for being a bad person.

"This is a simple thing about whether or not an offence has been committed.

"I don't think we should introduce badness or goodness. It is not that sort of personal case that can be taken into account,'' he added.

Mr. Justice Ward told a story of a poor woman who tried to make some money by transporting a package of drugs.

"Her's was a classic case of youth, need, desire to move ahead -- sensing one opportunity. The Court of Appeal said the Court, at this stage, must steal itself to its duty.

"This is one of the sad things of life.

"This was a serious error of judgment, but I cannot treat it this simple because the Court of Appeal will correct it,'' Mr. Justice Ward added.

All Seasons' office manager Sally Marshall said Richardson spoke with her about what he had done.

She said: "I listened, he needed a listener. I did not go along with it, but I saw something. He wasn't just whining.

"He knew he did wrong, that's why I'm here. He did wrong, but I think he's worth saving,'' said Mrs. Marshall.

She said Richardson was always in a position of trust and as a supervisor, entered peoples' homes containing valuable things many times.

"After this problem is over, we will expect him back as a full technician,'' she said.

Ms Telford told Mr. Justice Ward: "The age-old principle between the degree of deterrence and individual circumstances of each offender ought not to be ignored.

"Not withstanding that this is a drug-related offence, the court must still exercise a balancing test between what is in the public interest and the mitigating factors to the particular circumstances of Mr. Richardson.''