A Canadian mother-of-two who admitted importing more than $20,000 worth of cannabis resin into the Island last year had her sentence reduced yesterday.

Carol Andrea Gilmore, of Mississauga, Ontario, Canada, pleaded guilty to importing more than 200 grams of cannabis resin on November 5.

She was sentenced to 18 months' imprisonment by Senior Magistrate Archibald Warner.

Yesterday, her lawyer Alexandra Wheatley argued the sentence was "manifestly excessive" and cited various cases where defendants had more than twice the amount of cannabis or cannabis resin and were given similar sentences as Gilmore.

"Today we appeal against that sentence, that it is manifestly excessive. The fundamental principle of sentencing advises that a sentence must be proportionate to the gravity of the offences. I submit to the court that previous case law should also be considered when sentencing an offender."

Mrs. Wheatley also suggested a sentence of seven months was appropriate for her client.

Crown counsel Auralee Cassidy disagreed and said: "It's my respectful submission that the learned Magistrate acted correctly in the sentence. It's respectfully submitted that the appropriate range of sentence is one of 18 months to four years in prison. The sentence was fair and just in the circumstances and ought not to be disturbed."

Puisne Judge Charles-Etta Simmons agreed with Mrs. Wheatley and reduced Gilmore's sentence to ten months.

"The court recognises that the magistrate has discretion to sentence. In this case, the proponents of the case suggest that the appropriate limit of the sentence is 12 months. A sentence of ten months is substituted. Any time spent will be taken into consideration."

Gilmore entered the Island on a commercial flight from Toronto, Ontario around 12.10 p.m last year. She took one piece of luggage off the conveyor belt at L.F. Wade International Airport, and left.

At 2.10 p.m. that day, the Police Drug Unit Office received information in relation to Gilmore, who was staying at the Clear View Suites & Villas in Hamilton Parish. Officers arrived at the guest cottages where they found the defendant at the front desk, asking for calling cards.

She proceeded to leave the front desk, at which time officers approached her for questioning.

Gilmore was taken to an office area where she told Police: "I think I have been set up. I have something in my bag. I was sent here by someone."

The court heard that inside Gilmore's purse was a grey plastic bag wrapped in white tissue paper containing what she called "little black gum stuff".

A Government analysis of the substance showed it was 208.46 grams of resin and carried a street value in Bermuda of $20,850.