RAMSEY MAN MATTHEW WILLIAMS SENTENCED FOR DRUGS AND SOPO BREACHES IN RAMSEY

A resident of Ramsey, Matthew Williams, has been sentenced to a significant prison term after being found guilty of multiple drug-related offenses and violations of a Sexual Offence Prevention Order (SOPO). The court proceedings revealed that between January and September 2024, Williams, aged 22, was actively involved in the distribution of illegal substances, including cannabis and ketamine, with the street value of the drugs exceeding £5,500.

Specifically, Williams was responsible for supplying over £3,500 worth of cannabis during this period. Police investigations also uncovered that he possessed up to £2,030 worth of ketamine, a powerful dissociative drug. The authorities linked Williams to these substances through various pieces of evidence, including fingerprint analysis and physical searches of his residence.

On May 28, police identified Williams' fingerprints on several wraps of cannabis that had been seized during a raid. Later, on August 28, law enforcement officers conducted a thorough search of Williams' home in Ramsey. During this search, they discovered a set of weighing scales with traces of cannabis residue, along with several wraps of white powder, roughly the size of golf balls. Laboratory analysis confirmed that the powder was ketamine, with a street value estimated at up to £2,030.

Further evidence was presented on September 10, when Williams was found in possession of additional wraps containing cannabis, which were later valued at approximately £540. The police also recovered a grinder and a plastic tube during this search. Williams has been held on remand since September 11, and during his time in custody, a prison guard overheard him speaking in code during a phone call with a friend about a package. The following day, authorities intercepted a purple envelope addressed to Williams' home, which contained three vapes and six gummies infused with tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the psychoactive component of cannabis.

Williams' legal representative argued that his involvement in drug supply was primarily to sustain his own drug habit. The court was informed that although the exact content of the Snapchat messages exchanged by Williams was not fully disclosed, the messages appeared consistent with drug dealing activities. It was also noted that Williams had breached his SOPO on five separate occasions, which prohibited him from deleting his internet search history and using Snapchat, which automatically deletes messages.

In court, Williams pleaded guilty to multiple charges, including three counts of being concerned in the supply of cannabis, importing THC, possession with intent to supply ketamine, possession with intent to supply cannabis, and possession of criminal property. He also admitted to five breaches of the SOPO issued in September 2021. The judge, Deemster Graeme Cook, sentenced Williams to four years in prison and issued an extended Sexual Harm Prevention Order that will remain in effect for ten years. Addressing Williams directly, Deemster Cook expressed concern over his continued behavior, emphasizing that he was still relatively young and lacked maturity, warning him that he could not continue down this path.