Jail for Norris Green drug courier who made 'catastrophic decision' 

A grandmother from Liverpool has been jailed for five years after making a "catastrophic decision" to try and import heroin to the Isle of Man. 

40-year-old Sharon Kirk was arrested at the Sea Terminal on February 17th - suspicions were raised when she booked a one-way crossing from Heysham just 10 minutes before the boat sailed. 

She was taken to Noble's Hospital where an x-ray revealed she had three packages concealed internally - they contained just over 83 grams of heroin which had a street value of £8,308. 

The Norris Green woman later pleaded guilty to production of the Class A substance and possession of it with intent to supply - she told police she'd done it because her family was being threatened. 

At Douglas Courthouse last week her advocate described her as a "vulnerable lady" who'd been "exploited" adding "clearly she made the wrong decision but hindsight is a wonderful thing". 

Sentencing her Deemster Montgomerie also imposed a five-year exclusion order telling Kirk, who has four children, "you and your family are going to pay a heavy price for your actions". 

Sending her to prison the Deemster told the public gallery "I'm not convinced she realises the enormity of what she's done".