Lance Corporal Clyvert Alexander of 17 Port and Maritime Regiment, Marchwood, jailed over supply of class A drugs

A New Forest soldier who was part of a gang dealing cocaine and heroin was sending the cash he made bagging drugs to his family in the Caribbean.

Lance corporal Clyvert Alexander (24), based at 17 Port and Maritime Regiment in Marchwood, was jailed for three years after playing a “significant role” in the gang.

He was arrested in August 2022 after one of his three co-accused was apprehended by police for a driving matter, prosecutor Rose Burns told Southampton Crown Court.

The court heard how messages between Alexander and Unisa Salisu – said to be one of the key members of the gang but yet to be sentenced – discussed how many deal bags needed to be made up, with the soldier stating on one occasion he had prepared 700 £20 bags.

Drugs expert witness Robert Reece, a former detective, told the court Alexander’s role had been “significant”, adding: “To prepare 700 £20 bags – that is a lot of drugs.

“That is the kind of activity you would only give to a trusted person; someone who is a significant individual involved in the drug line.”

Alexander did not directly deal drugs to people, and was of “previous good character”, the court heard.

Defending, Mark Florida-James told the court his client had met Salisu at a party in London through a mutual friend and the pair exchanged phone numbers. They later met in Southampton and Alexander agreed to do some “work” for him, adding the money – which he sent to his family in St Lucia – was “too much of a temptation”.

Mr Florida-James said the defendant had been keen on an army career from an early age and had been a talented sportsman in his home country before coming to the UK as a Commonwealth soldier.

Alexander, who sat in the dock with his head bowed, had “a very bright future”, Mr Florida-James said, but he had “thrown in all away”.

“He will regret his decisions for the rest of his life,” he added.

While he had been paid for his work bagging up the drugs – which was limited to a few times a week over a number of months – he did not receive a share of the profits, said Mr Florida-Jmaes.

Alexander had pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing to being concerned in the supply of class A drugs between September 2021 and July 2022. Sentencing him, Judge Brian Forster KC said: “You may have been under instruction, but you became significantly, enthusiastically and integrally involved in the operation.

“Those who participate in the supply of class A drugs play a part in the continuation of addiction, which brings misery to the lives of others.

“You came to the UK as a Commonwealth soldier – it almost beggars belief how you came to be caught up in this case.”

Co-accused Bernice Jordan (31), of Southampton, was handed a 24-month custodial sentence, suspended for two years, for her role in the organisation.

The court heard Jordan, the girlfriend of Salisu, would allow her home to be used for drugs to be separated into deal bags and she would also drive him to deals.

Salisu and the fourth defendant, Mustapha Fofanah will be sentenced at a later date.