A DRUGS courier jailed for conspiracy to supply cocaine in bulk to Worcester from Liverpool has had his appeal thrown out by top judges.

Liam Pearson was jailed for 10 years at Worcester Crown Court by judge Robert Juckes QC last November. Yesterday the “naive” grandfather failed to convince top judges he was too harshly punished. The 52-year-old was jailed alongside co-conspirators, gang leader Ashley James of Cherington Close, Worcester who got 18 years, James Jones of Tolladine Road, Worcester, who was sentenced to 15 years, Todd Porter of Hollymount Road, Worcester who received 13 years, David Warren of Grasmere Drive, Warndon, Worcester who received nine years and Porter’s mother Deborah Crowther of Hollymount Road who received six years. Her daughter Tiffany Porter received a two year prison sentence suspended for two years and Elizabeth Cottle, Ashley James’s partner, received a two year prison sentence suspended for two years for concealing criminal property, commonly referred to as ‘money laundering’.

The gang brought at least £400,000 (12kg) of cocaine into Worcester. Pearson was ‘the courier’ who brought 1kg of cocaine to Selborne Road West in Worcester from Liverpool on June 23, 2015. He was arrested later that day on the M6 with just under £30,000 in cash hidden in a pillow case and a dirty phone but had made previous journeys to the city.

Pearson, of Aylton Road, Liverpool, was part of a Wirral-based gang. After delivering drug consignments, he would head back to Merseyside with cash from Worcester dealers.

“That was money which he had collected from people in Worcester," Sir Roderick Evans told London's Appeal Court today.

Pearson only made three trips, the court heard, but he was “not merely a postman”.

Although not at the top of the hierarchy, the judge who sentenced him said he “knew what he was doing”.

Pearson’s legal team claimed he "became involved through naivety" and that his 10-year stretch was far too long.

“He was acting under direction,” Sir Roderick and two other judges were told. But the appeal judge said Pearson was motivated by money and “played a significant role”.

“Ten years was by no means excessive. This application is refused," he concluded.