Albanian cocaine supplier avoids prison as judge cites partner's health and jail overcrowding

Urim Morina, 27, was convicted of supplying cocaine as part of a county-lines operation and of possessing a false-name travel document after arriving in Britain illegally. Police raids uncovered a phone showing his drug-supply activity and cash amounting to nearly £700, though no drugs were seized. At sentencing, Judge James Bromige invoked recent Labour sentencing guidelines that permit suspending sentences longer than two years to alleviate prison overcrowding.

He cited Morina’s partner’s depression and chronic pain, and Morina’s caregiving responsibilities, as reasons to forgo jail time. Morina’s two-year-four-month term was suspended for three years, and he was ordered to perform 175 hours of unpaid work and attend 25 rehabilitation days. The Ministry of Justice reiterated that prisons are for dangerous offenders and highlighted ongoing efforts to expand electronic tagging and other non-custodial controls.