A former Parachute Regiment soldier, who once made national headlines for donating a kidney to a stranger as an act of repentance, has found himself back before a judge, this time for drug dealing offences.
From Altruistic Donor to Drug Defendant
Wesley Joyce, 44, captured public sympathy in 2014 when he gave one of his kidneys to Sally-Anne Grainger, a mother-of-two suffering from cystic fibrosis. The former semi-professional footballer for Worcester City FC stated at the time that he wanted to change his life after serving a four-year prison sentence for assault.
However, his path to redemption was derailed when he was stopped by police on 20 February 2021. Prosecutor Millie Hainge told Worcester Crown Court that officers observed a vehicle travelling at speed towards Worcester before it pulled into an Esso garage. Suspecting a drug exchange was about to take place, they detained Joyce, who was behind the wheel, and his front-seat passenger.
The Evidence Mounts
A search of Joyce's vehicle uncovered four wraps of cocaine, along with two additional wraps and two mobile phones. The investigation escalated when police received intelligence that class A drugs were being distributed from a property in Worcester linked to Joyce.
Upon his arrest, Joyce was forthright with officers, confessing, "There's drugs inside. They're on the side in the lounge. I know what I've done. I just want to be interviewed, admit it and go home." A subsequent search of the property revealed a significant haul: 28g of white powder hidden in a trainer, 41 wraps containing 14.3g of cocaine, digital scales, a list of names and numbers, £500 in cash, and 10 bottles of spirits with security tags still attached.
A Suspended Sentence and a Path to Rehabilitation
At his hearing on Thursday, Joyce pleaded guilty to supplying cocaine and possessing criminal property. Despite his guilty plea and the serious nature of the charges, he avoided an immediate prison sentence.
Judge Seanin Gilmore handed down a two-year prison sentence, suspended for two years. The judge acknowledged Joyce's previous crimes but also recognised his positive contributions, citing his service in the Parachute Regiment, his work in construction, and his role as a father. "You have turned your life around," Judge Gilmore said. "You are clearly a man who has much to offer society."
The court heard that Joyce, who has seven previous convictions for nine offences but none for drugs, had started dealing to pay off a debt. His defence barrister, Jason Patel, stated that his client was now a 'changed man' who abstains from drugs and alcohol. Mr Patel also highlighted that Joyce is a father who helps care for his seven-year-old epileptic step-daughter, who suffers between five and ten seizures daily.
In addition to the suspended sentence, Joyce was ordered to complete 15 rehabilitation activity requirement days and 200 hours of unpaid work. The judge also ordered the forfeiture and destruction of the drugs and demanded £150 in costs.
This recent court appearance stands in stark contrast to his actions in 2014, when he was one of ten people who responded to a plea from Ms. Grainger in her local newspaper. He had then said, "I thought: 'I need to change my life a little bit', as I've not been a good boy all my life... I've done good things and bad things, but I thought, let's do good from now on."
