Increased Sentence for Man Conspiring to Smuggle Drugs into UK Prison

Dimitrije Dragovic, a resident of Thurnscoe in South Yorkshire, has had his prison sentence extended by one year and two months following a referral of his case to the Court of Appeal by the Attorney General, Ellie Reeves KC MP, under the Unduly Lenient Sentence scheme.

Details of the Surveillance Operation

The court was informed that Dragovic was closely monitored by the police through a meticulous surveillance operation that tracked him from his home to London on 14 November 2025, where he was scheduled to meet with co-conspirators. The following day, he checked into a hotel in Suffolk using an alias and retrieved a bag from a vehicle.

In the early hours of 16 November, Dragovic left the hotel with the bag, took a taxi to the A143, and then made his way to a nearby field. However, upon realising he was being watched, he discarded the bag and attempted to escape across a river but was apprehended by police dogs shortly thereafter.

Contents of the Discarded Bag

The bag that Dragovic attempted to dispose of contained a drone capable of flying over three miles, as well as cannabis, tobacco, mobile phones, SIM cards, dongles, and charging equipment. Notably, HMP Highpoint was situated within the drone’s operational range from the location where the bag was recovered.

Ellie Reeves KC MP, the Attorney General, commented on the Court of Appeal’s decision, stating, “I welcome the Court of Appeal’s decision to increase Dimitrije Dragovic’s sentence. Conspiring to smuggle a drone, phones, and drugs into a prison is not a minor matter; these devices allow organised criminals to coordinate activity from behind bars, undermining the security that keeps the public safe.”

Sentencing Outcome

On 20 February 2026, Dimitrije Dragovic was sentenced at Ipswich Crown Court to two years and two months’ imprisonment after pleading guilty to one count of conspiracy to convey a list A article into or out of prison, one count of conspiracy to convey a list B item into or out of prison, and for breaching a suspended sentence order.

Subsequently, on 19 August 2026, the Court of Appeal increased Dragovic’s sentence to three years and four months, reflecting the severity of his actions and the potential threat posed to public safety.