We, the undersigned, call for the immediate replacement of the 2.5 years prison sentence of Pip Orchard regarding his purchase of drugs for personal use (following a diagnosis of post-traumatic-stress-disorder) with a community sentence.

Pip Orchard was described in Court as being of remarkable character and to have achieved more in his 29 short years than many do in their entire lives. He has worked with sick and frightened children as a paediatric nurse and for UN charities as a medical officer in refugee camps in Greece. He is a talented musician and a kind person.

Pip was suffering severe mental health issues and had attempted suicide following post-traumatic stress. After the mental health services failed to help Pip he used drugs and alcohol as a coping strategy. The charges were for the purchase of a small amount of cocaine and for some pills used to treat anxiety.

We, the undersigned, do not want to see vulnerable young men in prison anymore who are only a danger to themselves. We call for Pip’s prison sentence of 2.5 years relating to ‘importation’ for personal use to be revoked and to be replaced with a community service order, and for mental health services to be properly engaged in a programme of rehabilitation.

We know each prisoner costs Guernsey taxpayers £50,000 a year. We call for this money that would have been used to keep Pip in prison to be reinvested into bolstering mental health services, particularly focused on improving and supporting young men’s mental health, which we know is a grave area of concern. 

https://guernseypress.com/news/2021/05/05/nurse-imported-drugs-to-cope-with-trauma-of-work-in-refugee-camps/