A decorated British Army veteran is expected to walk free from a Georgian prison this week after agreeing to a plea deal over the possession of prescription medication. Former paratrooper Matthew “Des” Desmond, 49, will admit importing narcotics and pay a £28,000 fine, despite having documentation proving the drugs were legally prescribed in the UK for a spinal injury sustained during a jump in Afghanistan.
Desmond appeared at Tbilisi City Court on Monday, walking in slowly and visibly in pain before smiling at relatives who had travelled to Georgia to support him. His lawyer, Jaba Kochlamazashvili, told the court a plea bargain had been reached between prosecution and defence, though some administrative details remained outstanding. “A plea bargain has been reached between the prosecution and defence,” Kochlamazashvili said. “However, details such as the fine transfer and paperwork remain, so we would beseech you to reschedule the hearing.” Judge Nino Galustashvili adjourned proceedings until Thursday, when Desmond is expected to be released and allowed to return home to Nottingham.
Arrested despite declaring the medication
Desmond had been travelling by motorbike from Turkey into Georgia on 23 April when he immediately declared the medication he was carrying to border officials. He was nonetheless arrested and charged, as he had not obtained the local paperwork required under Georgian regulations. Officials found him in possession of 0.0224 grams of buprenorphine, 0.75 grams of codeine, and 5.84 grams of Pregabalin, a substance classified in Georgia as psychotropic. His legal team subsequently obtained documentation in May confirming the medication had been lawfully prescribed in the UK for treatment of a spinal injury, though he remained in custody throughout.
According to Kochlamazashvili, the delay in securing his release came down to logistics rather than any outstanding legal dispute. “Matthew’s release is all but imminent, the only problem is collecting the sum took a bit longer,” he said. “We expected it to arrive by today, but transfers and paperwork took too long. We expect him to walk free come Wednesday, after which he’ll depart Georgia.”
Family travels to bring him home
Desmond’s brother-in-law, James Sawyer, travelled to Georgia along with other relatives to support him through the process. Speaking outside court, Sawyer said: “It was nice to see Matthew today for the first time. We’ve come out to take him home. We do not want to comment on anything as we do not want to compromise proceedings. We want to make sure that the process plays out as it’s supposed to but we very much look forward to taking Matthew home in due course.” Desmond has told supporters he has endured severe pain while in custody, saying he received painkillers only intermittently during his time in prison.
A military career defined by valour
Desmond served with 2nd Battalion, The Parachute Regiment (2 Para) from 1995 until his retirement in 2018, completing tours in both Afghanistan and Iraq. His actions during the battalion’s 2008 deployment to Helmand were documented by the Daily Mail at the time and later featured in Desperate Glory, an account of the unit’s tour through what was known as the “Mouth of Hell.” The book described how Desmond sprinted across open ground under fire, shooting from the hip, to reach a wounded comrade and pull him clear of the kill zone during an ambush. He later volunteered for a separate dawn assault, during which he drew his Sig Sauer 9mm pistol and shot a Taliban commander at close range as the commander reached for his own holster. In recognition of his service, Desmond received the Meritorious Service Medal in the late Queen’s 90th Birthday Honours. Before his arrest, he had ridden his Triumph motorbike across 25 countries.
A prison with a troubled history
Desmond has been held at Gldani Prison, a facility once ranked among the worst in the world after a leaked 2012 video showed guards torturing, beating and sexually assaulting inmates. However, a report published last year found conditions at the prison had since improved, with overcrowding no longer an issue and no ongoing allegations of mistreatment or violence between prisoners.
