Police foil drug deal after following women from Carlisle rail stationPolice foiled a plot to push more than £30,000-worth of cannabis on to the streets of Carlisle after following two women from a train station.
Three criminals linked to the conspiracy have been spared jail – including a Cumbrian man who a judge was told was “in the wrong place at the wrong time”.
Ryan Warnock, 21, of Drumburgh, near Carlisle, appeared at Carlisle Crown Court having pleaded guilty to charge of possession of cannabis. He was sentenced alongside Toni Jensen, 28, and Lauren Joliffe, 20, both from Liverpool.
They had previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply cannabis.
The court heard that Jensen and Joliffe had travelled to Carlisle by rail from Warrington, Cheshire, on April 2 last year.
When they arrived at Carlisle station, the two were seen getting into a taxi. It was stopped by police officers who saw a black bag between Jensen’s legs.
They asked if it was hers and she did not reply. They then took it and found that it contained 3kg (6.6lbs) of cannabis.
Tim Evans, prosecuting, said this would have a wholesale price of £13,410 and a street value of £29,800.
He said: “This was patently a wholesale transaction that was taking place.”
Officers also seized mobile phones from the two women and found out the two women were going to Crummock Street where police found a car, which had been waiting for them.
Warnock was in the vehicle along with two other men.
Police found £6,500 in the car, which Mr Evans said was to be used to pay for the cannabis.
Warncock had tried to run off after seeing the officers but was arrested.He was carrying a cannabis grinder.
Mr Evans said Warnock was not involved with any conspiracy but was in the car because he had been picked up to get a lift to The Cumberland Infirmary, where his girlfriend was having a scan.
But Warnock had told officers that he used cannabis and was found with a grinder for the drug, which contained trace amounts of it.
His barrister, Erim Mushtaq said: “He was in the wrong place at the wrong time.”
Louisa Santamera, defending Joliffe, said she had been led into the scheme by Jensen.
Julian Nutter, defending, Jensen, said she was a vulnerable woman, adding: “The people who sit in Liverpool that bring drugs to this part of the world pick on people such as she and use them deliberately. They encourage their drug use and use them as mules.”
Judge Barbara Forrester, sentenced Jensen 18 months imprisonment, suspended for 24 months, and gave her a 12-month supervision order. Jensen must also pay a £100 victim surcharge.
Joliffe was also given 12-month supervision order, told to carry out 100 hours of unpaid work and pay a victim surcharge of £60.
Warnock was given a24-month supervision order, ordered to carry out 100 hours of unpaid work and pay a £60 surcharge.
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