A MOUNT ESTATE resident described by his barrister as ‘a gentleman’ tried to stop police looking in his car because it contained more than £73,000 worth of cannabis, Swansea Crown Court has heard.
On the evening of July 25, police located a car belonging to Joel Young in Milford Haven and noticed that there was a very strong odour, like cannabis, coming from it.
Milford Haven police officers eventually tracked Young down, and he agreed to give the police the cannabis which was believed to be in the vehicle. But he soon changed his story and tried to say the drugs were not actually in the car but inside a house. Realising that the small of the drugs had given him away, he then changed his story again for a second time making officers suspicious.
Young’s attitude changed when it was clear that police were going to search the car and when asked how much they could expect to find inside he answered, “a lot”.
Prosecutor Dean Pulling told Swansea Crown Court on September 8 that Young, of then began deleting messages on his phone, leading one officer to try and grab the device from him.
But determined that the police should not get hold of the device, he was able to throw the phone to floor and smash it.
Inside the boot of the vehicle police discovered a number of laundry bags filled with cannabis – six kilograms a potential street value of £73,020.
In mitigation, defence barrister Katy Hanson said her client had been “very open and frank” about his role in the operation.
She added that he was a “gentleman with no previous convictions” who is “extremely remorseful”.
A letter written from Young was read in court which said: “I have made the biggest mistake of my life. I have lost my job and self-respect. I will learn from my mistakes, and I will never put myself and my family through this again.”
Young had previously pleaded guilty to possession of a class B drug with intent to supply, and in summing up the case Judge Catherine Richards said it was clear that he did play a “significant role”.
She sentenced him to 30 weeks imprisonment, suspended for 12 months.
He must also carry out 200 hours of unpaid work, to be completed within 12 months, and complete a 25-day rehabilitation activity requirement.
