A Keswick man was paid to transport a town dealer on a drugs run to Manchester.
Several months after that dealer was brought to book and given a suspended prison sentence, Shaun Hetherington also appeared in front of a judge at Carlisle Crown Court.
Hetherington, 39, was punished after he admitted being concerned in the supply of cannabis.
Prosecutor Gerard Rogerson gave details of his offence, on June 2 last year, saying: “Police stopped a vehicle having received reports from members of the public
that the vehicle was smelling strongly of cannabis.”
That vehicle was seen travelling towards Windermere, and was stopped by two constables who also detected a powerful cannabis aroma. Hetherington was the driver.
His front seat passenger, 33-year-old Keswick man Fabian Anthony, was searched and found in possession of a rucksack. This contained a large quantity of cannabis bush – around 1.5kg in weight with an estimated potential street value of up to £14,000.
Anthony was punished, for possessing the drug with intent to supply, at the crown court late last year. He received a suspended prison sentence, and was ordered to complete rehabilitation and unpaid work.
Hetherington, of Derwent Street, Keswick, was brought to court separately. In a formal and accepted basis for his guilty plea, Hetherington stated that he drove Anthony to Manchester and that his fuel costs were covered. Anthony had collected a consignment of what Hetherington knew to be drugs, although the driver was not aware of the package’s value.
A probation service officer interviewed Hetherington before he was sentenced. The court heard he lived with his parents in settled accommodation; that he was employed on an “as and when required” basis by Amazon; and also carried out agency hotel work.
“He does regret his actions,” the probation officer said of Hetherington and the offence.
Hetherington had described previously being a heavy cannabis user in the past but spoke of not smoking it for the past four weeks.
Judge Nicholas Barker imposed an 18-month community order comprising a rehabilitation activity requirement and also 140 hours’ unpaid work.
