200K of cannabis found in Skelmersdale man’s wardrobe

Jan 19 2012 by Michael Byrne, Skelmersdale Advertiser

A SKELMERSDALE man who was caught minding cannabis with a potential street value of more than £200,000 was jailed for 16 months.

Liverpool Crown Court heard George Evans had agreed to mind the drugs but had not realised how much was involved. Police raided his home the day they had arrived.

Jailing him Judge Nigel Gilmour, QC, said that it was Evans’ cannabis habit that had landed him in the dock. He accepted Evans, 49, had not initially known how much was involved but when it became clear he did not end the transaction.

Stuart Mills, prosecuting, told the court that on June 9 police raided Evans’ home in Elmridge, Tanhouse, and asked him if there were drugs in the house.

He admitted there was in his bedroom and in a walk-in wardrobe they found three large cardboard boxes. These were found to contain large blocks of cannabis resin. When arrested he said: “I can't believe I have done this. I just needed some extra cash.”

Mr Mills said that a total of almost 49 kilos of cannabis resin was found with a street value between £138,913 and £243,100.

When interviewed he explained he had told his drug dealer he was short of money and he said he knew a man who wanted some cannabis minding. Arrangements were made for the drugs to be brought to his home and he was waiting for a telephone call to tell him what he was to do with them when the police arrived. Michael Hagerty, defending, said that Evans, who pleaded guilty to possessing the drug with intent to supply, has no previous drugs convictions.

He was to have been paid £1,000 for minding the drugs and he was: “Clearly out of his depth. This was very much out of character.”

Evans was a roofer but had given up work a year ago to look after his wife, who has mental health problems, he added.