Whitehaven man tried to mail cannabis from a post office

[TrueBlueTerrier]

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A man twice tried to mail cannabis from a post office - and was also found to be growing the drug at his house.

Darren Hewer, 38, was sentenced at Carlisle Crown Court having admitted three class B drug crimes.

Prosecutor Beccy McGregor said Hewer went into Whitehaven's post office at WHSmith on May 11 to mail a parcel to a friend in Edinburgh. He was served by the assistant manager.

"She took hold of the package and noted a strong smell which she noted to be cannabis," said Ms McGregor.

Hewer asked for it to be signed for, commenting he was "sick of packaging going missing".


When he returned to mail a second parcel several days later, the same assistant manager detected cannabis once more.

"Police, having been made aware of the previous incident, were contacted again and the packages were seized," said Ms McGregor.

When officers went to Hewer's Esk Avenue home in Whitehaven he told them: "It's all up there in the bedroom."

Behind a locked door, said the prosecutor, there was a "relatively sophisticated cannabis production operation".

This included a growing tent, fans, an air duct and 10 small cannabis plants.


According to a police drug expert these had the potential to yield an estimated £4,000 worth of the substance.

More cannabis was found in a jar and tub, and the postal packages contained a small number of 1g deals.

Hewer was interviewed, and Ms McGregor said: "He understood what he was doing was illegal."

Hewer admitted possessing cannabis on two occasions with intent to supply it, and producing the drug on July 7.

He did so on the basis that it was shared with friends, mailed to one pal in Edinburgh, and there was "no commercial dimension to the arrangement".


Brendan Burke, defending, said Hewer had engaged himself with the Unity drug recovery service.

The court heard his cannabis use amounted to between 10g and 15g a day as he sought to manage back pain.

Recorder Julie Clemitson heard Hewer had a previous conviction for cannabis production dating back to 2000.

However, she learned professionals had deemed him suitable for a programme to address his substance misuse.

Recorder Clemitson imposed a community order comprising rehabilitation sessions, a drug rehabilitation requirement and a four-month night-time curfew.

[Lounge Lizard]

"and a four-month night-time curfew" I doubt if many Whitehaven residents want to go out at night anyway.