Bristol postman smells trouble... and uncovers drugs

[TrueBlueTerrier]

http://www.thisisbristol.co.uk/Bristol- ... story.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

A DRUG user thought he was onto a winner when he posted cannabis he bought in Amsterdam to his address back home – until a Royal Mail driver caught a whiff of it through the packaging.

Lee Whitelock, 29, from Luckwell Road in Ashton, popped £150 of the class B drug in the post while on holiday in the notoriously relaxed Holland capital.

The self-employed electrician used his girlfriend's name on the delivery address to avoid suspicion.

But after a delivery driver raised alarm bells, the package was tracked to his house where police found further cannabis and cocaine.

Whitelock, who claims to use the drug for pain relief, pleaded guilty to importing and possessing cannabis and possessing cocaine at Bristol Magistrates' Court yesterday.

Whitelock received a 12-month community order with 120 hours of unpaid work and was ordered to pay £85 in costs.

Andrea Edwards, prosecuting, said: "On January 6 a delivery driver attended the defendant's home in Luckwell Road intending to deliver a package.

"There was no answer at the door and the driver placed the package on the dashboard. A short while later, he began to smell cannabis as the package heated up because the heating was on in the cabin.

"The driver returned to the depot and opened it when he got back. The postage had been paid in Amsterdam of 13 Euros and inside were five plastic film pots. The pots contained 15.4 grams of cannabis flowering heads in total, with a street value of around £150."

After searching the property, police found two grams of cannabis resin and one gram of cocaine.

Ms Edwards said: "In police interview the defendant said he went on holiday to Amsterdam where he bought too much cannabis and would have had to throw it away.

"In interview he also admitted to possessing the cannabis and cocaine found at his house for personal use."

Ms Edwards added that Whitelock has seven previous drug offences between 1999 and 2011.

Mitigating, Lisa Slocombe, said: "Mr Whitelock bought more cannabis than he could use while out in Amsterdam. He knows there was a risk at customs in sending the package back. The reason for him initially using cannabis is that he had an accident at work five years ago where he broke both his wrists. Since then he has used the drug for pain relief as the pain has returned on a number of occasions."

Ms Slocombe added: "He recognises that he now has a problem and wants to do something about it. He has realised he really has to change his situation.

"He has been using cannabis to help with pain relief and is making every effort to stop using the drug."

Presiding Magistrate, Barbara Pinkerton said: "This is a very serious offence. When you post something back with somebody else's name on it is potentially incriminating. For all three offences we are going to impose a community order. You will do unpaid work in the community. I hope you have learned your lesson."

[Straight4ward]

The self-employed electrician used his girlfriend's name on the delivery address to avoid suspicion.

EX girlfriend, now ?

[Wessex]

"The driver returned to the depot and opened it when he got back....

I would have thought he was quite lucky not to be in the dock as well. Surely you can't start opening packets because you are suspicious of the contents ?

[fishtank]

"The driver returned to the depot and opened it when he got back....

I would have thought he was quite lucky not to be in the dock as well. Surely you can't start opening packets because you are suspicious of the contents ?

It isn't likely to be true.
His lawyer would have jumped all over that if it was.
If it was opened at the D.O. it must have been by someone who was authorised to open it.

[Red Robbo]

"The driver returned to the depot and opened it when he got back....

I would have thought he was quite lucky not to be in the dock as well. Surely you can't start opening packets because you are suspicious of the contents ?

It isn't likely to be true.
His lawyer would have jumped all over that if it was.
If it was opened at the D.O. it must have been by someone who was authorised to open it.

I would not know what dope smelt like to report it to the authorities.

[DGP1]

"The driver returned to the depot and opened it when he got back....

I would have thought he was quite lucky not to be in the dock as well. Surely you can't start opening packets because you are suspicious of the contents ?

It isn't likely to be true.
His lawyer would have jumped all over that if it was.
If it was opened at the D.O. it must have been by someone who was authorised to open it.

I would not know what dope smelt like to report it to the authorities.

It smells like................VICTORY........that could be the smell of napalm in the morning though

[somerset]

Amazing !!! He put it on the dashboard ! Why not in the back of the van ? Then he takes it back to the office and opens it ? Since when are we allowed to open packets or letters ? Thought it was only Belfast that could do that ?

[5plusbonusball]

I once had an open packet from Poland , 2 large tubs of nivea cream fell out, sellotaped tubs though, so i'd like to wager it wasn't hand cream! All I could do under doms orders was use a damaged bag and take it to them. All packets should be checked on arrival not just a few.