Busted! Find out how posties turned detective to snare these two dopey cannabis dealers

[TrueBlueTerrier]

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Martyn Bartlett and Gareth Woch were expecting a postman to deliver the drugs to their house in Meir


Two bungling drug dealers were rumbled after post office staff intercepted a parcel of cannabis sent to their house.

Workers at Longton post office called the police after noticing a strong smell of drugs emanating from the package.


Officers then raided the address it was heading to, where they found Martyn Bartlett and Gareth Woch - along with drugs worth hundreds of pounds.

Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court heard the alarm was raised last November when the parcel, addressed to R Walker at a house in Harvey Road, Meir, was noticed by post office staff.

Prosecutor Richard McConaghy said: "Walker was one of the strains of cannabis these defendants were dealing with.

"Police recovered the parcel. The post office received an inquiry from someone at the address about the parcel, and the telephone number recorded was Mr Bartlett's.

"A search warrant was executed at the address, a three-bedroom semi. Both defendants were there."

The court heard police found a number of plastic tubs in the kitchen, containing cannabis ready for sale, along with empty tubs ready to be loaded with further deals. Woch's coat contained cannabis and a set of digital scales.

Mr McConaghy said: "Mr Bartlett's phone showed he was engaged in a conversation online with somebody based in Los Angeles who was engaged in the distribution of cannabis.

"He was making inquiries whether they were willing to import cannabis to him in the UK.

"The phone also contained drug dealing messages dating back to September 7, 2017. There were a number of references to him sending 'Gaz' to drop the drugs off, which was Gareth Woch."

The court heard the cannabis in the package would have been worth up to £320 if broken down into small deals. In the house, police recovered £750 worth of the drug.

Twenty-seven-year-old Bartlett, of Harvey Road, pleaded guilty to being concerned in the supply of cannabis. While Woch, aged 22, now of Leason Road, Meir, admitted possession of cannabis with intent to supply.

Bartlett had nine previous convictions for 13 offences and Woch had nine convictions for 17 offences including several drugs matters.

Jason Holt, representing Bartlett, said he had a 'very difficult upbringing' with drug abusing parents who were in and out of prison. He said: "He has been with his partner for a number of years and they have five children, one of whom suffers from severe disabilities.

"When one looks at his history of violent offending, he has considerably calmed down."

The court heard Woch was subject to two community orders when he committed the offence.

Paul Cliff, representing him, said: "Whatever benefit he received from this would have been small. At the time of this offence, he was eking out a day-to-day existence and living a hand-to-mouth lifestyle.

"He tells me he has now made real progress to reduce his abuse of cannabis. He has found work and he is in a stable relationship."

Judge Paul Glenn sentenced Bartlett to 12 months in prison, while Woch received a 16-month sentence.

He said: "Martyn Bartlett, you have numerous convictions, but your offending has slowed down in recent years. Gareth Woch, you have far more relevant convictions and, at the time of this offence, you were subject to two community orders.

"Mr Woch may have been the junior partner, but this was a joint operation."

[solway16]

The last line of this made me laugh :

"Mr Woch may have been the junior partner, but this was a joint operation."