Cannabis Courier Gets Three Years After Cop 'Sting'

<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=400 border=0><TBODY><TR><TD colSpan=3>Dec 7, 2004



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A DRUGS courier who was snared in an undercover police operation was yesterday jailed for three years.


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Panel beater Darren Jenkinson agreed to take a haul of cannabis from Paisley to Port Glasgow. But the 21-year-old was caught in the act by police, who recovered more than £20,000 worth of cannabis resin as a result of their undercover operation. Yesterday, the High Court at Paisley heard that Jenkinson was to have been paid £200 for his part in distributing the drugs.​

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Jenkinson, of Hairst Street, Renfrew, admitted the offence, which was committed on January 20. The court had heard how the accused was caught after driving from the Phoenix Retail Park in Linwood Road, Paisley, to Port Glasgow along the A737 and A8 roads.​

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Jenkinson was stopped and searched by police in Greenock Road, Port Glasgow, and the value of the cannabis resin retrieved was £21,400.​

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The court was told that he had played a minor role and had been involved in the supply of the drugs for that one day only. Background reports revealed that Jenkinson, who had recently been released from a previous custodial sentence for an unrelated matter, presented a "moderate" risk of re-offending due to alcohol-related issues.​

His defence counsel told the court: "He foolishly agreed to handle these drugs in return for a payment of £200 and deeply regrets that decision."​

The court heard there was no scope for any Proceeds of Crime move to be instigated against Jenkinson as he was "a man of straw." Sentencing Jenkinson to three years' imprisonment, judge Lord Emslie told him: "You pleaded guilty to being concerned in the supply of a reasonably substantial quantity of cannabis resin.​

"I accept that there are some signs that you recognise the need to change your lifestyle.​

"Nonetheless, you took part in courier activities and, without the help of people like you, those who deal in drugs would find it considerably more difficult.​

"You took a calculated risk with your eyes wide open."​

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