Drug delivery boy in Notts told to count himself lucky

Police officers "noticed a strong smell of cannabis and saw a large number of air fresheners,” when they stopped Ryan Baker as he drove along Mapperley Rise, Nottingham, at 3pm, on June 5, 2019, prosecutor Eunice Opare-Addo said.

He appeared “nervous and shaky” and when asked if he was carrying anything he shouldn’t, told them to look in the boot.

Police found two bin bags of cannabis, weighing 2.7 kilos, that were estimated to be be worth £11,000 – £27,000.

Baker made no comment when he was interviewed, said Ms Opare-Addo.

He played a “significant role,” she said, and was “motivated by financial advantage. “

The court heard Baker has seven previous convictions, including driving and battery offences in 2011, harassment and theft in 2013, and his last appearance, in March 2014, was for drink driving.

Graham Heathcote, mitigating, described Baker as a “delivery boy” who agreed to drive the drugs to Coventry for £500.

"He was not especially encumbered by debt,” he said. “He saw it as an opportunity to make some money without risk.”

Baker’s partner’s home was searched and 15 cannabis plants were discovered. His partner pleaded guilty and she received a community order with unpaid work.

Mr Heathcote said 19 months had elapsed since the incident and Baker had kept out of trouble since. A serious accident with a chainsaw meant he was concerned about his ability to carry out unpaid work, the court heard on Wednesday.

Baker, 27, of Collyer Road, Calverton, pleaded guilty to possession of cannabis with intent to supply, on a basis.

Recorder Graham Huston told him to count himself lucky that unpaid work had been suspended because of the new lockdown restrictions.

"I make it clear that had the pandemic not been in place, then an unpaid work order would have been actioned,” the judge said. "But justice can be met with a stand-alone sentence.”

Baker received a four month sentence, suspended for 18 months.

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