A man was caught importing 1kg of cannabis into the UK after addressing it to his grandmother's home.
Jack Brown was arrested after customs officials at Stansted Airport found a package bound for Newcastle containing two bundles of cannabis. It was soon found that the 21-year-old had imported the drugs from the USA in a package that was labelled as kitchen utensils on August 11 last year.
Months later, on March 4 this year, Brown was stopped at Newcastle Airport in possession of five buds of cannabis and a kitchen knife. He was once again arrested.
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Brown, of no fixed address, appeared at Newcastle Crown Court on Friday via link from HMP Durham to be sentenced for the importation of cannabis, possession of cannabis, and possession of a knife. The court heard that in August last year, a customs official at Stansted Airport in London checked a parcel labelled kitchen utensils that was headed for an address in Newcastle.
Michael Bunch, prosecuting, said: "The package was said to contain kitchen utensils, but when opened two sealed packages containing cannabis were found at a total weight of 1kg. Northumbria Police were notified and days later police went to a home where the defendant was living with his grandmother."
Brown was arrested and his mobile phone was examined and showed he had been using a FedEx app to track the parcel from the USA. A number of images of cannabis were also discovered.
Months later, Brown was caught at Newcastle Airport carrying five buds of cannabis and a large kitchen knife in his jacket. He admitted the possession of the drugs but denied the knife possession offence. He was later convicted of the charge at a trial in his absence.
Ian Hudson, defending, said the importation offence was "not sophisticated", saying: "He sent the package to his grandmother, I have never known someone send a package [containing drugs] to their own doorstep."
He added: "He has had a very difficult background, was bullied at school and has ADHD and autism. He has vulnerabilities and has provided a letter of remorse. He's a young man crying out for help and if ever a young man needs help, it's him."
Recorder Chris Williams sentenced Brown to 16 months prison, suspended for 24 months and ordered him to undertake 20 rehabilitation days. He must also complete a 19 session thinking skills programme.
