Police found stashes of crack cocaine and a large haul of more than £1,000 cash after their suspicions were suddenly raised by the sight of a car that was attracting the attention of “numerous” people, including two motorcyclists.
The money was found hidden under the sun visors of a woman’s car at the driver’s side and on the passenger side. Mobile phones with messages advertising drugs sales were found by police, Hull Crown Court heard.
Alan Wheeldon, 24, of Kingscott Close, Bransholme, Hull, and Megan Foster, 22, of Morris Croft, Cottingham, both admitted possessing cocaine with intent to supply on April 19 last year. They originally denied the offences but later changed their pleas to guilty on the day of a scheduled trial.
Harry Bradford, prosecuting, said that plain clothes police saw a silver Mercedes car parked in Swinderby Garth, Bransholme, at 8.20pm. “Officers spotted numerous people around this car, including two on motorbikes,” said Mr Bradford.
“Officers observed at least one person make an exchange with the occupant of the vehicle, though which side of the vehicle was not noted by the observing officer. After a period, the Mercedes drove off and the officers followed in an unmarked police car.”
Foster drove down Wawne Road, Barnstaple Road, Manston Garth and Noddle Hill Way, Bransholme, and the car was followed by two motorcycles. Wheeldon was in the front passenger seat of the car.
More police attended and the Mercedes was eventually stopped in Digby Garth. “When the officers searched the vehicle, they found over £1,000 in cash tucked away in the driver’s side and passenger side sun visors of Foster’s Mercedes,” said Mr Bradford.
Mobile phones were found inside the car, including one on the driver’s side door. It was analysed and messages were found advertising the sale of drugs.
Wheeldon was searched and police found cash, two mobile phones, a green herbal substance and a grinder. He had admitted possessing cannabis, the court heard. There was crack cocaine, with a street value of £1,780, in clear plastic bags. This had been broken down into 98 individual street deals. One of the phones found on Wheeldon contained messages advertising drugs for sale.
Wheeldon and Foster were arrested. He told police: “It’s coke. I’m going to get the blame for this.” During police interview, he answered “No comment” to all questions. Foster denied the offending and claimed that she had no knowledge of the drugs and was simply giving her boyfriend’s friend – Wheeldon – a lift.
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“This was a lesser role offence owing to the defendants performing a limited function seemingly under direction with no influence on those above in a chain,” said Mr Bradford. “There is no clear evidence of street dealing for these defendants.”
Wheeldon had convictions for two previous offences, including possessing cannabis, and he had been given a one-year conditional discharge.
No mitigation was requested after the case had earlier been adjourned and an indication of the likely sentence to be imposed had been given.
Wheeldon was given 150 hours’ unpaid work and 20 days’ rehabilitation. Foster was given 12 days’ rehabilitation. Each of these was as part of an 18-month community order.
The £1,081 cash seized will be forfeited. No evidence was offered on charges against the two of possessing cash as criminal property.