Drug dealer jailed after package seized at airport

A drug dealer has been jailed after a package containing cannabis products with a street value of £60,000 was seized at Stansted Airport.

Detectives began an investigation after the discovery of the drugs which led them to the door of Taylor Kennedy.

When his home in Lilac Close, Newark, was raided on 15 March 2022 officers found large amounts of the Class B drug, as well as cannabis edibles and cannabis oil.

Kennedy, aged 27, was jailed for three years and nine months when he appeared at Nottingham Crown Court on Wednesday (5 June). He had earlier pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply a Class B drug.

Three other members of the conspiracy, Leona Churton, Emily Davies and John Jones, were also sentenced after admitting the same offence.

Churton, aged 26, of Windsor Close, Collingham, received a 12-month prison sentence, suspended for 18 months.

Twenty-six-year-old Davies, of Lilac Close, Newark, was handed a nine-month sentence, suspended for 18 months.

Jones, aged 50, of Windsor Close, Collingham, was sentenced to 21 months in jail, suspended for two years.

The investigation began when the package, sent from Los Angeles, California, was intercepted on 31 January 2022.

It was addressed to Churton’s home in Collingham.

Churton and Jones were both arrested in February when a suitcase and plastic container seized from a wardrobe at their home were found to contain further stashes of cannabis products.

Churton admitted she had been preparing cannabis products for sale at the address.

Analysis of Jones’ mobile phone revealed he had been in contact with Kennedy, with messages between them discussing a package arriving and questions about how many sweets had been made.

Kennedy and Davies were arrested during the raid at Lilac Close.

Analysis of Kennedy’s bank accounts revealed he was making large amounts of money despite no receipt of wages or benefits payments.

Detective Constable Rebecca Brailsford, of Nottinghamshire Police, said:

“This was a large-scale operation and Kennedy in particular was making substantial amounts of money while getting other people to do the dirty work.

“He may have thought his criminality would go undetected because the bulk supply of drugs was being sent to others.

“However, our detailed investigations led directly to him and we were able to build a watertight case against all four offenders.

“We work closely with our partners and border agencies to tackle the importation of drugs and when there is intelligence suggesting that drugs are headed for Nottinghamshire we will act on it.

“Removing drug dealers from the streets makes communities across Nottinghamshire safer and we have shown consistently that we will act on local intelligence to swiftly remove people who cause harm in our neighbourhoods.”