[A] MAN has been cleared by a jury of having any criminal involvement in a Carlisle drugs supply plot.
Gurparshad Singh Rothore, 23, denied two charges after his southbound Audi A4 was stopped by police on the M6 after he visited the city with a passenger on November 1. These were the alleged conspiracy to supply cocaine, and possession of criminal property – almost £9,000 which was found inside a jacket in his car.
Mr Rothore, who told police “I have done nothing wrong”, went on trial at Carlisle Crown Court earlier this week.
He told jurors he thought he was making an entirely innocent journey to transport his cash-strapped work colleague, Jose Mboma, to see his girlfriend and collect money.
Mr Rothore said he was unaware Mr Mboma had involvement in cocaine with people in Carlisle, and knew nothing about the £8,970 in his car.
After hearing all evidence, jurors unanimously found Mr Rothore, of Leeds, not guilty of the charges he faced. “He can be discharged from the dock,” Recorder Michael Murray announced.
*Mboma, 21, of Green Pasture Close, Leeds, is awaiting sentence having admitted the cocaine conspiracy and criminal property possession charges.
Carlisle men Mark Eric Libby, 27, of Shaddongate; and 23-year-old Brendan Laverick, of Caslin Way, have each admitted the cocaine conspiracy charge, and will also be sentenced in due course.
