A repeat criminal drugs mule caught travelling through north Cumbria during the latest lockdown with a criminal cargo potentially worth almost £40,000 has been jailed for more than five years.
Shaun David McCafferty, 33, already had three substance supply crimes to his name and had received prison terms for each – imposed in England in 2016 and 2019, and Scotland in 2017 – by the time he was stopped travelling north on the M6, between Penrith and Carlisle, on November 6 this year.
Police were unimpressed with his journey explanation, and searched his car.
They recovered a total of 310g of high purity crack cocaine and 60g of heroin which had been hidden in various parts of the vehicle’s interior.
Carlisle Crown Court heard the father-of-three, of Lincombe Road, Liverpool, had previously been in legitimate employment but latterly had been plagued by debt.
He admitted possessing both class A drugs with intent to supply.
“You have had three lenient sentences (in the past) – no more,” said Judge Peter Davies said as he imposed a five-and-a-half-year jail term.
“It is time you went off our roads. I don’t care how much debt you have. It is time you stayed in custody and stopped transporting this monstrous stuff.”
