A MOTORIST whose car was stopped by the police on an A road in south Cumbria was transporting “high purity” cocaine worth an estimated £40,000.

At Carlisle Crown Court, a prosecutor outlined how 33-year-old Lewis Mahon Platt was found with the incriminating evidence when police officers stopped his westbound car on the A590 in south Cumbria.

He was transporting a consignment of the class A drug that weighed just under half a kilo when officers stopped him near Levens and searched his car in July 2022.(Image: Google)

The cocaine  - found in a hidden compartment in the boot of the defendant's car - was 87 per cent pure. Prosecutor Brendan Burke  told the court that the seized drugs had a potential street value of around £40,000.

Police also seized and examined the defendant’s iPhone.

On this they found yet more evidence that the defendant was involved in dealing the drug, for at least a month.

The phone contained numerous messages about transporting and delivering drugs, including postcodes used as "drop off" locations.

There was also a debtors’ list with detailed records of money owed and references to transporting half kilo amounts of cocaine and cash sums of up to £1,000.

The phone evidence also includes references to a plan to supply 1 kilo of the drug to one particular contact, with one message thread that included what detectives believe are pictures of that amount of the drug.

The messages also included recognised drugs trade slang terms - including the letter "P" referring to cocaine powder -  as well as instructions to deliver drugs to particular customers on particular days.

There was evidence, said Mr Burke, that cocaine was being sold in “multiple ounces”.

The defendant, of Magnolia Court, Salford, Manchester, pleaded guilty to possessing cocaine with intent to supply on July and to being concerned in the supply the class A drug.

The date when he did this was specified as between June 9, 2022, and July 7 of the same year, the day when his car was stopped by the police.

His defence barrister told the court that the defendant had been under pressure to get involved because of a drugs debt he owed.

After hearing the details, Judge Michael Fanning jailed the defendant for four and a half years.

Speaking after the case concluded, Detective Constable Lauren Brookes said: “We proactively work to identify and challenge anyone being suspected of travelling into the county to supply drugs.

“I am pleased with the sentencing given today at court – not only is Platt now behind bars, but we have also taken harmful drugs off the streets. If you have any information about drug related activity in your area, please report this to police.”

The investigation of Platt's offending was part of Operation Alliance - Cumbria Constabulary’s ongoing response to protect the county against serious and organised crime.

Anyone with information can report online at www.cumbria.police.uk/report-it 
You can also phone on 101. Alternatively, you can contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.