A LOCAL authority worker stopped by police as he drove along the M6 in Cumbria was transporting £13,000 of ‘criminal cash’ and amphetamine worth £180,000.

Craig Molyneux, 31, admitted his wrongdoing when he appeared at Carlisle’s Rickergate court.

He pleaded guilty to two offences: possessing criminal property – the cash; and possessing the class B drug with intent to supply.

Police stopped the defendant as he drove past Junction 43 near Carlisle on September 4 because he was travelling at high speed, prosecutor Diane Jackson told the court.

When the police officers spoke to him, he assured them that there was “nothing of interest” in his car. The drugs and the cash were found following a search of the vehicle.

The defendant, whose lawyer described him as a local authority worker without specifying which council, said Molyneux claimed he agreed to transport the drugs because he owed a £1,000 drugs debt.

Duncan Campbell, defending, said drugs criminals told the defendant his debt would be wiped out if he agreed to transport the cash and drugs for them. “He was told that if he did this job, that would be it,” said the lawyer.

“He wasn’t told the nature of [what he was transporting], he didn’t enquire; and he just turned a blind eye,” said Mr Campbell. “He just knew that it was something untoward.”

Molyneux had a stead job with a local authority, said Mr Campbell, though he did not say which one.

Adjourning the case, District Judge John Temperley told the defendant, from Ashton-in-Makerfield, Wigan, that the offending was serious enough to be sent to the crown court.

“You will get credit for your guilty pleas,” said the judge, noting that Molyneux has no previous convictions for the past 13 years. He ordered a pre-sentence report but remanded the defendant in custody.

Molyneux will be sentenced at Carlisle Crown Court on October 3.