A MAN who was a "conduit" for bringing drugs into the UK via his home has been spared jail.

Scott Cooper, of Rhyl Coast Road in Rhyl, appeared at Mold Crown Court on Friday afternoon for sentence.

The 28-year-old had previously admitted offences of possession of cannabis with intent to supply and being concerned in the fraudulent evasion of a prohibition on the importation of cannabis.

John Wyn Williams, prosecuting, told the court that on December 16, 2022, police raided the defendant's home after receiving information that he'd been involved in cannabis supply.

The postal service had intercepted an amount oft he drug which was meant to arrive at his address.

When officers searched the property, they found almost 400 grams of cannabis and £3,000 in cash, as well as various other drug-related paraphernalia.

In interview, Cooper claimed he'd been asked by a man he knew through a friend to take in parcels in exchange for cash - but claimed he'd never opened any.

After police took paperwork from his home and made enquiries with Fed Ex, three undelivered parcels were intercepted.

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More than 3kg of cannabis was discovered, with the value estimated as £18,270 at wholesale, or more than £36,000 on the street.

Mr Wyn Williams acknowledged there had been a delay in bringing the case to court due to the wait for drugs experts being "quite long these days."

Elen Owen, defending, told the court: "He pleaded guilty to this on the basis of the Crown's case.

"He was receiving these packages as an easy way of making money.

"There's no evidence he himself was involved as a street dealer or in any onward supply."

Ms Owen said her client, a dad-of-three, had been acting as "a conduit," adding: "He was struggling financially and had significant debts after the pandemic.

"There has been a delay in this case and whatever the reason may have been, it wasn't Mr Cooper's fault.

"There has been a great deal of stress for him and his family in the intervening two years."

Judge Timothy Petts told the defendant: "It's not said by the prosecution that you were dealing these drugs in terms of supplying people.

"But you were clearly a very important link in the chain of getting drugs into this country for onward supply - you had a significant role."

However the Judge acknowledged there was a "realistic prospect of rehabilitation" in Cooper's case.

He handed down a 15 month custodial sentence, but suspended it for 18 months.

The defendant must undertake 200 hours of unpaid work, 15 rehabilitation activity days and a three month drug rehabilitation requirement, as well as paying £400 towards prosecution costs.