Women's cannabis operation exposed after police raided ground floor flat
A POLICE raid on a property in Carlisle's Morton area uncovered evidence of how two women were involved in cannabis dealing.
Kaye Elliott, 28, and her co-defendant Lucy Elizabeth Connelly, 25, admitted their involvement after police found incriminating evidence in a ground floor flat, including just under half a kilo of the drug and more than £6,000 in cash.
Connelly, of Marks Avenue, Raffles, Carlisle, admitted possessing cannabis with intent to supply while Elliott, of Parham Drive, Carlisle, admitted an identical charge as well as being concerned in supplying the Class B drug.
She did this between January 8, 2022, and December 30, 2023.
Prosecutor George Shelley told the city's Rickergate court that police officers armed with a search warrant raided a property in Stonegarth (below) on September 30, 2023.
(Image: Google)
'Both defendants were present,' said Mr Shelley.
The search uncovered paraphernalia linked to the drugs trade, including digital scales, a cannabis grinder, as well as a phone which contained more incriminating evidence.
This pointed to Elliott being the main driver of the cannabis operation, said Mr Shelley. In total, there was £6,450 in cash and 477g of cannabis.
Anthony Wilson, for Elliott, said the court had sufficient powers to deal with sentencing his client and asked for a pre-sentence report.
Chris Toms, for Connelly, said common sense dictated that there was no point in jailing the defendant, who had waited a considerable time for the case to be dealt with and who knew she was in serious trouble.
'This has weighed on her mind,' said Mr Toms.
Magistrates imposed a one-year community order with five rehabilitation activity days and a 12-week curfew. The cash that was seized will be forfeited and the drugs and paraphernalia will be destroyed.
The defendant must pay prosecution costs and a surcharge.
Elliott was granted bail and told she will be sentenced on June 24 after a pre-sentence report has been prepared by the Probation Service. She was granted unconditional bail until the day her case is concluded.
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