Latest news with #ChelseaBlanton
Daily Record
8 hours ago
- Daily Record
American drug mule caught at UK Airport with 28 kilos of cannabis in ‘life-changing' gamble
Chelsea Blanton has been jailed after being caught at a UK Airport. An American drug mule was apprehended at a UK Airport with 28 kilos of cannabis in a 'risky gamble' for a 'life-changing' sum. Chelsea Blanton, 29, was stopped by Border Force officers on May 7 this year after having travelled from Texas to Saudi Arabia to Malaysia before heading to Manchester via Heathrow. Officers found 15 vacuum sealed packages of cannabis in her two suitcases at Manchester Airport, reports the Manchester Evening News. Their wholesale value was £80,000, Manchester Crown Court heard. Blanton would later tell a court that she had been offered the 'life-changing' amount of $8,500. Jailing her, Judge Tom Gilbart said: 'You took a gamble, it didn't pay off. You now have to pay the consequences.' The court heard when she was arrested at Manchester Airport, Blanton made a 'false claim' regarding her visit to the UK. She later admitted drug smuggling when confronted with the cannabis. 'Speaking to the probation service, you confirmed you did this to make money. You took a risk, you said you would be paid $8,500,' the judge said. 'There is no suggestion of intimidation or coercion. There was a degree of naivety on your part.' The court heard she had no previous conviction in the United Kingdom, but had admitted to the probation service that she was imprisoned for assault in the United States. Blanton expressed remorse, and said in mitigation that she had suffered trauma following the violent death of her father. She also said she had been the victim of domestic violence in the past, the judge continued. He said: 'I accept you had genuine personal, health and financial difficulties. You have a good work ethic and have worked two jobs to support your family. 'You have a 12-year-old child, he must pay the consequences for the decisions you have made. 'You described this opportunity as life changing, and I accept you would have received significant financial gain.' Blanton, of no fixed abode, was jailed for 17 months, of which she will serve half in prison before she will be liable to deportation back to the United States. 'Given you committed this crime having left your son with your mother, it can't be a proper or fair reason to step back from custody,' Judge Gilbart added. Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. Get all the big headlines, pictures, analysis, opinion and video on the stories that matter to you. We're also on Facebook - your must-see news, features, videos and pictures throughout the day from the Daily Record, Sunday Mail and Record Online
Daily Mirror
11 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
Naive young mum took huge gamble for 'life-changing' sum - but it didn't pay off
Chelsea Blanton was stopped by Border Force officers at Manchester Airport but, following their discovery, the green young woman must now "pay the consequences" A drug mule caught in the UK with 28 kilos of cannabis in a "risky gamble" for a "life-changing" sum has been jailed. Chelsea Blanton "took a gamble" in attempting to bring the drugs into the UK in exchange for $8,500 (£6,200). The American woman had travelled from Texas to Saudi Arabia to Malaysia before heading to Manchester via Heathrow, but she was stopped by Border Force officers at Manchester Airport on May 7 this year. Officers found 15 vacuum-sealed packages of cannabis in her two suitcases, and Blanton was arrested. The 29-year-old woman later told a court she had been offered the "life-changing" amount of $8,500 to try to smuggle the cannabis, which had a wholesale value of around £80,000. Jailing Blanton for 17 months at Manchester Crown Court, Judge Tom Gilbart said: "You took a gamble, it didn't pay off. You now have to pay the consequences." The court heard Blanton made a "false claim" regarding her visit to the UK when she was arrested at the airport. She later admitted drug smuggling when confronted with the cannabis, reports Manchester Evening News. The judge continued: "Speaking to the probation service, you confirmed you did this to make money. You took a risk, you said you would be paid $8,500. There is no suggestion of intimidation or coercion. There was a degree of naivety on your part." The court heard she had no previous conviction in the United Kingdom, but had admitted to the probation service that she was imprisoned for assault in the United States. Blanton expressed remorse, and said in mitigation that she had suffered trauma following the violent death of her father. She also said she had been the victim of domestic violence in the past, the judge continued. He said: "I accept you had genuine personal, health and financial difficulties. You have a good work ethic and have worked two jobs to support your family. You have a 12-year-old child, he must pay the consequences for the decisions you have made. You described this opportunity as life changing, and I accept you would have received significant financial gain.' Blanton, of no fixed abode, was jailed for 17 months, of which she will serve half in prison before she will be liable to deportation back to the United States. Judge Gilbart added: "Given you committed this crime having left your son with your mother, it can't be a proper or fair reason to step back from custody."
