Overview
- Josh Wharton, 35, was sentenced after pleading guilty to importation, supply-related offences and possession of criminal property.
- Border Force intercepted a Thailand-to-UK parcel in August 2024 containing 5.6kg of cannabis, later valued in court at £30,000 to £168,000.
- Police searched his home and van in September 2024, finding additional cannabis and £3,260 in cash.
- Investigators recovered a phone showing contact with multiple suppliers and said he played a significant mid-level role, with fingerprints linking him to the packages.
- Judge Richard Bennett imposed a two-year term suspended for two years with 250 hours of unpaid work and 20 rehabilitation days, as the defence cited steady employment and recent abstinence, and NEROCU issued a warning to would-be importers.