A man was caught with a cardboard box full of weed in his van - before police searched his girlfriend’s house and found a cannabis farm worth £9,200.
Michael Bebro, 31, drew the attention of passing officers with a ‘strong smell of cannabis’ that was emanating from his white VW Caddy back in August 2018.
After pulling him over, officers asked if he had any drugs, to which he said yes, “I’ve f***ed up bad”.
Manchester Crown Court heard that officers searched the rear of the van to find a large cardboard box full of ‘skunk’ cannabis - then a further bin bag containing the herbal drug.
After arresting him, officers searched his address in Salford and found nothing.
However, they then searched his girlfriend’s house in Warrington to find a cannabis farm, mobile phones and digital scales, it was said.
Pleading guilty to an offence of possession with intent to supply class B drugs on the basis that it wasn’t for financial gain, Bebro, of Salford, was handed a 14 week custodial sentence which was suspended for 12 months.
Prosecuting, Joshua Bowker told the court the offence dated back to August 12 2018 when two officers were travelling down East Lancashire Road in the direction of Manchester when they smelt something unusual.
“They looked in the direction of the smell and saw a white van with something green in the window,” he said.
“They pulled the van over and he identified himself as the driver of the vehicle.
“The officers asked if he had any drugs in the vehicle and he confirmed he did.
“When they said they were going to search the van, he exited from the driver’s seat and said “I’ve f***ed up bad”.
“The defendant sat in the rear of the police vehicle as the officers asked him what it was, he confirmed it was weed.”
After finding the drugs in the rear of the van, officers conducted another search and found scales and a mobile phone in the foot well, it was said.
“There was a further search on an address in Cheshire,” Mr Bowker continued.
“That address was written on the cardboard box, and was known to be the defendant’s girlfriend’s address.
“A cannabis farm was found, as well as £3,000 in cash, mobile phones and digital scales.
“The farm was disposed of and his partner was interviewed, but no further action was taken.
“The cannabis found weighed 0.92kg and was estimated to cost £9,200.”
In a police interview, Bebro said he was ‘transporting the cannabis for a friend, but not for financial gain’.
Bebro was said to have one previous conviction, namely for production of class B drugs and abstracting electricity, after officers found a 30-plant cannabis farm worth £13,000 in his house.
Mitigating, John Kennerley said his client is class as ‘extremely vulnerable to Covid19’ as he suffered with ulcerative colitis, asthma and anxiety.
“He accepted at the time (of the previous conviction) that he was growing plants to make some money,” he said.
“ He didn’t have the responsibilities he has now.
“The offence occurred in August 2018 and the delay in the case is nothing to do with the defendant.
“He has remained out of trouble and gone beyond that.”
Bebro was said to be in a relationship with a woman who was connected to ‘somebody rather feared’ in the Salford area.
This led to ‘numerous reprisals’ where was stabbed in the face because he had the ‘audacity’ to go out with this girl, Mr Kennerley told the court.
“He became frightened and contacted someone else to assist him.
“They asked him to run errands for him and he agreed - one of those errands was to transport the cannabis and he was pulled over for it.
“He was under pressure.”
The court heard that since his address, Bebro has established a successful plastering business and has become a father.
Sentencing, Judge Michael Leeming told him: “You have plainly not learnt your lesson.
“It’s a misconception those who think couriers are necessarily a lesser role.
“Couriers can enter the enterprise with their eyes wide open fully intending to make a financial gain, indicating a significant role in the sentencing guidelines.
“Your basis of plea was that you were not financially motivated.
“It’s important for the public to know that I am not setting a precedent as every case is set in their own facts.
“I am satisfied the offence is sufficiently serious to cross the custody threshold, but I can draw back and pass a suspended sentence.”
Bebro was also handed 14 days of rehabilitation activity requirements and ordered to pay a £1,000 fine.
A Proceeds of Crime Act hearing has been set for May 4.
A previous version of this article reported that Michael Bebro's mother lived at the address that was searched. This is not true. We are happy to clarify that Michael's mother did not live at this address.
