Preston man caught with drugs at railway station had a meat cleaver in his rucksack

Kameron Campbell, 20, of Arkwright Road, Preston, was arrested after railway staff reported a group of men were acting suspiciously in the stairwell of the adjoining multi storey car park at around 3pm on July 11, 2019.

He has been given nine months in a young offender's institution, suspended for 18 months, and 150 hours of unpaid work.

Simon Blakeborough, prosecuting, said: "Police attended the car park and saw four males in the stairwell on the top floor.

"The group attempted to make off and one managed to get away. The remaining three were detained.

"Whilst Mr Campbell was being searched a black rucksack was found on the pavement outside the car park.

"From the CCTV it was clear this was the bag that had been carried and dropped by him when he had seen the police."

The court heard inside it were 18 sealed bags of skunk cannabis, two separate bags containing cannabis, and further small empty bags.

The defendant's fingerprints were found on several bags and the drugs amounted to £260 worth. There was also a set of scales, £25 cash and a driving licence in his name

As Campbell was led away he was seen to discard a small mobile phone which was found to contain incriminating drug dealing messages showing he had been supplying drugs since at least June 2019.

Campbell gave a no comment interview but now admits possession with intent to supply a controlled drug of Class B and possessing a knife in a public place.

Recorder Sarah Johnston, sentencing, said she was sympathetic to his difficult and unsettled childhood, but added: "You involved yourself foolishly and greedily in the street supply of cannabis."

Referring to the knife she added: " I'm satisfied you knew it was illegal to possess it in the circumstances in which you held it.

"You were 18 at the time and you had one previous conviction."

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