A DRUGS courier who was set to transport £200,000 worth of methylamphetamine from a family-friendly South Cumbrian tourist resort has been jailed.

Dad Robert Frankland, 39, of Castle Walk in Kendal, was arrested by police for another matter at Haven Lakeland Leisure Centre in Flookburgh on March 12 this year, Preston Crown Court heard.

Prosecutor James Hudson said officers discovered small amounts of cocaine, ketamine, amphetamine and methylamphetamine consistent with personal use in the defendant’s caravan where children were also present.

Officers then found nearly two kilograms of methylamphetamine at 78 per cent purity in a black tub placed within the boot of a hired van, Mr Hudson told the court.

He said the wholesale value of the methylamphetamine was £24,000 and added that the drugs would have had an approximate value of £200,000 if sold at street level.

His Honour Judge Ian Unsworth KC jailed Frankland for six years and three months as he ruled the defendant had played ‘a significant role in the organisation’.

Before imposing the length imprisonment, Judge Unsworth said: “Drugs cause misery on a grand scale. People who use drugs can descend into a life of chaos. They reap havoc on communities and individuals.

“You must have had an understanding of the scale of operation. The sheer weight indicates you had an awareness.  You knew the package was drugs and that it was of some weight but I accept you were unsure of the quantity.

“The crown does not accept you were doing this in order to obtain drugs for yourself but I do not have to come to a conclusion on that. It maybe you might have been expected to receive a significant financial advantage.”

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Frankland answered no comment to all questions asked in interview, the court was told.

He was sentenced on June 18 after pleading guilty to possession with intent to supply the Class B drug, as well as possession of cocaine, ketamine, amphetamine and methylamphetamine.

In mitigation, Kevin Liston said his client had used illicit drugs ‘to deal with other problems in his life’.

Mr Liston added: “The defendant returned to the UK in 2019 to try and turn a corner in his life.

“He is a hard-working father who has worked legitimately for his family. He made a poor decision on this occasion after placing himself with a negative peer group.

“He was never involved in the onward supply of the drugs. He performed a limited function whilst under instruction from others.

“He has used drugs in the past as a coping mechanism and agreed to do this as he was promised he would be given drugs for free. There is little to no financial benefit attributed to his enterprise.”

The court heard Frankland had accumulated 11 convictions for 45 offences including for the possession and production of controlled drugs whilst previously living in Australia.