(Image: Cleveland Police)
A man is paying a heavy price for allowing a high-value cocaine stash to be stored at his home.
Gary Levick, 43, appeared at Durham Crown Court for sentencing on Monday, (September 28), after admitting possession of cocaine with intent to supply.
The court was told police went to Levick’s home in Redcar Road, Thornaby, on January 4 over an unrelated matter.
Officers present saw a hand drop a rucksack into the fence separating the house from a neighbouring property.
Gary Levick starting 54-month prison sentence after being found harbouring large cocaine consignment at his family home
Police prevented anyone leaving the house and arrested Levick upstairs shortly after 1pm.
The bag contained one large package and four smaller ones.
Prosecutor Saba Shan said the packages contained 1.72kg of cocaine worth up to £40,000 wholesale or as much as £162,000 on the street.
Miss Shan said a drug expert believed the quantity recovered pointed to a “significant operation” linked to organised crime.
A search of the property found £1,290 in bedroom drawers, but no drug paraphernalia or significant evidence came to light on Levick’s phone.
He answered none of the questions put to him.
Miss Shan said there was no evidence the defendant played a significant role in dealing drugs.
Chris Morrison, representing Levick, said he was “an otherwise good man” who worked as a trusted employee for an asbestos removal company.
Mr Morrison said financial difficulties drew the defendant into doing “one bad thing” to support his large family.
“He’s a 43-year-old man who expresses bitter regret at getting involved in this one-off event," he said.
“When he was approached and asked to harbour these items, he was tempted due to financial pressure to try to make ends meet.”
But Mr Morrison said Levick drew attention to himself when police arrived because of “the ridiculous, amateurish nature of trying to dispose of the bag”.
Mr Morrison said the defendant was “hopelessly out of his depth”.
He said Levick’s role was limited, “in scope, duration and reward”.
Mr Morrison said: He's an otherwise good man who has done one bad thing.
"The likelihood of him reoffending is low.”
Judge Timothy Clayson said he would treat Levick as a man with no previous convictions.
“The facts clearly demonstrate you were trusted by those who owned the drugs.
“The circumstances in which you were living provided a safe place to store these drugs.
“You knew you were holding these drugs.
“You told the Probation Service you were hoping to benefit by £1,000.”
The judge said the prison sentence would be hard on Levick and keep him away from his family.
He sentenced Levick to four years and six months in prison, less 181 days already spent in custody or on a tag awaiting the case’s conclusion.
The judge also ordered the seized drugs to be confiscated and destroyed, and other property recovered to be forfeited.