A WHITEHAVEN man was caught transporting class A drugs potentially worth more than £30,000 during a “happenchance” police stoppage.

Kevin Shimmin, 59, is now facing a lengthy jail term having made what his solicitor said was an “entirely foolish decision” to carry an illicit cargo in his car.

Details of Shimmin’s crime emerged at North and West Cumbria Magistrates’ Court as he admitted possessing heroin and cocaine, with intent to supply, on May 22.

Prosecutor Carl Gaffney said Shimmin’s Renault Megane was pulled over on the M6 close to Burton-in-Kendal.

“As far as I can tell,” Mr Gaffney told magistrates, “there appears to be no whiff of intelligence they are looking for him specifically. I think it is more to do with looking at the transit of traffic during Covid time up and down the M6 corridor.

“It appears to be - I can’t say this for definite - a happenchance stop. At that stage, following a discussion, following his behaviour - he appears nervous - the police decide to search the vehicle.

“Before they are able to search the vehicle, he volunteers there is a package underneath the driver’s seat. I understand that is where they find this bounty, so to speak, of drugs.”

This was worth between £15,000 at its lowest potential value, and in excess of £30,000 at its highest.

“He is certainly trusted to be couriering £15-£30,000 worth of drugs,” Mr Gaffney added. “He is not a mule who is just taking £500 here or £1,000 there. It is a substantial amount.”

Shimmin, of Peter Street, Whitehaven, had not been in any trouble for more than two decades but now faced a prison sentence around two to three years.

Mike Woolaghan, defending, said of the drugs offences: “The coronavirus lockdown restrictions had eased slightly. He had been invited to visit a friend, which is allowed. It was that friend who essentially put this offer to him to make a modest sum of money to transport a package on his behalf.

“Although the defendant did not fully appreciate the contents of the package - he isn’t involved in any packaging of the item - by his plea he necessarily accepts he was aware the contents of the package were certainly unlawful. He clearly understands that what he was transporting was illegal. It was an entirely foolish decision on his part where he ignored the jeopardy he was placing himself in for short-term gain.”

Magistrates refused a bail application by Shimmin, who was remanded in custody and is due to be sentenced at Carlisle Crown Court on June 15.