Father and son caught dealing Cannabis after posting drug
A father and son who were caught out in a multi-thousand-pound cannabis operation after trying to send cannabis through the post office have been spared jail.
David Heys, 59, and his son Matthew Heys, 32, were involved in a cannabis dealing operation using mail delivery.
Claire Brocklebank, prosecuting at Preston Crown Court, said the pair were caught out when on July 27, 2018, Heys Sr had taken two parcels to the post office and said they were clothes.
Employee Susanne Keaton noticed the packages had a distinct smell and called the police, who opened the parcels and found they contained 84.9g of cannabis.
Heys Sr was identified as the man who brought the parcels in and Heys Jr's fingerprints were found on both the packaging and the tub containing the cannabis.
Messages were found between the pair from June 2017 and July 2018 about their cannabis enterprise, discussing deals by the kilogram and tonne and sending ‘mail orders’.
Heys Jr's home in Earby was searched on February 29, 2019, and officers recovered more than £3,000 in cash and 1.6kg of cannabis – holding a street value of £19,980.
They also had cash counting machines, weighing scales, snap bags and weapons including a knife and an axe.
Mitigating for both men, Gerrard Doran said Heys Jr had no previous convictions and that he committed these offences some years ago.
Mr Doran also said Heys Jr had a family who depended on him and was working with his father in a family business.
Mr Doran said Heys Sr had one previous conviction committed around the same time as this offence, in relation to amphetamine, having leased a factory for the drug to be made.
Other than that offence, Mr Doran said Heys Sr had not committed any other offences and he was at the top of a successful family business which employs not only his son but other people.
Matthew Heys, who pleaded guilty to possession with intent to supply cannabis and David Heys, who pleaded guilty to possession with intent to supply cannabis and being concerned in the supply of cannabis, were each handed a 21-month sentence, suspended for two years.
David Heys, of Wheatley Lane Road, Fence, was ordered to complete 200 hours of unpaid work.
Matthew Heys must complete 200 hours 25 days of rehabilitation activity requirement days.
