A MARYPORT man spared jail for plotting to bring cocaine into Cumbria has been brought back to court after he was caught with another illegal drug.

Stuart Relph, now aged 31, was punished by a judge last year for his role in a criminal conspiracy which crumbled after a Covid lockdown traffic stop.

Relph was passenger in a BMW pulled over by police near Brampton in north Cumbria during April 2020.

Officers found high purity cocaine in snap-bags inside the vehicle along with mobile phones bearing incriminating messages.

Relph admitted conspiring to supply the class A drug.

Defence barrister Anthony Parkinson, for Relph, of Windermere Road, Maryport, said at a sentencing hearing that he had been less involved than four other men who pleaded guilty to the same charge.

Relph was given a 15-month prison sentence which a judge suspended for two years on condition that he did not commit any more crimes. He was also told to complete 240 hours’ community service and rehabilitation work with the probation service.

However, Relph did not stay offence-free and on Monday he was back in front of the judge who had initially sentenced him.

“This relates to the arrest of the defendant,” said prosecutor Andrew Evans of an incident on December 28, 2023.

Police had been investigating a domestic matter in Maryport on that date which ultimately was not proceeded with.

A 'large spliff' (cannabis cigarette) had been found by officers long with a grinder, said Mr Evans.

Relph admitted possessing the class B drug, thus placing him in breach of the original suspended sentence.

Relph’s lawyer, Anthony Parkinson, said the defendant had completed all unpaid work he was given last year, and attended probation service appointments.

“My submission is that the court does not have to activate the suspended sentence today,” said Mr Parkinson.

Judges can activate suspended prison terms in whole or in part unless they concluded it is unjust to do so. And Judge Nicholas Barker decided against sending Relph to prison.

“You were found to be in possession of cannabis,” the judge told Relph. “You should have been conscious, whatever was taking place on December 28, it was putting you at risk of being in breach of a very significant suspended sentence.”

But Judge Barker concluded: “I am satisfied you have taken the requirements under this order seriously and that you have completed the requirements of this order.

“Possession of cannabis is far removed from the conspiracy to supply cocaine you were involved in.”

Relph was given a 12-month conditional discharge for cannabis possession, and fined £200 for breaching the suspended sentence.