POLICE seized illicit drugs worth more than £15,000 from the home of a Carlisle man during a series of raids - two of which were triggered by the defendant's bad driving, a court heard.

But when 32-year-old Daniel Wallace appeared before a judge at the city's crown court he read aloud his letter of abject apology, telling Recorder Philip Grundy: "I am deeply sorry for the offences I have committed.

"I regret getting mixed up in the whole mess from the start. I've had a huge eye opener and have learned my lesson."

He was jailed for four years.

Sentenced alongside him at Carlisle Crown Court was Liam Carthy, 31 of Cumrew Close, Carlisle.

He admitted being concerned in the supply of cocaine and being concerned in supplying cannabis.

Brendan Burke, prosecuting, outlined how Wallace first came to the attention of police on October 10 last year when officers visited his property and found that he was growing cannabis inside a tent rigged with lights.

They also found £1,400 in cash, nearly 500g of cannabis and 375 Ecstasy tablets, each bearing an 'Albert Einstein' logo.

On January 27, police stopped Wallace's car because he was "speeding around" Carlisle and in the vehicle, officers found 16.85g of cannabis and a tiny amount of cocaine. As a result, the officers searched the defendant's home again.

They found more evidence of drug dealing - digital scales, snap bags and cocaine. Police were back at his home on April 8 - again because he was stopped for bad driving and was found carrying cannabis.

Yet more cannabis and cocaine were found at this home, the drug this time proving to be more than 70 per cent pure. "Mr Wallace's phone was found to reflect offers to to sell class A and class B drugs," said Mr Burke.

Wallace, of Pennine Way, Harraby, pleaded guilty to producing cannabis, three counts of possessing Class A drugs with intent to supply; three counts of possessing Class B cannabis with intent to supply; and breaching a restraining order.

Paul Tweddle, defending, said Wallace had got into trouble after becoming addicted to cannabis. He also suffered the break-up of a 12-year relationship and his 40-year-old cousin had died from Covid-19.

In his letter to the judge, Wallace spoke emotionally of that tragedy, adding: "Before I got involved in all this mess, I had a good life which I foolishly took for granted, working as a joiner and later as a postman. I know I need to take responsibility for what I have done...I just want a normal life."

Recorder Grundy told Carthy: "You are a lifelong friend of the defendant Daniel Wallace; and your wife has told you that you keep bad company and in this court's view... she is quite right."

That friendship led Carthy, a young family man with no previous convictions, to appear in court. His offences were discovered when he was found at Wallace's home. His phone yielded evidence of him offering drugs to friends. His offences were "social supplying" to friends, said Mr Burke. Carthy was given 15 months jail suspended for two years. Detective Constable Matthew Rees said “Wallace continued to produce and supply drugs following his initial arrest.This sentence reflects the serious approach Cumbria Constabulary is taking to combat those that are involved in drugs supply within the area."We will continue to target such criminals in order to minimise the knock-on effect that drug supply has on our communities.”

Anyone with information on the supply of illegal drugs is asked to contact police on 101. Alternatively you can contact Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.