A DESPERATE courier stabbed by crooks after he was caught transporting £80,000 worth of cannabis has been ordered to undergo rehabilitation by magistrates.

Thomas Watson, 22, was pulled over by police as he travelled northbound on the M6 near Southwaite, between Penrith and Carlisle, on May 1 last year. Their attention was drawn to his Citroen Berlingo vehicle because it was in the central lane but not overtaking.

Watson’s girlfriend was a passenger in the Citroen, which was searched after he had identified himself.

“There was a large quantity of cannabis, vacuum-packed inside white and red shopping bags in the back,” prosecutor George Shelley told Carlisle magistrates’ court earlier today (tues).

Watson was arrested, detained and his haul was forensically analysed. “The wholesale value of the drugs was £28,000-£40,000 with a potential Street value of £80,000,” said Mr Shelley.

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Watson later admitted possessing the drug with intent to supply on a formal agreed basis. “Essentially he was in so much debt he was transporting the drugs as part of a way of discharging that debt,” added the prosecutor.

Chris Toms, defending, said Watson — a man of previous good character — had been making a “one-off” trip after a direct threat was made to he and his family.

“He was unusually, I can say, in this type of case very co-operative with the police and made very significant admissions in interview,” said Mr Toms. “He was very regretful about the incident and very sorry — not just because he got caught.”

“As a result of his arrest he was subsequently seriously injured and attacked.”

He had been hospitalised and had attended a previous court hearing wearing a sling over his right arm.

“He is unlikely to regain full use of it in the next 12 months,” added Mr Toms, “as a result of being stabbed several times by the people whose drugs they were.”

Magistrates considered all submissions and also a detailed eight-page probation service pre-sentence report before handing down their punishment.

They imposed a community order. Watson, of Bilsdale Gardens, Guisborough, must complete a rehabilitation activity requirement of up to 35 days and also a four-month electronically monitored night time curfew.

In addition, he must pay £85 costs and a £95 mandatory surcharge.

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