"I had a great day and I'm off home." These were the words of a happy Southmead dad spared immediate custody for importing some £22,000 worth of cannabis from California into Bristol.
Daniel Williams appeared at Bristol Crown Court with his son Joshua after they both admitted drug offences. Daniel, 41, of Coleford Road, pleaded guilty to: four charges of improper importation of cannabis; possessing cannabis with intent to supply, being concerned in the production of cannabis and possessing criminal property.
Joshua, 20, of the same address, pleaded guilty to being concerned in the supply of cannabis. Judge Julian Lambert handed Daniel 11 months' jail suspended for two years and Joshua 60 hours' unpaid work.
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The judge told them: "Both of you, leave cannabis alone, its useless, all it ends up with is people out of their heads. Continue to be noble people and turn your backs on this now. Just work hard and be nice to people."
As he left court with his son, Daniel Williams told Bristol Live with a thumbs-up: "I had a great day and I'm off home."
Lucy Taylor, prosecuting, said in April 2021 the Border Force intercepted parcels from the USA containing empty cannabis dealing bags addressed to Daniel Williams. Five days later the force intercepted 850g of cannabis, also addressed to Daniel, concealed in 13 boxes of cinnamon crunch cereal sent from San Francisco.
The next day another 850g of cannabis was intercepted and as a result Avon and Somerset police searched the Williams' address. Miss Taylor said Daniel attempted to scale a fence but was arrested.
Bags of cannabis in washing machine
The court heard police recovered self-sealing bags, a grinder, weighing scales and bags of cannabis in the washing machine. There was also a single cannabis plant and cash.
Two more cannabis consignments, weighing 305g and 195g, were then intercepted by Border Force. Daniel Williams told police he used cannabis but made no further comment.
Miss Taylor said the value of all cannabis recovered was put at £23,340. Daniel Williams' total benefit was put at £33,500.34 and an available £6,685 cash was confiscated under the Proceeds of Crime Act.
The court heard Joshua Williams was said to be acting as a go-between for drug users and his dad. His involvement was deemed to be in the lesser role category.
Alistair Haggerty, defending Daniel, said: "He understands how naive he was. He deeply regrets what he did."
Mr Haggerty said his client had a long-standing cannabis addiction, which worsened during the pandemic when he was out of work, but he had overcome cannabis misuse. The court heard the father-of-four supplied cannabis after racking up debt but now worked as a cleaner and was not a danger to the public.
Ehsanul Oarith, defending Joshua, said: "He is working. He could do unpaid work."
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