Man, 52, from Norfolk sent 1 kilo of cannabis from US

Paul Brannan, 52, received six "brown box" packages from the US which prompted "suspicion" from officers at Border Force.

Norwich Crown Court heard a total of six deliveries were made to Brannan from the States between September 2022 and January last year.

Norwich Crown Court (Image: Peter Walsh, Newsquest)The suspicious packages were intercepted by officers who went to his address where they found a seventh brown box.

Martin Ivory, prosecuting, said found inside the boxes was a total of 1.163 kilos of cannabis.

He said Brannan was arrested and his phone was also seized.

Mr Ivory said Brannan was to tell police he was only involved in the "receipt of these packages" and was paid £35 each time for holding onto them.

He said Brannan's involvement was "allowing his address to take receipt of these packages".

Paul Brannan leaving court (Image: Peter Walsh, Newsquest)Brannan, of Bulls Lane, Gorleston, appeared at court this week when he admitted being concerned in the supply of cannabis between September 2022 and January 2023.

Judge Katharine Moore said the offence was "serious" with the fact the drugs were being imported adding to the seriousness of the offending.

Judge Katharine Moore (Image: Newsquest)She said: "You became aware you were helping in an enterprise involving the movement of cannabis".

Brannan was given a 12-month community order, made up of 200 hours unpaid work.

John Morgans, for Brannan, said his client was "persuaded" into becoming involved in the enterprise "for no great benefit to himself" and never fully understood the full implications of what he was involved in.

Mr Morgans said he paid "no great attention" to the packages "never unwrapped them" and just left them at his property until they were picked up.

He said it was more of a case of "turning a bit of a blind eye" to what was going on.