OAP’s ‘drugs’ were just bags of brown powder

James Llewellyn, aged 65, was sentenced to six m o n t h s i n p r i s o n , suspended for two years, after being found guilty of attempted possession with i n t e n t t o s u p p l y a m p h e t a m i ne an d attempted being concerned with the supply of amphetamine.

Bolton Crown Court heard yesterday how on July 3 last year police raided The Balmoral on Bradshawgate after they receiving a tip off drugs were being sold.

David Clarke, prosecuting, told how in one lounge three men were sitting at a table and at their feet was a newspaper with a dog chew wrapper hidden beneath it, which contained 18 sachets of a brown powder, which officers suspected was amphetamine.

Llewellyn, who was one of the men sat at the table, was arrested and a search of his home revealed more dog chew wrappers. Three days later Llewellyn returned to the police station and confessed to supplying the drug, claiming that another man, who he refused to name, would collect money from drug customers and send them to Llewellyn, who would supply them by visiting town centre pubs.

He told police he received drugs as payment.

W h e n t h e p o w d e r confiscated during the raid on The Balmoral was analysed by scientists it was found not to contain any drugs.

At his trial last month Llewellyn, of Netherfield Road, Great Lever, claimed he had made a false confession after being threatened.

But a jury did not believe him and he was convicted after a two day trial.

He was sentenced to six months suspended for two years by the judge Recorder Mark Ford.

He also ordered Llewellyn should be supervised for 12 months by probation and undergo a Thinking Skills course.

Sgt Paul Ellis, who led the raid at the pub last year, said: “In this case the intent was still there and the man thought he was selling drugs, so he deserves the same punishment.

"He is very lucky to have got a suspended sentence.”