Grandad caught out by police yet again after £70,000 find promises 'there won't be a third time'

Paul Fleming, 60, who suffers from prostate cancer had previously been convicted as a drug courier

A grandad caught up in the drugs trade yet again has said, "There won't be a third time". Paul Fleming, previously convicted as a drug courier, was found with over £70,000 hidden in his car at Switch Island.

The 60-year-old ex-soldier also had heroin valued at up to £13,000 in his flat. He reportedly faced "intimidation and pressure" to return to his criminal ways after serving nearly a decade in jail for moving class A drugs in 2016.

Liverpool Crown Court heard that on October 16, 2023 at around 2pm, Merseyside Police stopped Fleming's Nissan Duke at the M58's western end. A search revealed £73,970 concealed under the floor of the boot.

Prosecutor Iain Criddle said the discovery led to a search of Fleming's former home on Washington Parade, Bootle, where officers found three bags of heroin weighing 217g, worth between £8,600 and £13,000, in his kitchen. Fleming was described as a "courier of cash" and was "minding the drugs in question".

He has a total of 20 previous convictions for 28 offences, dating back to 1979 and including a sentence of nine-and-a-half years for conspiracy to supply class A drugs in December 2016.

Mr Criddle said: "On that occasion, again, he was a courier of drugs, and a quantity of drugs was recovered from him. But, on that occasion, there was evidence that he was responsible for being the courier of a large amount of drugs on more than one occasion."

Anthony O'Donohoe, defending, told the court: "He has prostate cancer, anxiety, depression and irritable bowel syndrome, significant medical conditions which will make custody much more difficult for a man of his age rather than a young, fit man. He has secure family relationships, two boys, two grown men, and five grandchildren.

"As a result of his actions, he has lost his tenancy. It was a secure tenancy where he had some support. In recent years he has been on benefits, but he has a good work record. He joined the army. He was in the Parachute Regiment. He hopes to receive some support from army charities upon his release.

"He is getting too long in the tooth now to be involved in this sort of thing. He knows that, if he were to repeat this type of activity, he will stray into minimum sentence provisions. He has said that there won't be a third time. He has shown some genuine remorse.

"There was a degree of pressure placed upon him. The other side of that coin is that those who run with wild dogs run the risk of being bitten. Nonetheless, there was pressure to perform these functions because of his previous involvement."

Fleming admitted possession of heroin with intent to supply and possession of criminal property. Wearing a khaki green North Face coat in the dock, he was jailed for 39 months.

Sentencing, Judge Stuart Driver KC said: "The prosecution say that you were what is called a minder of the 217g of heroin and a courier of £73,000 in cash.

"The aggravating feature is that you have a criminal record of convictions, in particular, in 2016, you were convicted of conspiracy to supply class A drugs and given a long sentence.

"That background must increase the sentence passed today. In mitigation, it is accepted that there was a degree of intimidation and pressure placed upon you.

"You are in poor physical health, with prostate cancer and other condition. Your mental health is not good, with anxiety and depression."

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