A JD Sports bag stashed full of drugs led
police to raid a "high end" waterfront apartment. was seen by police arriving at Warehouse - a former dock building on the northern edge of which has latterly been converted into "high end flats". heard this week how he arrived as a passenger in a Mercedes car on September 19 while carrying the bag in question. The 37-year-old, of Lunt Road in , then entered the apartment block before leaving with another man around an hour and 15 minutes later with the bag still in his possession. Robert Wyn Jones, prosecuting, described how, a short time later, he was seen to approach the passenger side of a Jaguar S-Type on nearby Vulcan Street. This vehicle was subsequently later located on Eskburn Road in with a man called Dean Sutton standing beside it. The JD Sports bag was then located in the passenger footwell of the car. It was found to contain 2kg of heroin and 1kg of cocaine, drugs with a street value of around £200,000. On October 31, retired
United Nations worker Paul Elson was seen driving into the same development in his Land Rover Discovery. The 64-year-old, of James Street in Burton upon Trent, Staffordshire, then walked into Waterloo Waterloo carrying a large cardboard box. He and Cahill later emerged and returned to the car, before each picked up another cardboard box and carried them back inside. Elson subsequently left carrying a plastic bag and drove off. A short time later, he stopped his Land Rover on Road in Bootle. A man was seen entering the vehicle at this location before getting out on nearby Merton Road. Cahill was arrested shortly after 3.15pm, having been the passenger of a car which was stopped by officers on Boundary Street in . He had set of keys and fob by his side at the time. Around 10 minutes later, Elson was stopped as he drove back into Waterloo Warehouse. He too had keys and a fob in his possession. The flat which Cahill had keys for was found to contain a "small amount of drugs consistent with personal use". It is believed that he had been living in this apartment at the time. When the unit which Elson was carrying keys for was searched, 36kg of heroin and 4kg of cocaine was discovered inside. These "high purity drugs" were said to have had a wholesale value of between £712,000 and £834,000, rising to somewhere in the region of £1,759,000 and £2,719,000 on the streets. Cahill has a total of 23 previous convictions for 37 offences, including supplying drugs in 2006. Martine Snowdon, defending, said: "He was employed by this enterprise on two distinct occasions with a very limited role. "He has had issues with his own drug addiction over the years. His previous convictions do not help him, but what they do show is a protracted period of being a family man and turning his life around and this being an enormous and significant step backwards in what was a changed position. "It was only when he lost his
Job that the financial pressure to try and maintain that status quo meant that he turned to doing this just to try and make some money. Now, he is going to pay extremely heavily for that." Cahill admitted conspiracy to supply heroin and cocaine and supplying heroin and cocaine. He was jailed for 13-and-a-half years on Thursday, March 21. Elson, who has no previous convictions, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply heroin and cocaine. Andrew McInnes, appearing on his behalf, told the court that his client had worked as a contractor for the UN for 28 years before retiring aged 58. He added: "There is no evidence of a lavish lifestyle or a significant financial gain on his part. There is no explanation as to why he would become involved in this activity at this age. "Generally, he has been a positive contributor. He taught
golf for a small income, and he has said that is the way in which he was recruited. "To look at him, he probably does present to those who recruited him as the perfect courier or custodian. His background would not draw any attention upon him whatsoever. "He says he was paid cash for his involvement. There doesn't appear to be anything to suggest that he was playing a role above that of a warehouseman. "He is an intelligent and personable man, and will use his time wisely.
prison is not an easy place for him, and he will be there for a significant period." Elson was handed 10-and-a-half years. Sentencing, Judge Charlotte Crangle said: "You have both admitted involvement in an enterprise which traded in desperation and destitution. You were motivated by financial advantage, with a complete disregard for the wellbeing of others. "Drugs wreck lives and cause misery, despondency and desperation. You, Stephen Cahill, know only too well what it is like to be afflicted by an addiction to drugs. "You were only interested in financial reward. Those who seek to profit out of such misery must expect severe punishment." Sutton, of Eskburn Road, was previously locked up for six years in October 2023. The 37-year-old, who "at the time was of good character", admitted possession of heroin and cocaine with intent to supply.