Burglar finds cannabis left by incompetent police after raid

A burglar thought his luck was in when he came across a large bag of cannabis apparently left behind by bungling police after a drugs raid. Tony Thompson hoped to make a fortune from the find, Durham Crown Court heard.

But Judge Christopher Prince said Thompson, 18, of Corbett Street, Easington Colliery, had no chance of making money from dealing drugs.

And the judge called for answers from Durham Police as to how the cannabis was left behind after the raid on a flat next to a Chinese takeaway in Holmhill Lane, Easington Colliery.

"If it's the case these premises were left unsecured with drugs inside then I trust there will be a full police inquiry," he said.

"I want to know the outcome of that inquiry, and if any disciplinary proceedings arise from it."

Prosecutor Paul Currer said police raided the flat on August 29, last year.

"They removed a substantial amount of cannabis from what was effectively a cannabis farm," added Mr Currer. "For reasons that are not clear, it seems a quantity of cannabis was also left behind.

"A few days later, officers went to Thompson's brother's house on an unrelated missing persons inquiry.

"In the living room was a bag of cannabis weighing 1.65kg. Tony Thompson said it was his and he had taken it from the flat next to the Chinese takeaway."

Thompson admitted burglary, and possessing a drug of class C with intent to supply it.

Ron Mitchell, defending, said Thompson is a vulnerable young man who was bullied at school and recently attacked in the street.

Thompson was given an 18-month supervision order.

The judge said: "The idea that you could be a drugs dealer is laughable. You would have been caught straight away."

A police spokesman said: "We are aware of the case and the issues raised. As result, a full investigation will be carried out into the facts.

"It would be inappropriate to comment further at this stage."