Jail for drug 'storeman' who stashed over £70k of cannabis in Sheffield home for 'up to eight criminal groups'

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A drug ‘storeman’ has been jailed for stashing over £70,000 of cannabis, belonging to up to eight criminal gangs, in the loft of his Sheffield property.

The criminal dealings of defendant, Johnathan Atkinson, were exposed over three years ago when police raided his Sheffield home on August 24, 2019, Sheffield Crown Court was told during a hearing held on October 13, 2022. Prosecuting barrister, Zaiban Alam, said Atkinson was abroad in Cyprus when the warrant was executed, but his daughter and her friends were present.

“Seventeen tubs of cannabis were found in the loft area, along with weighing scales,” Ms Alam said. She told the court that a total of 7.06kg of cannabis was found at the property, adding that it was estimated to have a street value of more than £70,000.

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“The defendant was arrested on his return from Cyprus at Manchester Airport...the defendant had a significant role and was put in charge of a considerable amount of cannabis. He must have been aware of the scale of the operation,” Ms Alam added.

Johnathan Atkinson, from High Green, Sheffield, has been jailed for stashing £70,000 worth of cannabis in his home for criminal groupsJohnathan Atkinson, from High Green, Sheffield, has been jailed for stashing £70,000 worth of cannabis in his home for criminal groups
Johnathan Atkinson, from High Green, Sheffield, has been jailed for stashing £70,000 worth of cannabis in his home for criminal groups

Following his arrest, Atkinson, aged 50, was charged with possession of intent to supply cannabis. Ms Alam said Atkinson put forward a basis of plea in which he said that he acted as a ‘storeman’ because his home was deemed a ‘safe location’; and said he was storing the Class B drug for up to eight different parties, adding that he ‘regretted becoming involved’ with the operation. Atkinson’s basis of plea was accepted by the prosecution, and he subsequently pleaded guilty to the offence at an earlier hearing. The court was told that Atkinson’s criminal record consists of 13 previous offences from nine convictions, including a 2011 conviction for possession of cannabis.

The judge, Recorder Benjamin Nolan KC, asked both Ms Alam and Atkinson’s barrister, David Godfrey, whether Atkinson, of Farnaby Gardens, High Green, had assisted the police in identifying the individuals and gangs he stored the cannabis for.

Mr Godfrey said Atkinson had not assisted South Yorkshire Police, adding that the last time he had contact with them was when he was initially arrested and interviewed in 2019.

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Recorder Nolan responded by saying: “He knows who these people are, I would have thought he could assist police with their enquiries.”

Johnathan Atkinson was jailed for 18 months after admitting to possession of cannabis, with intent to supply during a hearing held at Sheffield Crown Court (pictured) on Thursday, October 13, 2022Johnathan Atkinson was jailed for 18 months after admitting to possession of cannabis, with intent to supply during a hearing held at Sheffield Crown Court (pictured) on Thursday, October 13, 2022
Johnathan Atkinson was jailed for 18 months after admitting to possession of cannabis, with intent to supply during a hearing held at Sheffield Crown Court (pictured) on Thursday, October 13, 2022

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