Leeds: Drug dealer jailed after cocaine worth £1.5 million found in the boot of his BMW

When police pulled down a motorist on a motorway in Leeds, they discovered cocaine with a street value of £1.5 million in the boot.

Officers discovered the information after they stopped Kevin Sharrock, who was driving a rented BMW on the M621 on December 9, last year.

According to the evidence presented before Leeds Crown Court, Sharrock, 34, told the officers: “I’m relieved you’ve stopped me. There’s a lot of money in the trunk.”

Sharrock, of Tong Drive, Farnley, Leeds, was detained at first on suspicion of money laundering.

Prosecutor Robert Galley stated that the officers then searched the boot and discovered a huge holdall.

He stated: “The holdall didn’t contain a big sum of money. It contained a significant amount of cocaine.”

The bag contained 15kg of Class A substance in blocks with a purity of up to 90%.

Sharrock’s prints were not discovered on the blocks.

Mr Galley stated that the Crown’s argument was that the defendant was a courier in a cocaine delivery network.

The cocaine was believed to be worth £525,000 wholesale and £1.5 million on the street.

Officers investigated Sharrock’s residence and discovered high-value apparel and a knuckle duster.

When interviewed, the defendant declined to comment.

He admitted to possessing a class A substance with the intent to provide.

Sharrock had 16 prior convictions, one of which was for possession of amphetamines.

Mitigating, Adrian Pollard, said Sharrock pled guilty early on and acknowledged he would face a substantial jail sentence.

Mr Pollard stated that the defendant became involved in the crime after becoming in debt, and that he was distributing narcotics on behalf of individuals “higher up the food chain.”

Sharrock was sentenced to eight years in prison by Recorder Andrew Latimer.

Speaking after the sentencing, Det Chief Inspector Andrew Howard of the Yorkshire and Humber Regional Organised Crime Unit said: “I welcome the sentence handed down by the court today, which reflects the serious organised criminality this individual was involved with. It should serve as a warning to others concerned in this kind of activity.

“I have no doubt that the drugs seized would have had a severe impact on our communities across the region.

“The Yorkshire and Humber Regional Organised Crime Unit continues to work to disrupt the organised production and supply of drugs across the region and tackle the associated criminality linked to these offences.”

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