Dad Jailed 6 Years for £26k Cocaine Run Disguised as Work

A father-of-two from Cheshire has been sentenced to six years in prison after his family discovered his “electrician work” was actually a cover for transporting cocaine worth £26,500 across the UK 🚗⚖️

Stuart Wood, 39, of Duke Street, Alderley Edge, was caught with 265g of cocaine hidden in his car’s engine compartment when police stopped his black Mercedes on the A40 south of Monmouth tunnels.

Cardiff Crown Court heard that intelligence revealed Wood had been making regular journeys between Cheshire and Monmouth, with his iPhone showing four previous trips on June 11, August 28, October 11 and November 26.

Prosecutor James Evans told the court it was suggested similar amounts of cocaine had been transported on those occasions, equating to a total of 1.3kg of cocaine being moved. He said Wood’s role was “above that of a street dealer” as he was “supplying to dealers himself.”

The court heard Wood has 11 previous convictions, including two money laundering offences involving £300,000 and £261,000 respectively.

Defence barrister Richard Ace said his client had lost his driving licence due to drinking, which led to regular cocaine use and mounting debts he worked to pay off.

“His family believed he was working as an electrician while he was carrying out the offences,” the court was told.

Sentencing Wood, Judge Daniel Williams said: “You realised you were playing for high stakes and you lost.”

Wood pleaded guilty to being concerned in the supply of cocaine.