Leeds dealer caught with drug stash hidden in car airbag

Kevin Granelli, 22, was arrested a day after he was bailed for magistrates for possessing cannabis.

Leeds Crown Court heard police stopped Granelli driving a VW Bora along Headingley Lane at 6.25pm on December 23 last year when they became suspicious and stopped the vehicle.

Ewan McLachlan, prosecuting, said officers decided to search the car as they could smell cannabis on Granelli.

Granelli told officers that there were no drugs in the vehicle before the search but they found 23 small sealed plastic bags inside the front passenger airbag.

The bags were found to contain skunk cannabis and MDMA worth £1,132. Granelli also had £590 in his possession.

He was taken to a police station and interview but refused to comment.

Granelli, of Lower Mickletown, Methley, pleaded guilty to possession of a class A drug with intent to supply and possession of a class C drug with intent to supply.

The court heard Granelli has previous convictions for drug possession. Tim Capstick, mitigating, said Granelli pleaded guilty to the offences at the earliest opportunity.

Mr Capstick said his client had never been sent to custody before as his previous offences for possessing drugs, not supplying them.

The Recorder of Leeds, Judge Peter Collier, QC, jailed Granelli for three years.

He said: “The most aggravating feature is that a day before (the offence) you appeared before magistrates, admitted possession of drugs and sentence had been adjourned. In the intervening period - the very next day - you were out with these drugs, clearly in order to sell them.”