Pair in court over drug find at Downham home

Two people have appeared in court over drugs found during a police search in Downham.

Kerrie Ann Umney pleaded guilty to possession of cocaine (class A) and ketamine (class B) and Luke Michael Western admitted to having ketamine.

Lynn Magistrates’ Court heard on Thursday that a search warrant was executed at Umney’s address in Orchid Close on June 12, 2020.

Prosecutor Stacie Cossey said Umney, 38, passed some drugs to police which she had retrieved from her bra. Another amount was in her purse.

Miss Cossey said: “In interview she said the ketamine had been given to her by Mr Western as he went out.

"She didn’t want to hold it but thought it would be better than him walking around holding it.”

Umney said the other amount had been left on a kitchen surface and she’d picked it up to prevent it possibly getting into a child’s possession.

“She was going to return it to [Mr Western] when he returned home,” added Miss Cossey.

Umney was charged with having 15 grams of ketamine and some cocaine and Western, of Forester’s Avenue, Hilgay, with 25 grams of ketamine.

The court was told that Western stayed at Umney’s address some nights a week and he was arrested at a nearby property.

Charlotte Winchester, mitigating for Umney, said Western had asked her client to look after some drugs while he popped out for food.

“Reluctantly she agreed to do this. The police then attended,” added Miss Winchester, who said Umney was “extremely sorry” for what had happened.

Unemployed Umney was given a 12-month conditional discharge and ordered to pay £122 in costs and victim surcharge.

Andrew Cogan, mitigating for 30-year-old Western, said: “As a consequence of this arrest and interview he has now stopped taking drugs.

“He started as a youngster but without any help he’s managed to wean himself off.

“You may think that’s the most important mitigating factor because he says he’s learned his lesson.”

Western was fined £80 and told to pay £134 in costs and a victim surcharge.