Chelsea Blanton was jailed for 17 months
Chelsea Blanton(Image: Greater Manchester Police)
An American drug mule was caught at Manchester Airport with 28 kilos of cannabis in a ‘risky gamble’ for a ‘life-changing’ sum.
Chelsea Blanton, 29, had travelled from Texas to Saudi Arabia to Malaysia before heading to Manchester via Heathrow. She was stopped by Border Force officers on May 7 this year.
In her suitcase, officers found 15 vacuum sealed packages of cannabis in her two suitcases. Their wholesale value was £80,000, Manchester Crown Court heard.
Blanton would later tell a court that she had been offered the ‘life-changing’ amount of $8,500.
Jailing her, Judge Tom Gilbart said: “You took a gamble, it didn’t pay off. You now have to pay the consequences.”
The court heard when she was arrested at Manchester Airport, Blanton made a ‘false claim’ regarding her visit to the UK. She later admitted drug smuggling when confronted with the cannabis.
“Speaking to the probation service, you confirmed you did this to make money. You took a risk, you said you would be paid $8,500,” the judge said.
Chelsea Blanton(Image: Greater Manchester Police)
“There is no suggestion of intimidation or coercion. There was a degree of naivety on your part.”
The court heard she had no previous conviction in the United Kingdom, but had admitted to the probation service that she was imprisoned for assault in the United States.
Blanton expressed remorse, and said in mitigation that she had suffered trauma following the violent death of her father. She also said she had been the victim of domestic violence in the past, the judge continued.
He said: “I accept you had genuine personal, health and financial difficulties. You have a good work ethic and have worked two jobs to support your family.
“You have a 12-year-old child, he must pay the consequences for the decisions you have made.
“You described this opportunity as life changing, and I accept you would have received significant financial gain.”
Blanton, of no fixed abode, was jailed for 17 months, of which she will serve half in prison before she will be liable to deportation back to the United States.
“Given you committed this crime having left your son with your mother, it can’t be a proper or fair reason to step back from custody,” Judge Gilbart added.
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