Leeds student housing landlord found guilty of drugs charge after suspicious parcel found

A student housing landlord has been found guilty of a drugs charge after an unusual smelling parcel was reported to the police.

47-year-old Ben Shepley was convicted by a jury at Leeds Crown Court in September of dealing cannabis after a postmaster was alerted by a suspicious smelling package.

The landlord denied any wrongdoing despite his fingerprints being on the parcel which contained more than 13 ounces of cannabis. His business’ labels were also found on the package.

However, according to the Yorkshire Evening Post, police also found eight saplings and a sophisticated hydroponic setup to grow the drug at his former home on Hartley Avenue in Woodhouse.

He also admitted to possessing a small amount of the Class-A synthetic psychedelic drug, 2C-B.

The court heard how the married dad of one had entered a shop on 1st February 2020 intending to post the parcel in question through delivery service, Yodel.

After the parcel was reported, police officers found approximately 13.4 ounces of cannabis divided into different tins.

Prosecutor Emma Handley told the jury how Shepley had even gone back to the shop later that day to complain that his parcel had not been delivered, stating the contents were “very valuable.”

The police tracked Shepley by using his payment and bank details, and then subsequently arrested him on 24th June 2020.

He informed officers that he was a landlord to three student homes in the area leading to the police to search another of his homes on Richmond Mount, Headingley.

Students occupying the home said they did not have access to the basement, in which police found another hydroponic set and similar tins to those in the parcel, but no cannabis plants were there.

Facing two police interviews, Shepley had a prepared statement for the first in which he denied dealing charges but refused to give any comment in the second.

Upon sentencing, the trial’s judge, Simon Batiste, told him: “Your fingerprints were all over the package, despite that, you chose to plead not guilty and sought to invent an account as to why these items did not cause you to be responsible.”

He was sentenced to two years in prison, suspended for two years and was given 15 rehabilitation days and 250 hours of unpaid work.

Judge Batiste also told Shepley that he had come “very close” to going into custody.

He is to return to court next year for a Proceeds of Crime Act hearing in which the court will decide on whether he should pay back any money gained through his drug dealing.

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