Norfolk taxi driver caught with £500,000 of drugs on A11

Taxi driver Anthony Clinton, 59, was stopped near Wymondham by police who discovered 21kg of ketamine, a powerful horse tranquilliser and anaesthetic that has become an increasingly popular recreational drug.

Norwich Crown Court heard following the stop, in the early hours of October 11 last year, Clinton's home address was also searched and further drugs were found.

The searches resulted in cocaine with a potential street value of £420,000 was found as well as class B drugs with a potential value of between £34,000 and £68,000.

The total potential street value of ketamine found both in Clinton's car and at his address was between £640,000 and £960, 000.

Clinton, of Cromes Place, Badersfield, appeared at court for sentence on Friday (May 5) having admitted a series of drugs offences.

The offences included two counts of possession with intent to supply ketamine, two counts of possession with intent to supply cannabis and an offence of possession with intent to supply MMC, a class B drug.

He also admitted two counts of possession of cocaine as well as possession of ecstasy.

Jailing Clinton for five years and seven months Judge Katharine Moore said the defendant had used his "veneer of respectability" as a taxi driver to give him the opportunity to supply drugs.

Matthew McNiff, mitigating, said his client has no previous convictions and "became involved through others".

He said Clinton was put under surveillance and stopped by police with drugs found in his car and at home.

Mr McNiff accepted there was a "substantial" amount of drugs found but insisted this was not an individual who was "living the high life" as a result of his involvement.