Night out saves drug case
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• Lorry driver Edwin Miller has been cleared of smuggling .£3m worth of amphetamines after he told the jury how he left his vehicle unattended while he visited a prostitute.
Miller, of Somerset Avenue, Blackpool, who worked for the town's long-established M&C Haulage, said he had been working on a building site since he was arrested on 3 October last year.
The 94kg consignment was found during a Dover Customs check.
Miller told Canterbury Crown Court: "The trip that I was stopped in was not originally my run; it was a co-worker Steven Watson's. But he said that he had domestic difficulties and asked if I could do the trip and I agreed.
"I left on the Monday, stopping off at Harrow Green in London to deliver a load," he added, "and from there i drove to Italy empty to collect cooker parts from Fabrino. I have done this trip three, possibly four times. "I took no part in the loading process and after collecting my papers I headed back. The reason I took a different route on the return is that the tobacco, diesel and road tolls are cheaper if you go via Belgium.
distance and returned about 20 minutes later. I dropped the lady off and stopped at a cafe and had some food and coffee before leaving for Calais."
Ian Foinette, defending, said: "It is suggested that you stopped to collect drugs and you were out on a trip drug smuggling." Miller replied: "No sir, I was just doing my normal job."
He showed no reaction as he was cleared of the drug smuggling charge and walked free from Canterbury Crown Court.