A MAN who drove to Cheshire Police's HQ in Winsford with up to £2,000 worth of cannabis stashed in his boot has avoided jail.

Dilshad Ahmed, along with a friend, visited the force's base in Oakmere Road at around 3.45pm on Tuesday, June 27.

He had been coming to collect his friend's belongings from a previous incident when officers were alerted by security staff to a strong smell of cannabis coming from his car.

During a search of the vehicle, eight one-ounce cannabis bags were discovered in the boot, with a further one-ounce bag found under the driver's seat.

It was estimated that the drugs had a potential street value of between £1,440 and £2,250.

Ahmed was arrested and later charged with possession with intent to supply class B drugs.

The 39-year-old, of St Pauls Road, Smethwick in Birmingham, appeared at Chester Crown Court on Wednesday, November 20, where he was sentenced to 15 months in prison, suspended for two years.

Following his sentencing, Police Constable Matt Uren, of Northwich Proactive Policing Team, said: "To drive to a police headquarters with a boot full of illegal drugs and think that you’d be able to get away with it is either arrogant or stupid.

"Ahmed was well aware the drugs were in his car, but he thought that it was worth the risk to drive all the way to Winsford from Smethwick in order to retrieve his friend’s property from a previous arrest.

"Fortunately, the security staff at HQ sniffed him out and reported him to officers who were quickly able to reprimand him for his actions."