TWO drug dealers were caught with more than £10,000 of potent cannabis after a police officer saw their car travelling at around 110mph.

East Anglian Daily Times:

The discovery of skunk in the Audi A4, as well as an Ipswich cannabis factory, led to Dominic Kurz being jailed for three years and Anthony Outhwaite being given two years and eight months imprisonment by Ipswich Crown Court.

The pair were arrested after Pc Darren Dawson saw an Audi A4 speeding while he was in his car at the Copdock interchange in May last year.

The traffic officer pursued the vehicle, which was being driven by Kurz, and stopped it at the garage on the A12 next to Capel St Mary police station.

While Outhwaite remained in the passenger seat, Kurz was spoken to by Pc Dawson who could smell cannabis.

When the boot of the Audi was opened two bin liners containing the Class B drug were found.

One contained skunk worth more than £10,000.

Kurz, 30, of Harvey Street, Halstead, and Outhwaite, 48, of Huntingate, Colchester, were arrested but denied knowledge of the cannabis.

A few days later energy company E.on carried out a warrant at a house in Woodbridge Road, Ipswich.

When access was gained, it was discovered the property had been turned into a cannabis factory.

A total of 81 plants were found. Police estimate if all of the plants yielded crops over three growth cycles the amount of cannabis grown would have been worth £230,000.

The house had been rented out to Anil Varma. He was arrested but denied being involved in growing cannabis.

The 40-year-old claimed he had sublet it to someone else and had asked for them to stop cultivating the drug.

Outhwaite’s fingerprints were found on one of the bin liners in the boot of the Audi A4 and on a set of scales at the house in Woodbridge Road.

Kurz, a self-employed builder, told police he was in debt to a drug supplier and was paying it off by renovating the house to clear his debt.

Varma was sentenced to four months in jail, suspended for 12 months, after he admitted allowing premises to be used for the production of cannabis. He must also carry out 200 hours unpaid work.

Kurz and Outhwaite were convicted of possessing cannabis with intent to supply and being concerned in the production of cannabis.

After the case investigating officer Rob Ostler said: “We would remind potential offenders we will continue to target those thought to be involved in the production or supply of drugs in Ipswich and this sentence reflects our commitment to holding them accountable for their actions.”