He ended up in jail after police looked inside his mother’s storage unit

A man kept almost £80,000 of ketamine and tens of thousands of pounds in cash in a storage unit which was rented by his mother. Jakob Plante was devastated after staff noticed his suspicious behavior while his mother paid off his jail arrears.

Liverpool Crown Court heard yesterday afternoon, Thursday, that the 31-year-old’s mother rented a storage unit at Champion Self Storage on Arrowe Brook Road in Upton, Wirral. They visited the site on January 24 this year, only to find that their land had been blocked due to non-payment of taxes.

Henry Riding, prosecuting, described how Plante, of Gilroy Road in West Kirby, was noted to be “quite agitated” as his mother paid off the debt, raising the suspicions of staff. Aware of the seizure of “considerable quantities” of Class A drugs by officers executing a search warrant at Big Padlock Self Storage at the same industrial site in October 2023, workers contacted Merseyside Police.

The premises in question were then searched and found to contain 2kg of ketamine, the drug with a street value of up to £79,560 and £24,000 in cash. Both Plante and his mother had left by the time the PCs attended, and he was later “arrested nearby” in possession of the key.

In the interview, he gave a prepared statement in which he said the illicit substances were “his and nothing to do with his mother”. His criminal record shows a total of 32 convictions for 43 offences, including three years for possession of cocaine with intent to supply in 2019.

Plante admitted possession of ketamine with intent to supply and possession of crime paraphernalia. He previously pleaded guilty to possessing cocaine with intent to supply, although that charge was later withdrawn after the seized substances were tested and found to be the Class B drug.

Plante’s mother, Nadia Plante, also of Gilroy Road, was previously charged with being concerned in the supply of cocaine. However, proceedings against the 58-year-old were suspended on Wednesday.

Brendan Carville, defending, told the court this “showed his understanding at the time” and that he was “not on top of his feet”. He said his client hopes to become a plumber after his release and added: “He has something to look forward to when he gets out.” Appearing in the dock wearing a white shirt and black tie, Plante was jailed for 40 months. He replied, “Thank you.”

Sentencing, Judge David Aubrey KC said: “You have previous convictions which add to the seriousness of this offence. You know very well, at the age of 30, that you must receive an immediate custodial sentence.”