THE ELDERLY mother of a former soldier has died while he was in prison awaiting sentence for illegally transporting Class A drugs along the M6 motorway near Burton-in-Kendal.

Kevin Shimmin, 59, who was to be paid £600 for bringing the drugs haul into the county, was caught with heroin worth £29,400 and cocaine valued at £750.

The drugs were hidden beneath the driver’s seat of the car he was driving, Carlisle Crown Court heard.

He admitted to the possession of both drugs with intent to supply and distribute.

The court heard how the defendant was driving northwards on the motorway near Burton-in-Kendal on May 22 when police stopped him in a random spot check.

Prosecutor Charles Brown said that Shimmin had refused to talk to police officers when questioned about the situation.

Police have speculated that he was employed by high-level drug dealers to transport the drugs from Manchester to Whitehaven for onward sale on the streets.

Richard Vardon, representing Shimmin said the defendant’s elderly mother, whom he had cared for, suffered a fall two weeks ago and died as a result of her injuries.

He was now having to come to terms with that devastating loss and the knowledge that he was not with his mother when she died, as he had been with her for the past 14 years.

Mr Vardon said: “The defendant is almost 60 and he will celebrate his 60th birthday in prison. His father was in the Army and he too joined the Army.”

The barrister said the married father-of-four served his country as a soldier for 20 years before returning from Germany to the UK to look after his ailing mother.

Jailing Shimmin for 28 months, Judge Nicholas Barker said: “It’s always sad for the court to see a former soldier – knocking on the door of 60 years of age as you are – before the court.”

Noting that Shimmin, of Peter Street, Whitehaven, lived a law-abiding life since the 1990s, the judge said clearly something had gone wrong, adding: “But you knew the risk you were taking, and those chickens have come home to roost.”

The police have vowed to tackle drug crime and ensure the safety and wellbeing of the public at all times.

If anyone has any further information on the this or any other criminal enterprise and wish to come forward, they can do so anonymously on 101.