A 62-YEAR-OLD father, who acted as the middleman in a drug trafficking operation, has been jailed following the birth of his child.

William Stevens had been told he would face time behind bars after he admitted conspiring to supply Class A and Class B drugs at St Albans Crown Court earlier this month.

However, when it emerged during the hearing that his partner was about to give birth, sentencing was postponed until this week.

Speaking at the latest court apperance on Wednesday, prosecutor Peter Shaw reminded Judge Stephen Gullick about the “significant amounts” of drugs Stevens had been caught with.

Police officers found nearly �30,000 worth of cannabis and cocaine when they raided two properties in Hatfield in June last year.

In his defence, Stevens said his involvement in the trafficking operation was limited to collecting and packaging the drugs.

He also claimed he “didn’t realise” how serious the charges were.

But Judge Gullick countered: “You are 61 (sic) – you are not an idiot!”

“I don’t accept you didn’t know how serious it was.”

The judge said Stevens had taken a “commercial decision” to involve himself in the drug trade.

However, he did give him credit for his guilty plea and added: “I have kept the sentence as short as I possibly can.”

Stevens, of Ely Close, Hatfield, was caged for three years for conspiring to supply Class A drugs.

He was given the same sentence for conspiring to supply Class B drugs, although the two jail terms will run concurrently.

He will be eligible for parole after 18 months.