Police stop led to stash of drugs

3:00pm Thursday 7th August 2008

A traffic policeman told how a music producer began to shake after he was stopped for ignoring a “no entry” sign.

PC Nicholas Simmonds was suspicious of Max Rowsell during the stop in Howard Place, Brighton. During the search of his Audi A4 he found slabs of herbal cannabis in a box in the boot of the vehicle on January 21 of this year.

The discovery led to a major haul of cannabis, ecstasy and crystal MDMA being uncovered at Rowsell’s recording studios in a six-bedroom farmhouse at Cowfold, near Horsham.

PC Simmonds said he and a colleague were watching for drivers ignoring the “no entry” sign in Prestonville Road, Brighton, after complaints from residents.

Trembling Rowsell was pulled over and a check revealed there was no insurance in his name for the car.

PC Simmonds said: “He was incredibly nervous. He was trembling. His eyes were dilated and his mouth was dry.

“I thought there was something more to this than a man driving a car without insurance.”

Ryan Richter, prosecuting, told Hove Crown Court yesterday that plastic tanks containing liquid ecstasy and the residue of crystal MDMA were discovered in a storeroom.

Rowsell, 38, denies 11 charges of having class A and class C drugs with intent to supply.

He has admitted having the cannabis found in the Audi with intent to supply and growing cannabis at Capons Hill Farm.

In police interviews, Rowsell said he owed £7,000 to a drug dealer for cocaine.

Rowsell claimed he was forced to transport the drugs found in his car.

He said he had given a dealer he knew as “B”, “Chappie” or “Andy” keys to his recording studios but denied knowledge of the drugs found at the house.

The trial continues.

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