Last updated 10:55, Friday, 15 February 2008

AN ASPATRIA man appeared in court in Carlisle on Monday, charged with possessing thousands of tablets of the ‘date rape’ drug Rohypnol.

Robert McNichol, 29, of Park Road, Aspatria, pleaded not guilty to possessing 4,000 of the class C drug tablets with intent to supply them.

He also denied concealing £12,000 which he knew or suspected was the proceeds of criminal activity.

He and his partner, 22-year-old Billie-Jo Elizabeth Twentyman, of the same address, also both denied three charges of money laundering totalling more than £41,000.

These included spending £26,580 on a car and possessing nearly £16,000 cash, knowing or suspecting that the money had been obtained through crime.

They were remanded on bail and will go on trial later in the year. An administrative court hearing will be held on March 3.