Plymstock man jailed in £1.2m dark web magic mushroom case

A Plymstock man has been jailed for running a multi-million pound magic mushroom business from his mother’s home.

James Edmans, 34, of Plymstock, Devon, admitted producing and supplying Class A drugs and money laundering.

He was sentenced at Plymouth Crown Court to six years and nine months in prison.

His mother, NHS nurse Kim Edmans, 62, also admitted permitting her premises to be used for drug supply. She received a 20-month sentence, suspended for two years.

The court heard Edmans manufactured the psychedelic drug psilocybe – a type of mushroom – in his bedroom and garage over a seven-year period.

He would then sell it on the dark web under the name Sweet Green.

Payments were made in Bitcoin, with prosecutors estimating total earnings of £1.2m.

In August 2023, police intercepted Edmans near a post box, who was wearing prosthetic gloves to avoid leaving DNA or fingerprints.

Officers found 100 bags of mushrooms in his bedroom and 119 grow bags capable of producing multiple crops.

Prosecutor Rowan Jenkins said Edmans produced 143lb (65kg) of the drug between 2019 and 2023, generating £303,000 in sales.

He maintained links to Thailand and held multiple bank accounts, regularly transferring money to his mother.

Defence barrister Graeme Wilson said Edmans argued the financial gain was overstated and described the operation as non-addictive and non-street based.

Kim Edmans initially denied knowledge of the operation but later admitted her involvement.

Judge Robert Linford told her: “You knew what he was doing. You turned a blind eye.”