A drug dealer was found in possession of more than £7,000-worth of heroin, cocaine, and cannabis after a fellow dealer led police to his address. Officers also found a Rambo-style knife at his Cardiff home as well as various drug paraphernalia.
Christopher Skene, 36, and Samantha Walters, 37, were involved in the sale of Class A and B drugs in Cardiff in an operation which was uncovered by police on March 30. On that day members of the organised crime unit at South Wales Police were on patrol in Canton when they saw Walters dealing to a drug user.
They followed her to a house in Penhill Close and when she left the property again at 7.40pm they stopped her and conducted a search, finding a wrap of heroin and a wrap of crack cocaine in her bra. She also admitted dealing drugs earlier in the evening.
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A sentencing hearing at Cardiff Crown Court on Wednesday heard police attended the house in Penhill Close at 8.30pm and found Skene sitting on the sofa among drugs, equipment, and a Rambo knife. Among the items seized were a bag of cannabis, pots containing wraps and cannabis herb, a Kinder egg containing white and brown wraps, grip seal bags, cash, a Nokia smartphone, a tick list, and the knife.
Prosecutor Josh Scouller a total of 41g of cocaine and 32g of heroin were seized and the drugs found were worth between £7,300 and £7,400. He said: "Skene was interviewed and said he was in debt, had been stabbed, put in the boot of a car, and his family threatened. Walters said she was believed to have sold one wrap of crack cocaine and one wrap of heroin in return for payment."
Skene, now of Llangranog Road, Llanishen, pleaded guilty to possession with intent to supply heroin, crack cocaine, and cannabis. Walters, of West Lee, Riverside, pleaded guilty to supplying heroin and crack cocaine. The court heard both defendants had previous convictions related to supplying Class A drugs and possession of bladed articles.
Ed Mitchard, for Skene, said his client had been battling an addiction to cocaine for 20 years, suffered a heart attack when he was 28 years old, and has a permanent hole in his septum through drug use. He said the defendant lost his employment during the pandemic and racked up a £3,000 drug debt.
Thomas Stanway, for Walters, said his client had been begging in Cardiff city centre, was a user of Class A drugs, and turned to dealing to pay off a debt but had previously been clean in 2010 when on a methadone script. He asked the court to turn away from an immediate custodial sentence.
Recorder Duncan Bould sentenced Skene to a total of four years imprisonment. Walters was sentenced to 12 months imprisonment suspended for two years and was ordered to carry out a 15-day rehabilitation activity requirement.
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