A drug dealer was found in possession of more than £20,000 worth of cocaine weighing more than half a kilo as well as £15,000 in cash and a Rolex watch. Macauley Cotterill was selling the Class A drugs to other dealers, a court heard.
The 25-year-old, from Cardiff, was discovered when his car was stopped by police on May 26 and various items were seized. A mobile phone revealed text messages which indicated he had been dealing cocaine by the ounce for financial reward.
A sentencing hearing at Cardiff Crown Court heard the defendant turned to drug dealing after losing his employment as a roofer and refuse collector. He claimed he was not living a "lavish" lifestyle and the only luxurious item he purchased was the watch, which was described by his barrister as a "lapse in judgement".
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Cotterill, of Caerwent Road, Ely, pleaded guilty to possession with intent to supply a controlled drug of Class A and possession of criminal property. The court heard he had no previous convictions. Defence barrister Tim Lewis said his client became associated with others linked to the drugs trade and was persuaded to sell cocaine in order to make an income. He said the defendant was now living with his mother and was "shell-shocked" and "devastated" at facing prison.
Sentencing, Recorder Paul Hobson said: "This was no ordinary drug dealing operation... You were dealing cocaine by the ounce to people you knew were dealers themselves. The drugs ultimately ended up with users who were addicted.
"You took a deliberate decision to deal in cocaine and doing that in order to make money – something you were able to do because money in significant quantities was recovered. You did it because of the huge financial reward. The position now is you did get caught and have to face the consequences of that."
Cotterill was sentenced to a total four years and eight months imprisonment. He was also made subject to Proceeds of Crime Act proceedings which could see some of his assets stripped.
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