A drug dealer reversed his car into a ditch as a police officer waited for him to pass. The driver Jac Jones and passenger Jordan Williams were found with cannabis and their "very busy" operation was exposed.
Prosecutor Thomas Stanway told Newport Crown Court a marked police car had been on patrol in Rhymney on May 15 last year when a Skoda Fabia approached on a bend only wide enough for one vehicle to pass. Jones, 23, appeared to panic when he saw the police car. He reversed at speed, causing the Skoda to get stuck in a ditch.
The officers approached to help but noticed a strong smell of cannabis. They found 23g of the Class B drug and weighing scales on Jones, as well as 0.9g of the substance on 22-year-old Williams, the court heard.
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It soon transpired that Jones' phone contained an array of incriminating messages. The prosecutor said: "The instigator and organiser Jones criticises Williams in the messages for not selling enough cannabis and not making enough effort."
Mr Stanway added that Jones was running a "very busy drug line and delivery service" with the help of an accomplice called Snicker — which the prosecution said appeared to be an alias for Williams. Jones had told his customers to only send messages through Snapchat where they would be automatically deleted.
Williams, of Garth Street in Pontlottyn, and Jones, of Tynewydd Street in Pontlottyn, both pleaded guilty to possession of cannabis with intent to supply. John Ryan, representing Williams, argued his client was not "an equal partner" with Jones, who had accused him of being "lackadaisical" in his efforts. The lawyer described Williams as an "honest, hardworking" groundworker with no previous convictions.
Mr Ryan said: "Although he was regularly employed by the groundwork company in early 2021, due to a period of lockdown and a 'last in, first out' policy, he was laid off in that period. He had a heavy cannabis misuse problem and foolishly thought he would use the connections from his own usage to make a few pounds."
Kevin Seal, mitigating for Jones, accepted his client had called Williams a "lazy c***" for not selling enough cannabis, but also pointed out that Jones had described the business as "50/50". Mr Seal added that Jones had been taking cannabis since he was 12 to relieve pain from spinal problems caused by scoliosis.
"As a result he found himself in debt," said Mr Seal. "The dealing was largely to allow him to smoke cannabis. There is no evidence here of any significant profit on his part."
Jones, who has a previous conviction for drug-driving, is unable to work because of his spinal issues. He relies on his family for support, the court heard.
The judge, Recorder Alun Eynon-Evans, took into account that Williams had found "steady employment" again and that Jones had been dealing with physical and mental health issues. He sentenced Jones to 24 weeks in prison suspended for a year, and Williams to 19 weeks in prison suspended for a year.
Williams must complete eight days of rehabilitation activity and Jones 10 days. Each must pay £360 in prosecution costs and a victim services surcharge. You can read more of the latest Welsh court news here.
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