A drug dealer was caught by police after they discovered messages advertising cocaine on phones seized during arrests of associates. A court heard he became involved in dealing Class A drugs in order to fund his own addiction.
Richard Rees, 44, of Caerphilly, was found to be selling cocaine to another user when police arrested Justin Howells in February 2021. They seized Mr Howells' phone on which they discovered a series of texts relating to the sale of cocaine.
A sentencing hearing at Cardiff Crown Court on Thursday heard examples of messages sent between Rees and Mr Howells, which included: "Stones in bruv" and: "Got rocks now fella, what are you after?". On February 3, 2021, the defendant agreed to sell Mr Howells a £20 deal. he later messaged: "Couple of 20s in now bruv, three left now, only had a T myself."
On February 6 Rees messaged: "On my way to reload now buddy" while on February 7 and 8 he told Mr Howells he had drugs available for sale. On February 15 the defendant messaged: "How much are you after bruv?" Upon being told by Mr Howells he wanted a £20 deal, Rees said: "No worries bruv. I'll put an extra 10 for you buddy. You're paying my bills so it would be rude not to."
Prosecutor Byron Broadstock said: "The messages suggest he's making his own crack cocaine. He's talking about purchasing cocaine and cooking it." The court was told that further messages from Rees were found on the phone of Jack Cox who was arrested in November 2021.
These messages suggested Rees was purchasing drugs from Mr Cox which he would go on to sell. In August 2021 Rees asked Mr Cox to keep him 3.5g-worth of cocaine and another messages suggested he wanted to purchase "half a bar", which Mr Broadstock said amounted to 4.5oz worth between £3,500 and £5,000. This was disputed by defence barrister Jeffrey Jones who claimed his client meant to say "half a bag", which was worth considerably less.
Rees, of Hodges Crescent, Britannia, was arrested and interviewed by police but largely gave no comment. He later pleaded guilty to being concerned in making an offer to supply Class A drugs. No drugs were ever found in his possession. The court was told he had five previous convictions, none of which were related to drug offences.
In mitigation Mr Jones said at the time of his arrest the defendant was largely drug-free except for a relapse when his grandmother died. He said Rees had been on remand in custody for five months since his arrest and the father-of-three was concerned for his mother who suffers from dementia.
Sentencing, Judge David Wynn-Morgan said: "You don't seem to understand even now that those who offer to supply Class A drugs are dealers and it's a wicked trade, whatever the circumstances that has placed someone in that position." He said he was satisfied Rees was suffering with his own addiction but was now drug-free.
Rees was sentenced to a total period of two years imprisonment. The amount of time he has served on remand will count towards his sentence, half of which he will spend in custody before being released on licence.
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