A cannabis dealer known as "fat Gav" was discovered after text messages were found on a customer's phone. He frequently sent out "text bombs" advertising drugs and offered three different strains of cannabis.
Messages from Gavin Emmett, 31, were found on the phone of Samantha Greville after the authorities had seized the device. They managed to trace the defendant's number and arrested him at his home in Abertillery, Blaenau Gwent.
A sentencing hearing at Cardiff Crown Court on Thursday heard Emmett was also found in possession of £7,000 in cash. Police seized his phone and downloaded the contents for examination.
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On March 25, Emmett sent messages to customers saying he had "ammo" and "AK47s" for sale, slang for different strains of cannabis. He was selling cannabis in ounces. There were further messages in April in which the defendant arranged drug deals and sent out text bombs. The highest amount sold by Emmett was eight ounces.
Prosecutor Jeffrey Jones said: "Based on the message calculation, the defendant has a substantial customer base and was operating an 'on tick" system and was able to supply different strains of cannabis.
Emmett, of High Street, Six Bells, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply class B drugs and possession of criminal property. The court heard he had previously convictions for possession of class B drugs with intent to supply and was on licence when arrested for the current offence.
In mitigation, the court was told his partner had breast cancer and the defendant helped to care for her and her grandchildren. He had been a user of drugs for a long time and began dealing in an attempt to pay for his own addiction and to earn some extra money."
Recorder Andrew Hammond sentenced Emmett to a total of 16 months' imprisonment. He will serve half his sentence in custody before being released on licence.
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