A drug dealer sold heroin and crack cocaine to an undercover police officer on two occasions. David Daley, 41, took part in an enterprise through the use of the "Lewis drugs line" in order to pay off a debt.
The police officer, known as Jack, was given access to the number on March 12, 2020, and contacted a Cardiff -based dealer the next day in order to buy heroin and crack cocaine. The officer was told to head behind the Premier Inn store in Corporation Road where he waited for the dealer.
While waiting, he received a market text from the Lewis line saying "business was open". Daley then rode up to the officer on a bike and produced a Kinder egg full of wraps which he dealt to the officer and others present, telling them to be careful because police were running operations in the area.
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A sentencing hearing at Cardiff Crown Court heard the officer requested more heroin and crack cocaine on March 16 and was told to go to Clive Street. He arrived and Daley again rode to the scene on a bike and dealt the officer wraps from the Kinder egg. The total value of the drugs from the two deals was £80.
Photographs taken of the dealer were obtained and he was recognised by an officer as Daley. The defendant, of Ferry Road, Grangetown, was arrested and provided a no comment interview but he later pleaded guilty to four counts of supplying a controlled drug of Class A. He has a number of previous convictions including possession of amphetamine but had no other drug convictions.
In mitigation the court heard the Daley was addicted to crack and was himself supplied by the Lewis line but racked up a debt and was pressurised to carry out the role as a runner in order to pay off that debt. He played no part in the sourcing or wrapping of the drugs and received no financial benefit other than a deduction in his debt.
Sentencing, Recorder Paul Hobson said: "You were effectively a runner yourself subjected to a drug debt by those above you in the chain in control of a county lines gang." Daley was sentenced to a total of 26 months imprisonment.
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