A drug dealer found in possession of cocaine tried to escape from police by slipping out of his handcuffs and attempting to climb through the window of a police car. He and a colleague were later found to have been messaging customers offering Class A drugs.
Michael Parfitt, 29, of Pontypridd, and Scott Ware, 23, of Church Village, were dealt with for drugs matters at Newport Crown Court on Monday. Parfitt was first caught by police on April 4 last year when a Mercedes car was pulled over in Church Village.
Having got out of the car the defendant was initially told to "leave the area" but he leaned in through the passenger-side window of the Mercedes and picked up a number of items before running off. He was chased, arrested and found in possession of £515 and an iPhone.
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Prosecutor Alex Greenwood said Parfitt was placed in the back of a police car but slipped out of his handcuffs and tried to climb through the car window before he was further detained. A further iPhone was found in the car as well as 4.38g of cocaine of 85% purity and £195 from the car's central console. On Parfitt's phone was found a number of text messages related to drug dealing.
Having been released under police investigation Parfitt was arrested again on January 13 this year. Police attended an address in Heol Celyn, Church Village and arrested three men. As they carried out the operation Ware was standing to the side of the property and acting suspiciously.
When an officer asked him what he was doing Ware suddenly ran off and was seen throwing items over garden fences. He was searched and found in possession of £230, a white iPhone, cannabis, and a Nokia phone which was found to be a drugs line named "John Boy".
Following Ware's arrest police attended his home in Fardre Court and found Parfitt inside the property who again attempted to run off but was detained. He was found in possession of a clear bag containing white powder which was later found to be cocaine valued between £150 and £200. The defendant was also found with weighing scales and green vegetable matter later found to be cannabis. Phones seized from both defendants were downloaded and messages were found in which repeated and multiple offers for Class A drugs had been made by them both to a variety of customers in what was described by Mr Greenwood as "classic street-level supply".
Parfitt, of Llantrisant Road, later pleaded guilty to possession with intent to supply cocaine, being concerned in the supply of cocaine, and possession of cannabis. The court heard he had previous convictions for offences such as burglaries and assaulting an emergency worker.
Ware, of Fardre Court, pleaded guilty to being concerned in the supply of cocaine and possession of cannabis. The court heard he was of previous good character.
In mitigation Richard Ace, for Parfitt, said his client had a problem with alcohol from a young age having never met his father while his mother's died when he was four years old. He was raised by his grandparents but began taking cocaine following the death of his grandfather. He became addicted after using it on a daily basis and involved himself in the supply of the drug.
Hywel Davies, for Ware, said his client was also a heavy user of cocaine and began supplying to a circle of friends in order to support his own habit. The barrister said the defendant was a carer for his mother who has a number of conditions and he himself suffers from mental health difficulties.
Judge Richard Williams sentenced Parfitt to a total of six years imprisonment. He sentenced Ware to. a total of 27 months imprisonment.
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