A young man who started using cannabis as a child was warned by a judge that he "must stay on the right track" after appearing in court charged with drug offences. 19-year-old Callum Williams was arrested by police after his fingerprint was found on a lightbulb at a cannabis factory in Bridgend city centre.
Williams, of Madoc Close, Bridgend, was later found to have passed the contact numbers of suppliers of magic mushrooms and ketamine onto buyers. Messages discovered on a phone found at his property showed that he advertised "giveaway offers" for Class A and B drugs, while he texted some buyers asking: "Need any weed?".
The court heard that the defendant had a "difficult" upbringing having been in care between the ages of three and 15 and started using cannabis at just eight years old. He appeared at Cardiff Crown Court for sentencing on August 5 having previously pleaded guilty to supplying cannabis and offering to supply both magic mushrooms and ketamine.
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Chris Evans, prosecuting, told the court that on November 18, 2020, two constables from South Wales Police were on duty on mobile patrol on Market Street in Bridgend when they noticed that a large wooden door outside a derelict building on the street was open in a way that suggested someone had gone inside. The police then entered through the door and upon entry, heard noises from the second floor.
When they reached the second floor, they discovered a large plastic sheet covering the entrance to one of the rooms, with bright light visible from within. After they pulled back the plastic sheet, they discovered a small cannabis factory with growing paraphernalia, although no-one was inside.
The room was searched and a finger print was taken from one of the lightbulbs found in the room. Analysis confirmed that this finger print belonged to Williams, and months later, in September 2021, he was detained and arrested by police in Bridgend.
Police later attended an address on Park Street, where Williams was living at the time. A search of the property uncovered a number of grip seal bags as well as two mobile phones and a memory card. One of these phones was analysed with the other damaged to such an extent that data could not be recovered.
On the phone, messages were found that showed Williams had passed the contact numbers of ketamine and magic mushroom suppliers onto interested buyers between August and September last year. He had used the phone to advertise 'giveaway offers' for drugs while one message read: "Need any weed? 10.5g for £70".
During his police interview, the defendant initially denied the charges and said that the phone that was discovered and searched belonged to a friend called Molly. However, he later accepted the offences after the messages discovered on the phone were put to him.
Williams has three previous convictions - none of which relate to controlled drugs - for six offences, which all took place in 2021.
Defence counsel Adam Sharp said that his client had "expressed genuine remorse" for his actions and reflected on his offences having pleaded guilty at the earlier opportunity. He described Williams, who was 18 at the time of his arrest, as a "young man" with "immaturity".
He added that Williams had a "difficult childhood", having been in care between the ages of three and 15. He had limited contact with his siblings and had recently lost his grandfather, who was the only member of his family he was really close with, while the court also heard that he had used cannabis from the age of eight and cocaine from the age of 15.
However, Mr Sharp said that his client had made "significant steps to address his offending behaviour" and now lived in a "supportive and stable" atmosphere with his long-term partner and her parents, while he has found work as a labourer and had "shown evidence" of no longer taking drugs.
Sentencing Williams, Recorder Richard Booth said it was "clear that 2021 was not a good year" for the defendant. However, he recognised that he had matured since his arrest a year ago and took his guilty plea and difficult upbringing into account when determining his sentence.
Williams was sentenced to a total of 12 months detention, suspended for 18 months. He will also be subject to a 20 day rehabilitation activity requirement and will undertake 120 hours of unpaid work in the next eight months, while he must pay a fine of £200 in relation to the ketamine charge and a surcharge of £156.
"It is clear that you have grown up a lot in the last year," said Recorder Booth. "But you have escaped immediate detention by a whisker. You must now stay on the right track."
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