Young rugby player became heroin runner to pay off debt

A talented young rugby player became a "runner" for a heroin and crack dealer after running up debts through his use of cannabis, a court has heard. Teenager Charlie John-Downs was told by his supplier that he could pay off what he owed if he became a street dealer delivering the Class A drugs to users and collecting cash.

But the 19-year-old defendant was photographed carrying out a deal and when officers raided his flat they found more than 60 ready-to-go heroin and crack deals, weighing scales, and £1,000 in cash. Byron Broadstock, prosecuting, told Cardiff Crown Court that in May this year police in the Roath area of Cardiff saw what appeared to be a drugs transaction taking place in Helen Place.

Officers didn't recognised the suspected dealer but took his photograph. The police followed and stopped the purchaser and found he had four wraps of crack cocaine and a wrap of heroin.

Then in August police on patrol in Roath's Oxford Lane saw a man they recognised from the earlier photo. As they watched he approached a male and a transaction took place. The seller was approached and stopped and was identified as John-Downs.

The court heard a search of the defendant's flat uncovered burner phones, weighing scales, 44 wraps of crack and 13 wraps of heroin, almost £1,000 in cash, and a so-called tick list of quantities of "whisky" and "brandy" sold and monies received. In his subsequent interview the defendant answered "no comment" to all questions asked. Read about a teenager involved in a £100,000 car theft gang who was on the run from police for 15 months.

Charlie John-Downs, of Heathmead, Roath, Cardiff, had previously pleaded guilty to three counts of supplying crack cocaine, one count of supplying heroin, possession of crack with intent to supply, and possession of heroin with intent to supply when he appeared in the dock for sentencing. Tim Lewis, for John-Downs, said the defendant had been a heavy user of cannabis and was receiving the drug on tick.

When he could not repay what he owed his supplier told him he could pay it off by dealing on his behalf. The barrister said: "He says he knew what he was doing was wrong. All he can do is offer his apologies."

Mr Lewis said references submitted to the court spoke very highly of his client and of his involvement with local rugby teams where he was a role model. He added that the defendant had become a father three weeks ago.

Judge Shomon Khan said it was clear from the evidence that John-Downs had been given the phones and drugs by others and was acting as a "runner" carrying out street dealing. He said there was "an element of naivete and immaturity" about the defendant and he told John-Downs it was sad to see a man of his age in the dock having committed such serious offences. The judge said drug dealing was always taken seriously by the court because of the impact not only on users and their families but also on the wider community.

With a one-quarter discount for his guilty pleas John-Downs was sentenced to a total of 31 months detention in a young offenders institution. He will serve up to half that period in custody before being released on licence to serve the remainder in the community.

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