Aberystwyth drug dealers jailed with £9k cash seized

Two men have been jailed for dealing cocaine in Aberystwyth after one was found carrying almost £9,000 in cash when arrested by police.

Luke Hutton, 25, and Lee Walsh, 37, were sentenced at Swansea Crown Court after pleading guilty to possession of cocaine with intent to supply and possessing criminal property.

On 14th November, police executed a search warrant at Walsh’s flat on Yr Hafan, Aberystwyth. Officers spotted a group outside including both defendants, who attempted to walk away when they saw police approach. Walsh was detained at the property whilst Hutton ran off but was chased down and caught.

When searched, Hutton was found carrying £8,795 in cash and a mobile phone. He was also seen trying to conceal something in his underwear, and a strip search later recovered a wrap of white powder from his groin area. Walsh had a small bag of cannabis, £160 cash, and a phone on him.

A search of Walsh’s bedroom uncovered £850 in cash laid out in piles on the bed, a silver knuckleduster, five mobile phones, and a large kitchen knife hidden under the bed. Officers also found a bag of white powder, scales with white residue, and a bank card in Walsh’s name with white powder on it.

At Hutton’s address on Corporation Street, Aberystwyth, police discovered £1,060 in cash on top of an air fryer, bicarbonate of soda, and empty snap-seal bags.

The court heard that Hutton had told a probation officer that after his benefits were stopped, he “did what he had to do” to make ends meet by selling cocaine.

Judge Vanessa Francis responded directly to this explanation, telling Hutton: “You said to the author of the pre-sentence report that after your benefits were stopped ‘you did what you had to do’. The court will do what it has to do to take people off the streets who spread the misery of drug supply.”

Jon Tarrant, representing Hutton, said his client could not recall a day in the last two years when he was not “seeking or taking cocaine”. He said the drug had “ruled his life” and “explains why he has become separated from the positive things in his life – particularly his two young children”. The barrister added that now “the fog of the cocaine addiction has lifted”, the defendant knows what changes he has to make.

Ryan Bowen, for Walsh, said his client had experienced an “absolutely horrible” childhood and had attended 14 different schools during his upbringing. He said Walsh had completed a course in barbering and wanted to pursue that upon release.

Walsh, originally from Cardiff, has previous convictions for cannabis possession from 2007 and failing to comply with a drug test in June this year. He also pleaded guilty to possessing an offensive weapon in a private place and simple possession of cannabis.

Hutton has convictions for 12 previous offences including sending offensive communications, driving matters, domestic violence, and breaching a restraining order.

With one-third discounts for their guilty pleas, Hutton was sentenced to three years in prison and Walsh to 32 months. Both will serve up to half their sentences in custody before being released on licence.