Cardiff Woman Jailed for ‘Cuckooing’ Drug Supply Role

A Cardiff woman who claimed she was exploited by a homeless drug dealer has been jailed for 25 months for her role in supplying heroin and crack cocaine 📱⚖️

Janine Cable-May, 35, was sentenced at Newport Crown Court after police discovered she was using her phone to take customer orders before contacting a dealer to arrange deliveries from her Cyncoed home.

The case came to light when officers witnessed a drug deal on Bedford Street in November 2021, leading to a search warrant at Cable-May’s Celyn Avenue property.

Defence barrister Ruth Smith told the court her client was a “vulnerable individual” with bipolar disorder, acrophobia, and drug-induced psychosis who had been “cuckooed” – where criminals take over someone’s home for drug dealing.

Ms Smith explained Cable-May was addicted to crack cocaine when she allowed the dealer to stay at her property after he claimed to be homeless, but he then began using her address to sell drugs.

Judge Eugene Egan sentenced Cable-May to 25 months imprisonment. She will serve half the sentence in prison before being released on licence.

The defendant, who has 24 previous convictions but none drug-related, appeared via video link from HMP Eastwood Park and continuously interrupted her barrister during the hearing.