Cocaine driver jailed after crash and drug dealing exposed

A driver who miraculously avoided hitting horse riders and cyclists after losing control of his car whilst high on cocaine has been jailed after police uncovered his involvement in a major drug dealing operation.

Kaelum Lane’s car ended up on its roof in the middle of the A4242 old Neath Valley road on April 6 this year after the vehicle left the carriageway on a bend, drove up an embankment, hit a wall, and rebounded back onto the road. The crash occurred in the gap between people on horseback and a group of cyclists.

Swansea Crown Court heard that at 9am that day, a police officer on mobile patrol had passed horse riders and cyclists before pulling into a layby. Whilst parked, the officer heard a loud exhaust noise and saw a Seat Leon speeding towards where the road users had been spotted. Concerned, the officer turned around and followed the vehicle before discovering it overturned in the middle of the road.

Both Lane, 27, and his passenger got out of the car appearing dazed. The passenger told officers Lane’s driving had been “scary and dangerous” and said both men were lucky to be alive.

Lane tested positive for cocaine at the roadside and was taken to Morriston Hospital for a check-up. At the hospital he became “obstructive” and refused to allow a sample of blood to be taken for evidential analysis. A check of the defendant’s Seat found the tread on both front tyres was below the legal limit.

Lane came to the attention of police again in November this year after officers investigating a Swansea Bay-wide drug dealing operation executed search warrants at a number of addresses and seized phones. Information from the phones led officers from the organised crime team to execute a warrant at Lane’s house in Clyne in the Neath Valley.

The defendant was not home when officers arrived but returned shortly afterwards in his girlfriend’s car. In the door of the car, officers found two freezer bags of white powder and Lane was found to have a quantity of pink tablets and £85 in cash in his possession.

Inquiries then led officers to the SA1 Business Park off Fabian Way in Swansea where Lane rented a unit. In the unit, officers found 192 pink ecstasy pills, 270g of ketamine, 121g of cocaine, a quantity of cannabis, empty cocaine packaging, and a black metal handgun.

Lane refused to reveal the PIN to his phone but officers were able to perform a partial download of text messages which revealed the defendant’s “significant involvement in the supply of drugs”. Officers also recovered messages and videos from the Telegram app including a video showing a block of white powder which Lane described as “my work”.

In his subsequent interview, the defendant gave “largely no comment” answers to questions but told officers he had been prescribed cannabis by his doctor and claimed he sub-let the unit on the business park and was not aware of its contents.

Kaelum Lane, formerly of Fair View, Waunceirch, Neath, but now of Llys Dwfnant, Melincourt, Neath Valley, had previously pleaded guilty to dangerous driving, being concerned in the supply of cocaine and cannabis, and possession of cocaine, cannabis and ketamine with intent to supply when he appeared in the dock for sentencing.

The court heard police were out of time to charge the defendant with driving whilst disqualified and for failing to provide a sample for analysis.

Lane has previous convictions for 26 offences including eight of driving whilst disqualified, drug-driving, failing to stop after an accident, and robbery.

Ian Ibrahim, for Lane, said the defendant starting smoking cannabis in his teens and quickly progressed to using ketamine and cocaine. He said Lane had worked at the steelworks until losing his job two years ago, and said he was being medicated for anxiety and depression. He said the defendant maintained that the Telegram video found by police had not been made by him and he had merely sent it on to others.

In a letter which Lane wrote to the court, he said he was sorry for what he had done. He said his driving had been “stupid and highly irresponsible”, and said he had turned to drugs at an early age as a coping mechanism following the death of his father. He said he had “two kids I’m not allowed to see” and his girlfriend was pregnant, and said he “hates the way I was” and is trying to address the issues in his life and “to be a better person”.

Judge Geraint Walters told Lane he had a “very poor driving record” and said on the day in question he could easily have killed himself or other road users. He said the defendant had followed that offending up by becoming involved in supplying cocaine.

With a one-third discount for his guilty pleas, Lane was sentenced to five years in prison comprising one year for dangerous driving and four years for the drug offences to run consecutively. He will serve up to half the sentence in custody before being released on licence to serve the remainder in the community. Lane was disqualified from driving for a total of four-and-a-half years and must pass an extended test before he can apply for a new licence.