Declan Fearn (Image: South Wales Police)
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A drug dealer who tried to run from police was tracked down after officers discovered messages on his Facebook account linking him to the supply of cocaine, ketamine and cannabis.
How police identified him
Swansea Crown Court heard that on February 9 this year, police were examining the phone of a drug user who was in custody. On the device, they found messages between the user and the Facebook account of Declan Fearn which appeared to relate to drug supply.
As a result of the messages, the 28-year-old became a suspect.
The arrest
The following day, officers spotted Fearn in Bethania Terrace in Cwmavon in the Afan Valley. He attempted to flee but was caught and arrested.
Phone evidence
When police seized Fearn’s phone, they found messages referring to “flake” and “weed” – cocaine and cannabis – along with messages in which he discussed having 21g of ketamine available for sale.
Officers then executed a search warrant at his home and recovered two sets of weighing scales and a number of snap-seal bags. A small amount of cannabis was also found but was subsequently attributed to Fearn’s partner rather than the defendant.
In his police interview, Fearn answered “no comment” to all questions.
Defence arguments
Thomas Stanway, representing Fearn, told the court his client had experienced a difficult upbringing in Luton where he suffered abuse at the hands of his mother before moving to south Wales with his father.
He said Fearn had been out of trouble since 2013 prior to the current matters. The barrister explained his client had been a cannabis user from an early age but had latterly become addicted to cocaine, initially turning to dealing to fund his own habit.
The court also heard Fearn was working towards getting a Construction Skills Certification Card with a view to finding employment upon his release.
Sentencing
Declan Fearn, of Morfa Glas, Glynneath, Neath Valley, had previously pleaded guilty to being concerned in the supply of cocaine, being concerned in the supply of ketamine, and being concerned in the supply of cannabis. He has eight previous convictions for 10 offences committed in the Luton area as a youth but none for drug matters.
Judge Paul Thomas KC told Fearn that when he had decided to involve himself in the supply of a Class A drug he would have known what sentence awaited him if caught but presumably thought that making “easy money” was worth the risk of prison, adding: “Perhaps you don’t think that now.”
With a discount for his guilty pleas, Fearn was sentenced to 28 months in prison. He will serve 40% of the sentence in custody before being released on licence to serve the remainder in the community.
