Alex Jones (Image: Gwent Police)
Last Updated: 48 seconds ago
A Newport drug dealer has been locked up for more than four years after he was found to be offering cocaine for sale and supplying cannabis across the city.
The arrest
Alex Jones, 31, was detained by officers on Monnow Way in the Bettws area of Newport on Christmas Day 2025. He had attempted to flee from a vehicle in which he had been travelling as a passenger but was caught by police.
On his arrest, he was found carrying £655 in cash along with two mobile phones containing damning evidence of his drug dealing activities.
The evidence
Prosecutor Pamela Kaiga told Merthyr Tydfil Crown Court that Jones had been sending mass text messages – known as text bombs – advertising cocaine for sale. Detectives also uncovered images of cannabis being distributed as bulk messages to potential buyers.
Investigators found further exchanges on his devices showing communication with an upscale supplier, including requests to purchase cannabis from them.
The offending took place between 1 September 2025 and 29 December 2025 – while Jones was on licence, having previously been jailed for 45 months for similar drug offences. You can read more about his previous sentence, handed down in March 2025, here: https://walesupdates.uk/news/newport-man-jailed-in-major-crack-cocaine-case
Previous record
The court heard Jones has 25 previous convictions for 34 offences, including robbery, wounding, burglary and theft.
He pleaded guilty to being concerned in making an offer to supply cocaine, being concerned in the supply of cannabis, possession of criminal property and possession of cannabis.
Defence
Gareth Williams, representing Jones, told the court his client had become embroiled in criminal activity again after his release from prison because he was being pursued over a drug debt owed to those higher up in the supply chain.
He added: “There’s a lack of sophistication to his offending – he was caught with cash and the evidence on his mobile phones.”
Mr Williams said: “It’s sad he’s back in this environment so soon.”
He added: “It was a short-lived enterprise in terms of the class A offence.”
Sentencing
Recorder Paul Lewis KC told Jones: “It’s clear that the only appropriate sentence is a significant term of imprisonment.
“These offences were committed a relatively short period of time after your release from custody.
“You played a significant role and were selling directly to users.”
Jones, of Windrush Close, Bettws, Newport, was jailed for four years and two months. He must also pay a £228 victim surcharge upon his release from prison.
