Drug dealer caught driving kids around Swansea jailed

A drug dealer who was caught grinning behind the wheel while ferrying his two children around Swansea city centre – despite being banned from driving – has been locked up for more than four years.

Gavin Jones, 37, from Penygraig Road, Townhill, Swansea, was pulled over by police on New Year’s Eve last year with his partner and two of his children also in the car.

When officers searched the vehicle they discovered a mobile phone and a key for a second vehicle. The phone was found to be receiving text messages relating to the sale of cocaine and cannabis, and had been used to send out bulk marketing messages to customers.

Police tracked down the second vehicle and inside found 12 snap bags of cocaine with a combined street value of between £720 and £1,080.

Jones was arrested but answered “no comment” to the majority of questions put to him. A subsequent search of his flat uncovered cash hidden inside a sock along with snap bags of cannabis.

At a sentencing hearing at Swansea Crown Court on Monday, February 9, prosecution barrister Alycia Carpanini told the court Jones had racked up 34 previous convictions.

Defence barrister Andrew Evans, speaking in mitigation, said his client had been a cocaine user who had built up a debt he needed to pay off, and as a result he “found himself dealing class A drugs”.

Mr Evans added: “The persons his offending will have the biggest impact on are his five children. He accepts that he is the author of his own misfortune.”

Jones had previously pleaded guilty to being concerned in the supply of both class A and class B drugs, possession of both class A and class B drugs, possession of criminal property, and driving while disqualified.

Judge Huw Rees addressed Jones via video link and told him: “Your offending is aggravated by your previous conviction in November 2022 for being concerned in the supply of cocaine.

“You will now be deprived of a role that you are proud of – that of a father. That is the price you will have to pay yet again for being concerned in the supply of drugs.”

Jones was sentenced to a total of four years and five months in prison. He will serve half of that sentence in custody, with the remainder spent on licence. He was also handed a 38-month driving ban.