Khalis Reynolds (Image: Gwent Police)
Last Updated: 4 minutes ago
A 25-year-old man has been sentenced to two years in prison after police caught him openly dealing cocaine to a line of waiting customers on a busy Newport street in broad daylight.
Khalis Reynolds, of Dolphin Street, Pill, was arrested on Commercial Street at around 1.35pm on Monday, January 26, after officers discovered him supplying drugs to a group of six or seven users who had gathered to collect pre-ordered deals.
Previous convictions
Cardiff Crown Court heard Reynolds had an extensive criminal history, with 15 previous convictions spanning 48 offences. He committed the latest offence while out on licence, having been jailed in January 2025 for a robbery at Lifestyles Express Stores in the Rogerstone area of the city.
The evidence
Prosecutor Denise Osei told the court that analysis of Reynolds’ phone revealed he had been sending out “text bombs” to his customer base. Messages recovered from the device included exchanges with clients, one of whom was saved under the name ‘Shaggy’.
Miss Osei said: “The prosecution say that the defendant was playing a significant role.
“He and a third party were selling to a number of consumers.
“The defendant was dividing the drugs into small street deals and was aware of the scale of the operation.”
Reynolds pleaded guilty to being concerned in the supply of a class A drug.
Defence arguments
His lawyer Darren Bishop outlined a troubled background, telling the court Reynolds had experienced the “traumatic impact” of losing his mother when he was just four years old. His father, who had been a drug addict, also passed away recently – leaving Reynolds an orphan.
The court heard Reynolds is expecting his first child and had himself become addicted to drugs, dealing in exchange for crack cocaine rather than for financial gain.
Mr Bishop added: “He had no influence on anyone above him in the chain.
“There was no lavish lifestyle.
“His best mitigation is his guilty plea at the very first available opportunity.”
Sentencing
Judge Christopher Felstead told Reynolds: “You must realise that this is not a productive way to live your life.”
The defendant agreed: “No it’s not.”
Reynolds was jailed for two years, with time already spent on remand counting towards his sentence. He was also ordered to pay a £187 victim surcharge upon his release.
