Drug Dealer Jailed After Being Caught Twice in Weeks

A 22-year-old man has been jailed for 40 months after being caught dealing Class A drugs twice within weeks – first in Weston-super-Mare and then 50 miles away in Cardiff 📱⚖️

Rees Morris was first spotted on CCTV in Somerset on 19th January carrying out what appeared to be a drug deal, with a woman seen handing over money in exchange for a small “white item”. When police spoke to the woman, she admitted buying drugs from Morris.

Just over a month later on 27th February, Morris came to police attention again – this time in Cardiff’s Grangetown area. Officers became suspicious of activities involving a white BMW on Wedmore Road, where two men appeared to be carrying out “exchanges” with males who approached them.

When police executed a search of a property on nearby Stafford Road, Morris wasn’t inside but was spotted hiding in a neighbouring garden, desperately trying to rip up and dispose of a black plastic bag. Officers recovered 3.5g of crack cocaine from where he’d been hiding.

Inside the house, police found more black packages, weighing scales, and a red diary containing a “tick list” of moneys owed along with “rap lyrics referring to Class A drugs”.

At Newport Crown Court, Morris of Earlham Grove, Weston-super-Mare, pleaded guilty to being concerned in offering to supply cocaine and possession of crack cocaine with intent to supply. The court heard he has no previous convictions.

Defence lawyer Steve Burnell said Morris had written to the court describing his arrest and remand as a “massive reality check”. A pre-sentence report highlighted concerns about the “education in relation to criminality” the defendant may receive in prison.

Judge Eugene Egan sentenced Morris to 40 months in prison – 20 months for each offence to run consecutively. He’ll serve up to half the sentence in custody before being released on licence.