Ryan Greening, Adam Hartery and Daniel Laity
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A drug dealer who supplied a youth with heavily cut cocaine before putting him to work as a runner has been jailed alongside two associates for their roles in a conspiracy to supply the class A drug.
Ryan Greening, 32, of Charlotte Place, Barry, was sentenced to six years in prison at Merthyr Tydfil Crown Court on Tuesday after admitting conspiracy to supply cocaine. His co-defendants Adam Hartery, 32, of Clos Yr Harbwr, Barry, and Daniel Laity, 31, of St Nicholas Road, Barry, were also sentenced after each pleading guilty to the same charge.
The conspiracy
The trio came to the attention of police after a drugs arrest led to the seizure of mobile phones containing messages linked to the supply of cocaine. Those messages revealed all three were involved in a conspiracy together and with others to supply the drug to users and downstream dealers.
Greening sat at the top of the operation. He supplied street-level amounts of between 0.5g and 3.5g directly to users, while also moving wholesale quantities in ounce amounts to downstream dealers. He sold cocaine on credit – known as “tick” – and pursued customers over drug debts.
Exploiting a youth
The court heard Greening supplied the youth with heavily adulterated cocaine and directed him to sell drugs to others, effectively employing the boy as a runner operating under his control. The youth was tasked with sending out bulk text messages advertising drugs for sale and became “distressed” at his continued involvement, which saw him fielding direct requests from users.
Hartery and Laity’s roles
Prosecutor Tom Roberts told the court Laity acted as a runner for Greening, supplying drugs to customers under his direction and collecting cash on his behalf. He was also sold wholesale quantities by Greening for onward supply.
Hartery and Greening exchanged messages discussing the supply of 14g of cocaine. Hartery supplied directly to users but had to seek permission from those higher up the chain to sell on tick. He stored drugs for Greening and was paid in drugs for doing so. He also attempted to recruit others to work under him as runners and discussed making a “quick profit” from particular deals.
All three were arrested on 19 September last year and gave no comment interviews before later entering guilty pleas.
Previous convictions
Greening has six previous convictions, including possession with intent to supply a class B drug and being concerned in the supply of a class A drug. Hartery has two previous convictions for unrelated matters. Laity has no previous convictions.
Mitigation
Kathryn Lane, representing Greening, told the court her client’s grandfather, who he viewed as a father figure, was extremely ill and that he regrets putting his family in the position they find themselves in.
Peter Donnison, for Laity, said his client became involved to fund his own habit and to make money but had little knowledge of the overall scale of the operation. He said Laity had attempted to come off drugs “cold turkey”, which led to his mental health spiralling, but he is now using medication to address his issues.
Christopher Evans, for Hartery, said his client is a family man with three children who worked for Vale of Glamorgan Council for 17 years as a loader but had issues with cannabis, alcohol, and cocaine, which he is now addressing.
Sentencing
Recorder Paul Lewis KC sentenced Greening to six years’ imprisonment. Hartery received three years and six months, while Laity was sentenced to 27 months.
