Swansea Crown Court (Image: Camerania / Alamy Stock Photo)
Last Updated: 22 hours ago
A cocaine dealer got the shock of his life when he unlocked the door of his rented Airbnb property – only to find police officers already inside waiting for him.
Swansea Crown Court heard how Martin O’Reilly, 24, walked straight into the arms of officers who had entered the Morriston property on March 29 last year while searching for someone else entirely.
The raid
Prosecutor Alycia Carpanini told the court that police had gone to the Airbnb looking for a person unconnected to O’Reilly. While searching inside, they discovered a phone and a small quantity of crack cocaine.
O’Reilly then arrived and let himself in with a key, where he was promptly arrested by the waiting officers.
Phone evidence
When police seized and examined the defendant’s phone, they uncovered messages showing he had been involved in supplying cocaine over a 10-month period and cannabis over the preceding two weeks.
In his subsequent interview, O’Reilly provided a prepared statement denying any involvement in drug supply before answering “no comment” to all further questions.
Defence arguments
Emily Bennett, representing O’Reilly, told the court her client had been exposed to drugs through people he worked with. As his own use grew, he fell into debt and was drawn into dealing.
She said a pre-sentence report highlighted the defendant’s immaturity and “distinct lack of consequential thinking” which had contributed to his involvement in supplying drugs. Time spent in prison on remand had been a “short, sharp, shock” for her client, she added.
The barrister said the father-of-two had since found work as a plasterer and realises he had taken the “wrong path in life” and feels he has brought shame on his mother and six sisters.
Sentencing
O’Reilly, of Tyle Teg, Clydach, Swansea Valley, had previously pleaded guilty to being concerned in the supply of cocaine, being concerned in the supply of cannabis, and simple possession of crack cocaine. He has no previous convictions.
Recorder Simon Stephenson said the supply of Class A drugs was an extremely serious offence as it was “the source of numerous destructive influences in society” and cannot be tolerated.
The judge said with a one-third discount for his guilty plea, the appropriate sentence was two years in prison, and said the question of whether that term could be suspended had been a “difficult decision.”
O’Reilly was sentenced to two years in prison – comprising two years for the cocaine supply offence and eight months for the cannabis supply offence to run concurrently – suspended for 18 months. He was also ordered to complete a rehabilitation course and carry out 250 hours of unpaid work. No separate penalty was imposed for the crack cocaine possession.
The recorder told O’Reilly: “I cannot emphasise enough how close you have come to going to prison today. I have given you a chance to keep your life a meaningful track. It is highly unlikely you will get another one.”
