Drug user jailed for dealing to fund her own habit

A drug user who turned to dealing crack cocaine and cannabis to fund her own habit has been jailed for two-and-a-half years.

Police executed a search warrant at Joanna John’s home on Howarth Close in Milford Haven on 8 October last year.

Inside a locked bedroom, officers found Kaleb Thomas, who directed them to a locked drawer containing 1.62 grams of cocaine. Police also recovered a vacuum-sealed bag containing 165 grams of cannabis, plus two smaller quantities of the drug.

John, 46, was found in possession of 0.259 grams of crack cocaine.

Mobile phones, digital weighing scales and £2,470 in cash were seized from the property.

John initially denied involvement but later pleaded guilty to being concerned in the supply of both drugs between 29 August and 9 October last year. Swansea Crown Court heard she was a drug user at the time of her offending.

Judge Geraint Walters sentenced her to two-and-a-half years imprisonment. She must also pay a £228 surcharge.

Thomas, 20, of no fixed abode, pleaded guilty to being concerned in the supply of cannabis, possession of cannabis with intent to supply, and possession of criminal property relating to the cash.

He was already serving a three-year sentence in a Young Offender Institution after being locked up in July alongside three other men for drug trafficking.

When Thomas appeared for sentencing in August, Judge Huw Rees said it was unfair on the defendant that he was being sentenced “in a piecemeal way” instead of together with those previous matters.

Thomas was sentenced to six months detention, running consecutively to his existing sentence.