Ex-Football Prospect Jailed for Cardiff Drug Dealing

A 19-year-old drug dealer who threw away his chance at professional football has been sentenced to two years in prison after being caught selling drugs on Cardiff’s streets.

Malachi Lewis was spotted by plain-clothes officers in Adamsdown approaching a large group whilst wearing a black balaclava and riding an illegally modified electric bike. When police followed him, he “made off on his bike” before being detained.

Officers found £401.06 in cash and a Nokia ‘burner’ phone that “rang repeatedly while he was being questioned.” The phone contained messages reading ‘live both’ – indicating Lewis had both cocaine and heroin ready to supply to users.

Prosecutor Robert Simkins told Cardiff Crown Court that Lewis has five previous convictions including dealing heroin and multiple knife offences between March 2024 and August 2024.

Defence solicitor Steve Tettey described Lewis as a “young man from an otherwise good home” whose “talent was in football” before he “started hanging around older friends and led himself down the wrong path.”

The court heard Lewis was previously part of a Premier League academy setup before turning to crime.

Prison has been “the loneliest point in his life” as his Birmingham-based family cannot visit him at Parc Prison. Lewis became a father whilst locked up but has never met his nine-month-old son.

“His newfound maturity is largely because of how difficult it must be to know you have a nine month old baby at home that he has not ever seen,” Mr Tettey said. “It is a critical bonding stage for a child and their parents. He does not want the same future for his son.”

Lewis has completed roofing and plumbing courses in prison and hopes to secure employment upon release.

Lewis, of Cinderbank, Dudley, was sentenced to two years imprisonment for being concerned in the supply of class A drugs and ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £228.