First-time dealer jailed after hiding cocaine under food

A would-be drug dealer’s criminal career lasted just one day after police found cocaine stashed under cartons of takeaway food on his lap.

David Westwood, of Robert Owen Gardens, Port Tennant, Swansea, was caught red-handed in the rear passenger seat of a Ford Puma after CCTV operators alerted police to a suspected drugs deal outside a Nisa shop on St Helen’s Road in Swansea city centre on 27 October.

When officers searched the 33-year-old, they discovered a white bag containing eight snap-seal bags of cocaine hidden beneath the food cartons, along with £185 in cash. A further search at Swansea Central police station uncovered two more snap-deal bags in his pockets.

While being taken into custody, Westwood told officers: “it was my fist time doing it.”

A subsequent search of his home turned up drugs paraphernalia including weighing scales, dozens of empty snap-bags and white powder. Police seized a total of 26.5g of cocaine worth up to £1,700.

In his interview, Westwood made full admissions to dealing cocaine, saying he had been selling the drug in pubs around Swansea and had been hoping to double his money, though he refused to name his supplier.

Westwood, who has six previous convictions for 13 offences including driving and violence matters, pleaded guilty to possession of cocaine with intent to supply at Swansea Crown Court.

Judge Catherine Richards told the defendant he had chosen to involve himself in the supply of class A drugs out of “greed” and without any thought to the impact his actions would have on others. She said drugs ruin the lives of individuals and families, and impact communities where addicts resort to committing acquisitive crimes to fund their habits.

With a one-third discount for his guilty plea, Westwood was sentenced to 28 months in prison. He will serve up to half the sentence in custody before being released on licence to serve the remainder in the community.