Darren Phillips (Image: South Wales Police)
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A former Tata Steel worker who turned to drug dealing after racking up debts has been sentenced to three years behind bars for running a cocaine and cannabis edibles supply network in Swansea.
Darren Phillips, 39, of Kenilworth Place, West Cross, had around £3,500 worth of cocaine in his car when he was pulled over by officers while on his way to meet a buyer. His partner Melissa Barry, 33, and associate Thomas Chislett, 33, were also sentenced at Swansea Crown Court for their respective roles in the operation – though both were spared jail.
The traffic stop
Police stopped a vehicle on Vicarage Road in Morriston on the afternoon of March 6. Phillips was at the wheel with Chislett beside him in the passenger seat. Prosecutor Brian Simpson told the court that officers observed both men appearing “nervous”.
What officers recovered
Inside the car, a bag containing 84g of cocaine at 79% purity was discovered alongside 170g of benzocaine – a cutting agent frequently used to prepare drug deals – sets of weighing scales, and £120 in cash. Further wraps of cocaine at 11% purity were sitting on the centre console. A search of Phillips personally revealed another £490 in cash on his person.
The house search
Officers went on to search the West Cross property Phillips shared with Barry. There they recovered 145 packets of THC edibles and additional jars of the same product, together worth an estimated £1,600.
“Chissy’s sweet shop”
Analysis of Phillips’ phone laid bare his involvement in the cocaine trade and confirmed the pair had been heading to a customer when they were intercepted. Messages on the device also showed Barry had played a part in weighing up and distributing the drugs.
Chislett’s phone revealed a separate sideline. He had been promoting the sale of cannabis edibles under the tagline “Chissy’s sweet shop now open”. A limited number of further messages connected to cannabis supply were also found on his handset.
What they told police
Phillips gave a prepared statement admitting the bag of drugs belonged to him but denied any dealing, insisting he had been driving to hospital when stopped. Chislett rejected any role in cocaine supply and described the sweet shop messages as nothing more than a joke. Barry responded “no comment” to every question put to her.
Personal backgrounds
The court was told Phillips was a qualified electrician who had worked at the steelworks in Port Talbot for many years. His barrister David Singh explained that his client had accumulated debts through legal matters and “took the well-trodden path” into supplying a drug he was addicted to. Phillips “bitterly regrets” what he did and accepts full responsibility for dragging his co-defendants into the enterprise, the court heard.
Alycia Carpanini, representing Chislett, said her client had been a heavy cocaine user but told the court his nine-year-old daughter was his primary motivation for changing direction. He had been employed as a security guard and had the prospect of future work in the construction industry.
Sarah John, acting for Barry, invited the court to follow the recommendations set out in the pre-sentence report.
Sentencing
Recorder Mark Powell KC described Phillips as having been “entirely frank” in accepting responsibility and “respectful” of his co-defendants’ positions.
Phillips had previously pleaded guilty to being concerned in the supply of cocaine, being concerned in the supply of THC, possession of cocaine with intent to supply, and possession of criminal property in the form of cash. He received three years in prison with a one-third discount for his pleas. He will serve up to half that term in custody before being released on licence to complete the remainder in the community. He has two previous convictions for three offences, none drugs-related, the most recent being for drink-driving in 2019.
Chislett, of Heol Nant Gelli, Treboeth, had pleaded guilty to being concerned in the supply of cocaine, being concerned in the supply of THC, and possession of cocaine with intent to supply. He was given three years in prison suspended for three years with a one-quarter discount – reduced from the standard third because his pleas came at a later stage. A 12-month drug rehabilitation requirement was also imposed. The recorder noted that had it not been for a recent change in the law which came into effect in March – raising the threshold for suspended sentences from two years to three – Chislett would have gone straight to prison. He has six previous convictions for eight offences, none for drugs, with his last being drunk and disorderly in 2018.
Barry, now of Sunningdale Avenue, Mayals, who appeared via prison videolink, had pleaded guilty to possession of THC with intent to supply. She received 20 months in prison suspended for two years with a one-third discount and was ordered to complete a rehabilitation course. Recorder Powell described her as having been “very much on the periphery” of the operation. She has no previous convictions.
