Graduate’s Drug Dealing Exposed after Being Found Unconscious

Police uncovered a drug dealing operation after receiving a call about an unresponsive man in a parked car in Rhymney. 🚔

Keiran Bass, 28, of Coed y Bryn, Blackwood, was sentenced to 28 months imprisonment at Newport Crown Court on Thursday after pleading guilty to possession with intent to supply class A drugs and being concerned in the supply of class A drugs.

The court heard that officers were called to reports of an unconscious man in a parked car on November 26, 2023. When police arrived, they observed Bass walking away from the vehicle.

Upon searching the defendant, officers discovered £120 in cash, a black iPhone, and scales with white cocaine residue. A search of the car revealed three snap bags containing 1.1g of cocaine worth between £100 and £110.

Further investigation at Bass’s home address uncovered an additional 0.7g of cocaine worth between £80 and £100, 0.7g of cannabis worth between £5 and £10, along with a grinder, snap bags, and mobile phones.

One of the seized phones contained a tick list documenting £165 worth of drug sales, as well as messages advertising cocaine and “text bombs.”

In mitigation, Alice Sykes told the court that her client had developed a cocaine addiction after attending university. She added that Bass has a supportive family but they have “not let him off the hook.”

During sentencing, Recorder Paul Lewis told Bass: “You are an intelligent man, you were a graduate and you knew what you were doing. You knew you were taking a risk.”

Bass will serve half of his 28-month sentence in custody before being released on licence.