Mother and Son Jailed for Cocaine Dealing to Pay Home Arrears

A mother and son from Swansea have been sentenced to prison after being caught dealing cocaine to clear debts on their family home 🏠

Melanie Martin, 52, and her son Kieran Martin were jailed at Swansea Crown Court after police found 152g of cocaine worth £16,500 and cannabis worth £700 at their Mayhill home in May. Officers also recovered weighing scales, empty bags, and £2,285 in cash.

The court heard that Melanie Martin had worked until 2019 but financial difficulties from a medical condition led to arrears on the family home. Her barrister Andrew Evans said it had been “suggested” to Martin that “there was a means of significantly improving her financial situation to the point where the arrears could be discharged.”

Kieran Martin’s defence lawyer Alex Ferguson said his client had a “very close” relationship with his mother and became involved in dealing when he saw her financial difficulties, calling it a “however stupid that decision was.”

Judge Catherine Richards told the defendants: “You had both chosen to involve themselves in supplying drugs and to make money from the misery of others, and you would have known what sentence awaits them if caught.”

Melanie Martin was sentenced to 32 months in prison, while Kieran Martin received 28 months. Both will serve 40% of their sentences in custody before being released. Neither had any previous convictions.