Newport Dad Jailed After £81k Drug Raid Find

A former Network Rail employee from Newport has been jailed for four years and four months after police discovered his secret life as a drug dealer when they raided his home. 📰⚖️

Graham Price, 36, from Farmwood Close, was caught with 1.5kg of cocaine, £81,000 in cash, and a £40,000 Rolex watch hidden in his bedroom when officers struck on the morning of Tuesday, 3rd June.

Andrew Davies, prosecuting, told Newport Crown Court that officers also recovered two burner phones and a Google smartphone that Price refused to provide the PIN for.

The “intelligent man” and “devoted father” to his teenage son pleaded guilty to possession with intent to supply class A drugs and two counts of possession of criminal property. He has no previous convictions.

Clare Wilks, defending, said extensive character references painted “a very different picture of Mr Price” and that “he’s not the usual type of man being sentenced in the crown court.”

She added: “The defendant was leading something of a secret life. It seems the prospect of making quick money was too much for him to resist – it was a complete lapse of judgement on his behalf.”

The court heard Price had received thousands of pounds in October 2023 after being made redundant by Network Rail.

Judge Daniel Williams told Price: “You were minding the drugs on behalf of another. Clearly, there was a lot going on in your life at the time – more than this court is ever likely to know.”

Price will serve half his sentence in custody before being released on licence and faces a proceeds of crime hearing.