Matthew Roberts (Image: Gwent Police)
Last Updated: 2 minutes ago
A drug dealer who stashed nearly £140,000 worth of class A drugs at his Newport home has been jailed for five years.
Matthew Roberts, 24, from Hendre Farm Drive, was sentenced at Cardiff Crown Court after police raided his property last November.
The raid
Officers executed a search warrant at the address, where Roberts was found with a man and two women. He told police he would show them where his drugs were hidden, saying the male in the property had nothing to do with them.
In the kitchen, officers discovered 1.29kg of cocaine and crack cocaine along with close to 1kg of heroin concealed in bags. They also seized £1,367.49 in cash and jewellery.
The evidence
Prosecutor Alice Sykes told the court the cocaine and crack cocaine was between 77 and 85 per cent purity, with a street value of between £16,860 and £50,760. The heroin was between five and 36 per cent purity, valued at between £78,720 and £86,900.
Analysis of Roberts’ mobile phone revealed he had been buying drugs in wholesale quantities and using others to sell them on to users.
Miss Sykes said: “The defendant was conducting his own sizeable operation. He was bulking up the drugs with diluting agents. The defendant had a management function in the chain and was directly selling to users.”
Defence
Roberts admitted possession with intent to supply class A drugs and had no previous convictions.
His barrister, Gareth Williams, said: “There is a letter of remorse from the defendant. His best mitigation is the credit for his guilty pleas. The defendant is still a young man and he’s got himself into heavy water here and he understands that.”
The court heard Roberts had held down “good, well-paid jobs” since leaving school. His barrister added: “He knows he can do a lot better.”
Sentencing
Judge Vanessa Francis told Roberts: “Your phone messages showed that you were buying drugs on a wholesale basis. You involved others in your sales and you are described as playing a significant role in this case.”
Roberts was jailed for five years and will serve half his sentence in custody before being released on licence. He is due to face a proceeds of crime hearing on June 3.
