A 23-year-old man found with heroin and crack cocaine worth more than £26,000 at his mother’s home in Newport has avoided an immediate prison term. It is the second time he has been handed a suspended sentence for class A drug dealing.
Niall Uddin had been held in custody since his arrest in July. He was sentenced at Cardiff Crown Court after admitting two drug supply offences.
The sentence
Recorder Angharad Price passed a 28-month prison sentence on Uddin but suspended it.
Before doing so, she made clear that the courts take a serious view when sentencing people who deal drugs.
“Drugs destroy lives and cause misery,” she told him.
As part of the suspended sentence, Uddin must comply with:
- a probation requirement
- a six-month alcohol treatment requirement
- a six-month GPS tracking order
The raid
Gwent Police officers carried out a drugs warrant at the address in Buccaneer Grove, Newport, in July. The drugs were discovered in Uddin’s bedroom.
The court was told officers seized:
- 231.79g of heroin, with a potential street value of £23,179
- 36.13g of crack cocaine, with a potential street value of £3,600
Officers also recovered £200 in cash.
Uddin pleaded guilty to:
- possession with intent to supply heroin
- possession with intent to supply crack cocaine
The prosecution case
Prosecutor James Evans argued that the operation was Uddin’s own and that he had a leading part in it.
“The Crown would say that the defendant played a significant role,” he said.
“This was also his own enterprise.”
Previous conviction
The court heard this was not Uddin’s first conviction for supplying class A drugs. In 2023 he was given two years in a young offender institution for similar offences, suspended for 18 months.
Letter to the judge
Uddin addressed Recorder Price directly, reading out a letter he had written to her.
In it he said: “I am sincerely sorry – I was taking drugs frequently which led to me downfall and for me being in here.
“I lost a previous job and my driving licence because of my cannabis habit.”
He told the court his drug use had damaged his relationships with his girlfriend and his family.
“I want my family to be proud of me instead of disappointed,” he added.
The court heard that Uddin has been offered two jobs and intends to start work as soon as he is released from custody.
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