Jayden Berry (Image: Gwent Police)
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A teenager who turned to dealing cocaine to feed his own growing addiction has been sentenced to more than two years in a young offender institution.
Sentencing
Jayden Berry, 18, of Chaffinch Way in the Duffryn area of Newport, was handed a 27-month sentence at Merthyr Tydfil Crown Court after admitting possession with intent to supply cocaine. He will serve around 40 per cent of the term before being released on licence.
Recorder Paul Lewis KC told Berry: “Those who sell class A drugs should expect to go into immediate custody no matter what their age and you are no exception.”
He was also ordered to pay a £228 victim surcharge.
The raid
Officers raided the home Berry shared with his family last December. Prosecutor Andrew Davies told the court that 12 wraps of cocaine were recovered from the defendant’s bedroom, along with a number of empty snap bags.
Berry had no previous convictions.
Defence arguments
Defence lawyer Darren Bishop told the court his client’s drug use had escalated after he became addicted to cannabis and fell in with the wrong crowd.
Mr Bishop said: “Mr Berry became addicted to cannabis and went on to start using cocaine while associating with negative peer groups.
“Any money he made was spent on his own habit.
“There was no lavish lifestyle – there is no application by the prosecution for a proceeds of crime hearing.”
He added: “There was no influence on any other individual in the chain.
“He was very much at the bottom end.
“The defendant has shown remorse and he no longer takes cocaine having been abstinent for many months.”
The court heard Berry had experienced a turbulent upbringing and education and had struggled with serious mental health problems. Mr Bishop also revealed there was a potential job opportunity within his grandfather’s business.
The defence asked the court to take into account Berry’s young age, clean record and guilty plea.
