Saundersfoot man jailed for hiding cocaine in underwear

A Pembrokeshire man who tried to conceal nearly £12,000 worth of high-purity cocaine in his pants has been sentenced to more than two years behind bars.

Thomas Groves was driving through Carmarthen in April 2022 when officers pulled him over and made the discovery that would land him in court nearly four years later. The 37-year-old from Saundersfoot had stuffed a bag containing 19.5 grams of 75% pure cocaine into his underwear, with the Class A drug carrying a potential street value of £11,400.

Swansea Crown Court heard how police seized Groves’ mobile phone during the stop, though the defendant initially refused to hand over the PIN code – contributing to what the judge would later condemn as an “inexcusable” delay in bringing the case to trial.

Prosecutor Sian Cutter told the court: “The defendant’s vehicle was searched and his phone was seized. A bag of white powder was found in his underwear. It contained 19.5g of cocaine with a 75% purity and a potential street value of £11,400.”

Judge Paul Thomas KC didn’t hold back in his criticism of how long the case had taken to reach court, pointing the finger at both the defendant and investigating officers. “There has been a long and inexcusable delay in this case – caused in some part by police tardiness – and it will be reflected in sentence,” he said.

Defence barrister Emily Bennett revealed that Groves, who works as a supervisor at the Hinkley Point nuclear power station in Somerset where he’s highly regarded, had recently become a father to a two-month-old baby. She explained that her client had been using cocaine himself at the time and was supplying friends rather than running a commercial operation.

Groves pleaded guilty to possession with intent to supply cocaine. His only previous brush with the law was a drink-driving conviction from 2010, meaning this would be his first experience of life behind bars.

The judge sentenced him to 27 months imprisonment, of which he’ll serve half in custody before being released on licence. Groves is also scheduled to face a proceeds of crime hearing in May.