Third-strike drug dealer jailed for over eight years

A Newport man who “brazenly” returned to drug trafficking as soon as he was released from prison has been jailed for more than eight years.

Ellis Driscoll, 26, of Jenkins Street, was locked up for eight years and five months at Cardiff Crown Court after admitting being concerned in the supply of class A drugs and possession with intent to supply class A and class B drugs.

The defendant was released from prison for similar offences last November but immediately returned to drug dealing – and even carried on whilst released under investigation on police bail.

Driscoll was arrested with his brother Jake Driscoll, 21, and another man Kingsley Borg, 31, just before Christmas 2024. Those two defendants were locked up in May.

Prosecutor Sol Hartley told the court Driscoll was involved in a drugs line known as the “Jimmy Line” which used runners. “It was a well-known source of class A drugs. It was proactively advertising drugs for sale with ‘active drops’.”

When arrested again on 8 August, Driscoll was carrying heroin, crack cocaine, cocaine and cannabis worth £3,000. Police found further incriminating evidence on his iPhone with photographs and videos of drugs as well as a tick list showing how one client owed him £4,000.

Mr Hartley said: “The defendant played a significant role and involved others in the operation.”

Driscoll has five previous convictions for eight offences, with previous class A drug trafficking offences committed in 2018 and 2022.

The court heard his daughter was born earlier this year. Defence barrister Hilary Roberts said: “He is distraught about it. It has focused his mind on his folly. It has brought home to him the realities of how he must behave.”

Judge Eugene Egan told Driscoll: “You are what is colloquially known in the crown court as a third-strike class A drug dealer. You realise that you only have yourself to blame.”

Referring to him missing out on his daughter’s early years, the judge added: “I hope this is a turning point in your life.”