Cocaine courier found with drugs in BMW in Powys sentenced
A drug addicted cocaine courier who brought in almost £5,000 worth of drugs into Wales has been spared an immediate jail term.
Police stopped Reece Williams, 24, in Llangedwyn, north Powys, with nearly 28 grams of cocaine in the driver's side of the BMW he was driving after collecting the package from Birmingham in July 2023.
The Pwllheli man was jailed for 18 months, suspended for 18 months, after admitting possessing with intent to supply cocaine and being concerned in the supply of the Class A drug.
Sentencing, Williams at Caernarfon Crown Court on Thursday, June 19, Judge Nicola Jones said: "You clearly were trusted bringing almost £5,000 of cocaine into the country but I accept that you had limited financial gain from a drug to which you were addicted."
Prosecution barrister Dafydd Roberts said messages on seized mobile phones showed Williams had been involved with dealing drugs over a two-week period between June 25 and July 8, 2023.
The court was told that the street value of seized drugs was between £4,800 and £6,075.
"In fairness to the defendant, he was selling at a cost price and there is no suggestion that he was making an advantage with the amount," Mr Roberts said.
Williams had admitted to police that the drug found in his car was cocaine and that he was a regular user.
It took 19 months before Williams was charged in February this year which the prosecuting barrister said the delay was not the defendant's fault but "due to the volume of work for North Wales Police".
'Sheer desperation'
Williams' barrister Richard Edwards said the 24-year-old's life has changed "dramatically" since his arrest.
"He fell into the unfortunate and all familiar trap of ever-increasing addiction to drugs and debts that led to homelessness and the supply of drugs which he was addicted to and taking in some considerable amount," Mr Edwards explained.
"He says his involvement was not brought about from threats but from his sheer desperation and hopeless situation that he found himself.
"He was arrested after travelling from Birmingham with drugs which were bound for North Wales.
"The arrest was the wake up call the defendant needed. He had been homeless, sleeping on friends' sofas, mixing in an environment where drug taking was a daily routine.
"He has moved out of the area and stopped mixing with those people.
"He is now a mobile mechanic who is slowly building up a business in Birmingham and North Wales. He's trying to increase work in North Wales because that is where he hopes to settle in future.
"He is taking it slowly because he is not taking these proceedings lightly. He doesn't want to let people down should the worst happen to this young man who is showing good insight and empathy for others."
Mr Edwards said he had remained abstinent from drugs, adding: "Rehabilitation has no doubt been assisted by the probation service following motoring matters in the magistrates' court.
"He complied with the order and there were no breach proceedings. He has clearly taken in the input that probation has been able to provide."
'Turned your life around'
Judge Jones told Williams that she considered him an "immature individual" at the time of his offending because "men's brains do not fully develop until they are 25 years old".
"You have shown to the court that you are capable of rehabilitation because in the time of the delay of this case you have not committed further offences and got yourself working and turned your life around,' the judge said.
"There will be no punitive element. This is a prison sentence albeit suspended which is a sufficient punishment for you.
"This young man has taken great steps to set himself in business and I don't want that to crush him financially."
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