Curtis Price, 29, apologised to police after trying to evade arrest while in possession of heroin and crack cocaine in his underwear. He was the passenger of a car which caught the attention of police officers on patrol in Newport at around 11.50am on May 1.
Arrest and Discovery
As an officer approached the defendant in Monnow Way, Bettws, and asked him if a drug deal had taken place, the defendant responded: "No drug dealing mate, this is my uncle." A sentencing hearing at Newport Crown Court on Monday heard Lewis was asked to step out of the car so a search could take place.
But as the defendant was about to be placed in handcuffs, he began resisting and had to be taken to the floor after an officer used PAVA spray. While being restrained on the floor by the officers, Lewis said: "Sorry man, I'm a stupid idiot." The officer responded: "Yeah you are, you've cut me now buddy alright." The defendant said: "Sorry bossman."
Drugs and Previous Offences
In Lewis' underwear were 18 wraps of crack cocaine and 31 wraps of heroin. At the time of his arrest, the defendant was on licence after receiving a six month term of imprisonment for possession of a knife in a public place. Lewis, of Comfrey Close, Newport, later pleaded guilty to two counts of possession with intent to supply class A drugs.
Sentence and Police Comment
The defendant was sentenced to three years imprisonment. Following the hearing, PC Billy Connor said: "It is disappointing to see any defendant back before the courts so soon after a previous sentence was heard, but there can be no excuses for anyone who continues to offend. Tackling drug supply and protecting vulnerable people and their families from the misery and pain caused by illegal drugs is a priority for us. We're grateful to the support of our communities whose valuable information helps us bring people who only seek to profit from the vulnerable by supplying drugs to justice."
