Police pulled over a car in Tonyrefail on April 28 after detecting a strong smell of cannabis. The passenger, Corey Sutton, 19, immediately asked officers, 'Do you want to see how much I've got?' and produced a plastic bag containing cannabis and a grinder.
Search Reveals Cocaine Stash
During a subsequent search, officers seized Sutton's mobile phone from his trouser pocket and found a yellow Kinder egg containing multiple ziplock bags of cocaine. There were ten bags, each weighing 0.4g, with a total street value between £200 and £300.
Examination of the phone revealed numerous messages indicating Sutton was involved in the supply of both cocaine and cannabis. He was arrested and later charged.
Guilty Plea and Sentencing
At Cardiff Crown Court, Sutton, of Bryngolau, Tonyrefail, pleaded guilty to possession with intent to supply class A drugs and being concerned in the supply of class A and B drugs. The court heard he had one previous conviction for an unrelated offence.
In mitigation, barrister Harry Baker said Sutton had been remanded in custody since his arrest, was a hard worker who had completed his qualifications, but turned to dealing after becoming unemployed. Baker remarked, 'We know the devil makes work for idle hands.'
Immediate Custodial Sentence
Recorder Greg Bull KC stated that drug supply offences were 'too serious' for anything other than an immediate custodial sentence. Sutton was sentenced to 28 months' detention in a young offenders' institute.
