A man who advertised cocaine for sale but was actually selling ground-up paracetamol and baking soda has been jailed. Diego Fornaro sent bulk text messages offering "W" - slang for cocaine - claiming he had "the best deal in town", Swansea Crown Court heard.
Arrest and discovery of fake drugs
On February 22 this year, Fornaro was arrested in Swansea in connection with unrelated matters. Officers searching his rucksack found snap-seal bags and wraps containing white powder. The defendant told officers the powder was not an illegal drug and said he was "trying to rip people off" by selling it as cocaine.
Forensic tests showed the powder was paracetamol and sodium bicarbonate. A partial download of messages on his phone revealed he had been sending bulk texts advertising "W" in various size deals, asserting he was offering "the best deals in town".
Shoplifting spree and knife offence
After being released under investigation, Fornaro was arrested two weeks later on suspicion of a racially aggravated assault. When searched, he was found carrying a blade for a Stanley-type craft knife. He was released again, and over the following four weeks carried out four thefts from shops in Swansea city centre - one at the Lidl in Parc Tawe, and three at the Co-op store on Walter Road. On each occasion he stole meat ranging in value from £25 to £122. He was identified as the meat thief from CCTV footage.
Fornaro, of Neath Road, Hafod, Swansea, pleaded guilty to offering to supply cocaine, possession of a bladed article, four counts of theft from a shop, and failing to surrender. He has one previous conviction for possession of cannabis from 2021, for which he received a 12-month conditional discharge.
Sentencing and judge's remarks
Jon Tarrant, defending, said the prosecution accepted his client had not been in possession of any cocaine and never had any to supply. He said at the time of offending, the defendant had been in the throes of an addiction "and was trying to scam people and take money off them". Tarrant said Fornaro had "very firm" plans to stay in the UK and "try to make good for what he has done".
Judge Geraint Walters said it was clear Fornaro had "lost his way" in recent times. He noted "inconsistencies" between what Fornaro told a probation officer and told his counsel, with the pre-sentence report detailing how he wanted to return to Italy and how he had a "fluent" command of English. Fornaro had explained the offences by saying as an Italian he was very fond of "fine food" such as steak, pasta and pizza.
With discounts for guilty pleas, Fornaro was sentenced to 24 months in prison: 21 months for the drug offence, three months for each shoplifting offence, three months for the knife offence, and one month for failing to surrender, to run concurrently with each other but consecutively to the lead offence. Addressing the man in the dock, the judge said: "If you stay in the UK, try to stay out of trouble. If you decide to go back to Italy, at least you will know where to get fine foods."
