A cocaine dealer was caught after advertising his drugs line on Snapchat, a court heard. Police found Keiron Paton's promotional posts during an unrelated investigation and arrested him as he sat in a car outside a supermarket.
Arrest and Search
On June 15, police spotted Paton in the passenger seat of an Audi in the car park of Morrison's supermarket near Swansea's Copper Quarter. Officers detained him, and a search of the car found £770 in cash in the centre console.
A search of his house recovered more than £1,500 in cash, empty snap-seal bags, weighing scales, a knuckleduster, a phone, and four grams of cannabis. Examination of the phone showed Paton's Snapchat account was running and using one of the drugs line numbers previously advertised. The phone had also been sending bulk text messages relating to the supply of cocaine.
Court Proceedings
Abul Hussain, prosecuting, told Swansea Crown Court that police in Swansea involved in an unrelated drugs investigation seized a phone and came across Snapchat Stories advertising an active drugs line. As a result, police traced the source of the posts.
Keiron Paton, 21, of Tonnant Road, Copper Quarter, Swansea, pleaded guilty to being concerned in the supply of cocaine, possession of criminal property, possession of an offensive weapon in private place, and simple possession of cannabis. He has one previous conviction for four offences.
Background and Sentencing
In April 2024, Paton received a suspended prison sentence for dangerous driving, driving without insurance, driving without a licence, and handling stolen goods. That offending related to racing off-road motorbikes along Oystermouth Road on Swansea seafront and through the streets of Mumbles on a busy Saturday night, causing "mayhem."
Andrew Evans, for Paton, said the background to the offending was the defendant's misuse of cocaine, alcohol, and nitrous oxide, which had significantly impacted his physical and mental health. He said Paton's mother and partner were "pro-social figures in his life," and he wanted to learn a trade and lead a productive life.
Recorder Christian Jowett said a police review of a phone and Snapchat Stories led officers to the defendant. With one-quarter discounts for his guilty pleas, Paton was sentenced to 38 months in prison. He will serve up to half the sentence in custody before being released on licence.
