A drug dealer who gave a false name to police after being found with more than £5,000 worth of cocaine caused an innocent man's home to be raided and searched.
Traffic stop leads to discovery
Joshua Attard, 24, was stopped by police while driving a BMW on the A467 in Crumlin, Caerphilly, on May 1. He told officers his name was Lewis Anthony Williams and maintained the lie, resulting in a raid on a home belonging to an innocent person.
During a sentencing hearing at Cardiff Crown Court on Wednesday, it was revealed that Attard's BMW was searched and officers found 54g of cocaine worth £5,400 and 16g of cannabis worth £160.
Drug line uncovered
Prosecutor Jac Brown stated that Attard's iPhone was seized and examined, revealing he was running an extensive drugs line between April 27 and May 2. He sent messages to customers offering to supply cocaine and cannabis, and "boasted" he was due to receive a large amount of MDMA for sale.
Attard, of Boswell Close, Llanrumney, Cardiff, pleaded guilty to possession with intent to supply Class A and B drugs, being concerned in the supply of Class A and B drugs, and perverting the course of justice.
Defendant's background
The court heard that Attard was of previous good character. In mitigation, Tabitha Walker said her client had suffered "severe adversity" in his childhood but had built a life as a ground worker and engineer before becoming addicted to cocaine and dealing to finance his habit.
Ms Walker described the defendant as "kind, caring, and willing to help others" and said he had got himself "involved in a stupid situation" and tried to get out.
Sentencing
Recorder Greg Bull KC said: "Cocaine has been designated a Class A drug by Parliament which has said it is dangerous. It destroys people's lives and it's highly addictive so people commit offences to obtain it... I don't think you realise how serious these offences are.... The only reason put forward by you for committing these offences was because you were hard up."
Attard was sentenced to a total of three years imprisonment.
