Zubair Mehdi, a 27-year-old aspiring personal trainer from Swansea, has been sentenced to six years in prison after being caught dealing Class A drugs for the fourth time in less than a decade. The defendant was arrested while on licence from a previous sentence, and a struggle with police required five officers to restrain him.
Arrest and Discovery
On May 27, 2026, police in Swansea spotted Mehdi driving a Renault Clio despite being a disqualified driver. Officers blocked the vehicle on Heathfield. When approached, Mehdi became verbally disruptive and physically aggressive, pushing and fighting with officers. Five constables subdued him, during which an officer's Airwave radio was damaged.
A search of Mehdi and his car revealed six bags of cocaine in various deal sizes, £310 in cash, two iPhones, and a Nokia burner phone. A subsequent search of his home uncovered a 149g block of cocaine and additional powder and rock forms totaling 25g. The total value of the seized cocaine was estimated between £5,000 and £5,500.
Previous Convictions
Mehdi has eight previous convictions for 18 offences, including four for Class A drug dealing. In 2017, he received a four-year sentence as part of Operation Blue Thames, a major Swansea police operation that led to 46 people being jailed for over 180 years. He was sentenced to 54 months in 2021 and 67 months in 2024 for similar offences. At the time of his latest arrest, he was on licence and was recalled to prison to serve the remainder of his 2024 sentence, not due for release until January 2030.
Court Proceedings
Mehdi pleaded guilty to possession of cocaine with intent to supply, driving while disqualified, driving with no insurance, damaging property, and resisting or obstructing a constable. Prosecutor Megan Harriman detailed the events. Messages on his phone related to drug supply and cash movements of tens of thousands of pounds.
Defence barrister Daniel Jones told Swansea Crown Court that Mehdi's partner is in early pregnancy. He said Mehdi realizes he will miss the birth of his first child and its early years. Jones stated, 'He wants to be the father to his child that his father wasn't to him,' noting Mehdi grew up without a father figure. The barrister added that Mehdi was close to qualifying as a personal trainer and wishes to pursue that career upon release.
Sentencing
Recorder Robin Rouch remarked that at 27, Mehdi had been convicted of Class A drug supply for the fourth time, fully aware of the misery such drugs cause. With a one-quarter discount for his guilty pleas, Mehdi received a six-year sentence. He will serve 40% in custody before being released on licence to serve the remainder in the community.
