A mother and son from Newport have been sentenced at Merthyr Tydfil Crown Court after police uncovered drugs with a street value of up to £25,450 at their home. The raid took place at 5.15am on May 28, 2025, at the property shared by Melissa McGuire, her son Malachy Lothian, and her two younger children.
Drugs and cash seized
During the search, officers found 519 grams of cannabis (worth up to £4,500), 182.2 grams of diamorphine (worth up to £18,220), 23 grams of crack cocaine (worth £2,300), and seven grams of cocaine (valued between £230 and £400). The total street value of all drugs was estimated between £25,140 and £25,450. Additionally, scales, snap bags, cling film, and £5,827 in cash were seized.
Lothian told officers at the scene that everything belonged to him and was arrested. Analysis of his phone revealed evidence of supplying class A and class B drugs at street level, including messages directing his mother to put prepared street deals into a beanie hat for collection.
Court appearances
McGuire, 42, of Middlemore Road, Birmingham, admitted possession with intent to supply cocaine. She pleaded guilty on the basis that she acted under Lothian's direction on the occasions he texted her and not otherwise. Lothian, 20, of Spencer Way, Newport, pleaded guilty to possession with intent to supply diamorphine, crack cocaine, cocaine, cannabis, and being in possession of criminal property.
Emma Harris, representing Lothian, said he had no previous convictions and had been in custody since May of last year. She added: “He expresses remorse and realises the difficulty of his behaviour on him and his mother. He'd been smoking cannabis since 11 and became addicted. He built up a drug debt and turned to supplying drugs to pay debts. Once he fell into the supply of drugs he found it a tremendously difficult cycle to break. He is now free of drugs and is aged 20. It is not too late for him to make changes to his life upon his release.”
Alice Sykes, representing McGuire, said she had moved out of the area and added: “She has expressed remorse and a genuine appreciation for the seriousness of her circumstances.”
Sentences imposed
Her Honour Judge Tracey Lloyd-Clarke sentenced McGuire to two years and three months in prison, suspended for three years, with an electronically-monitored curfew from 8pm to 6am for nine months and 15 rehabilitation activity requirement days. Lothian was sentenced to three years and four months in a young offenders’ institution. A forfeiture and destruction order was made for the drugs.
After the sentencing, Gwent Police neighbourhood inspector Roland Giles said: “Drugs fill our communities with misery, suffering and fear and people like Lothian prey upon the vulnerable in our society. We hope today’s outcome shows that help from our communities really does make a huge difference, so please continue to report your concerns and information to us. Your information allows us to coordinate our approach to combat the use and distribution of illegal drugs, enabling us to bring people like Lothian to justice and increase the public's trust and confidence in us. We will continue to take action to protect vulnerable people and their families from the devastation that illegal drugs and associated crime can cause.”
