A drug courier was found in possession of up to £600,000 worth of cocaine in his car after he suffered an epileptic seizure behind the wheel. Robert Jones, 37, agreed to take possession of the drugs in order to pay off a £3,000 debt he racked up with dealers.
Discovery After Seizure
Jones was driving on August 24 when he became unwell and suffered a seizure. Police and paramedics were called to the scene and discovered four brick-like packages in the passenger footwell.
A sentencing hearing at Merthyr Tydfil Crown Court on Monday heard the packages were found to contain white powder. The substance was examined and tested positive for cocaine.
Drug Valuation and Guilty Plea
The court heard these were considered wholesale quantities, valued between £135,000 and £157,000. If broken up and sold as street deals, the cocaine would reach a value of up to £600,000.
The defendant was arrested and told officers there would be no drug-related messages on his phone, which proved to be the case. Jones, of Agincourt Street, Newport, later pleaded guilty to possession with intent to supply a class A drug.
Background and Sentence
The court heard he has previous convictions for drug driving. In mitigation, Clare Wilks said her client fell under financial pressure because of a debt he accrued with his drug debt, and he was forced to work off his debt.
The defendant was employed as a welder but lost his employment and after suffering with seizures he was diagnosed with epilepsy. He fell into heavy alcohol and cocaine use and racked up a £3,000 debt, which required him to work as a courier by his dealer.
Judge Richard Kember sentenced Jones to four years and three months imprisonment.
