Matthew Ahern, 47, was sentenced to 42 months in prison after being caught selling crack cocaine in a supermarket car park in Newport. He had been out of prison on licence for a previous drug supply conviction at the time of his arrest.
Arrest at Tesco car park
Cardiff Crown Court heard that at 12.20pm on July 24 this year, police officers drove into the car park of the Tesco supermarket in Spytty Road, Newport, and saw what they believed to be a drug exchange taking place. As officers approached, Ahern tried to cycle away but was chased and caught after abandoning the bike and running off.
A search of the defendant turned up £60 cash, a Nokia phone, used and capped syringes, a small number of crack cocaine rocks in his sock, and a Kinder Egg capsule containing 110 individual deals of crack.
Previous convictions and sentencing
Ahern, of Moorland Park, Newport, had previously pleaded guilty to possession of crack cocaine with intent to supply. He has 24 previous convictions for 50 offences, including driving matters, dishonesty, harassment, and cultivating cannabis. In December 2024 he was sentenced to 40 months in prison for conspiracy to supply heroin and crack.
Following his arrest, Ahern was recalled to prison to serve the 2024 sentence and is not due to be released until August 2027. The court heard that the phone seized by police has not yet been fully downloaded and analysed.
Court proceedings
Tabitha Walker, for Ahern, said her instructions were that Ahern returned to drug use after his release on licence for the 2024 matters and was being paid for his dealing activities with free drugs. She said Ahern wished to apologise to the court and was working with drug agencies, determined to live drug-free upon his ultimate release.
Recorder Neil Owen-Casey said Ahern had been selling directly to users while on licence for a previous drug supply conviction. With a one-third discount for his guilty plea, Ahern was sentenced to 42 months in prison. The sentence will take effect immediately, and he will serve up to half the sentence in custody before being released on licence to serve the remainder in the community.
