A drug dealer who sent a friend a selfie showing off his new "Turkey teeth" has been ordered to pay back £795 despite benefiting by more than £36,000 from his offences.
Coran Davies sent an image to his friend showing him on the dentist's chair with his new teeth on display. Further messages between the pair had referenced supplying cocaine and cannabis. Little did he know his friend's phone was already being analysed by detectives as part of an ongoing investigation.
Officers used retrospective facial recognition technology on the image and were able to identify Davies.
Search warrant and arrest
South Wales Police said that at an earlier date officers had carried out a search warrant under the Misuse of Drugs Act in Treherbert where they found an ounce of cocaine along with cannabis and other drugs paraphernalia.
Months later, in March 2025, plain-clothed officers spotted 23-year-old Davies driving through Tonypandy, Rhondda, in a black Ford Fiesta and they arrested him. Dale Howell, 25, was a passenger in the car and he was also arrested.
Both men, from Porth, were searched and found to be in possession of cocaine, cannabis, and thousands of pounds in cash. They pleaded guilty to drugs offences and acquiring criminal property, namely money.
Sentencing and confiscation
Davies was jailed for 48 months and Howell was jailed for 36 months.
A Proceeds of Crime Act (POCA) hearing at Merthyr Tydfil Crown Court on Friday heard Davies benefited to the tune of £36,335 as a result of his offending but only has assets worth £795. Howell benefited to the tune of £62,180 as a result of his offending but only has assets worth £9,860.
Recorder Christian Jowett ordered Davies to pay back £795 within three months or serve an additional three weeks imprisonment in default. The judge ordered Howell to pay back £9,860 within three months or serve an additional 12 weeks imprisonment in default.
