Thomas Coffey, 52, and Victoria Seymour, 45, have been jailed for operating a drugs line selling crack cocaine. The pair attempted to escape from police during raids on their homes, and both had previously been jailed for drug offences.
Arrests and initial investigation
The investigation began after police linked a drugs line to both defendants. On May 20, officers saw Coffey's vehicle in Stow Hill, Newport, and observed him engaging in what appeared to be a drug deal. He was detained and found with three mobile phones, £370 in cash, three bottles of ammonia, two pots of green vegetable matter, and handwritten notes.
A call made to the drugs line number was answered by a woman who then hung up. When officers attended Seymour's address, she ran erratically into the high street but later returned and was detained. Officers found weighing scales with traces of white powder, white rocks, a lockbox containing £4,000, and a mobile phone.
Further evidence and second raid
Both were released under investigation, but on June 17, a text bomb was discovered on an arrested man's phone, sent by Coffey. The text read "new number" and was suspected to be the announcement of a new drugs line.
On June 30, officers attended Coffey's address. Seymour was apprehended, but Coffey locked the door and attempted to hide in a neighbouring garden before making threats to officers. Prosecutor Andrew Davies said Coffey was found with a bag of class A drugs, including crack cocaine, and £90 in cash. Several items were seized from his property, including white rocks, white powder, a knuckleduster, multiple mobile phones, two types of cannabis, cannisters, gloves, balaclavas, weighing scales, and a Sur-Ron bike.
Sentencing and background
Coffey, of Stow Hill, pleaded guilty to being concerned in the supply of class A drugs, possession with intent to supply class A drugs, and possession of an offensive weapon. The court heard he has 71 previous convictions, including 16 drug offences. Seymour, of Howe Circle, Newport, pleaded guilty to being concerned in the supply of class A drugs. She has five previous convictions, including possession with intent to supply class A drugs and being concerned in the supply of class C drugs.
In mitigation, Kirsten Murphy said Coffey suffers from PTSD after being seriously assaulted while in custody and admitted to the burns unit. She said drugs have been a "significant issue" for the father-of-three, who has experienced homelessness and a chaotic lifestyle, with drugs serving as a "coping mechanism". Zoe Laugharne, for Seymour, said her client has had previous employment in the hospitality industry and that employment remains open to her. The mother-of-two has a history of substance misuse but has been clean since being remanded in custody.
Recorder Richard Booth KC sentenced Coffey to six years and nine months imprisonment and Seymour to three years imprisonment.
