Dealer faces prison birth
A PREGNANT woman is facing the prospect of giving birth in prison after she was locked up for supplying heroin to an undercover police officer.
Joanne Jones was jailed for 32 months.
A PREGNANT woman is facing the prospect of giving birth in prison after she was locked up for supplying heroin to an undercover police officer.
Joanne Jones was jailed for 32 months after she admitted two counts of supplying the Class A drug and will serve half behind bars before she can be released on licence.
Sentencing her at Cardiff Crown Court, Judge Jeremy Jenkins said: “I bear in mind the fact you are pregnant.”
The defendant was caught as part of Operation Avalanche, targeting the supply of Class A in Bridgend and the Vale of Glamorgan.
Jeffrey Jones, prosecuting, said she first met the undercover officer through another person at a pub in Bridgend in midJuly.
The court heard they had a drink together and Jones talked about trying to “score” drugs.
Mr Jones said they subsequently exchanged messages, adding: “It was clear from the texts the defendant was involved in the heroin scene.”
They met up on July 18 and the undercover officer witnessed Jones sell a wrap of heroin to a man in a pub.
Prosecutors said the officer asked to buy a wrap and Jones sold it to her for £10. It was later analysed and found to contain 0.227g of heroin at 23% purity.
Jones was arrested on November 26 and answered “no comment” to all of the questions put to her in interview.
The court heard she was cautioned in February 2015 for possessing drugs.
Mr Jones said she was jailed for two years in May 2012 for arson being reckless as to whether life was endangered and possess- ing Class A drugs. Jones, 29, from Merlin Crescent in Cefn Glas, Bridgend, admitted two counts of supplying heroin. She appeared over video link from HM Eastwood Park Prison for the hearing.
Giles Hayes, defending, said she started using “hard drugs” following family problems and was previously jailed after trying to kill herself by setting fire to her flat.
He said she came out of prison in 2013 “at a very low ebb” and has struggled to adapt since leaving prison.
The court heard she has “long-standing” problems with drug addiction and tried to seek help from an organisation in Bridgend.
Mr Hayes said his client took responsibility for her actions, but wanted to point out she was not dealing on the streets on a daily basis.
She said she dealt to the undercover police officer because she “felt sorry for her”, thinking she was an addict in the same situation as herself.
Mr Hayes pointed out the undercover officer asked her for the heroin – there was no suggestion the defendant offered it. He argued she played a limited role.
Jones, who is currently on methadone in prison, cried as she was sentenced.
Judge Jenkins jailed her for 32 months and made an order for the drugs to be destroyed.
Detective Inspector Dean Taylor, from South Wales Police, said she was the fourth person to be sentenced following Operation Avalanche.
He added: “We will not tolerate dealers operating within our area and we are committed to disrupting and dismantling these organisations.
“We know the community have been concerned about drug-dealing in Bridgend town centre and we hope this operation highlights our tough approach to tackling these issues.”
■ Anyone with information about drug supply in Bridgend or the Vale of Glamorgan is asked to call police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.