Teenage dealer caught out by Snapchat video advertisement
A TEENAGER drug dealer was caught by the police after posting a video on social media advertising ecstasy for sale.
Morgan Butts was found to have 10 bags of cannabis at home and messages on his phone offering to sell someone an ounce of the Class B drug for £185.
Prosecutor Steven Donoghue told Cardiff Crown Court the offending came to light on November 13, 2018.
The court heard the defendant’s neighbour was shown a Snapchat video by his granddaughter which showed Butts advertising MDMA.
Prosecutors said the neighbour called the police who searched the defendant’s home in Pencoed on December 20, 2018.
Butts was in his bedroom and officers seized grip-seal bags, a metal grinder, and digital scales, which were found to contain traces of cannabis.
The court heard police found a carrier bag containing 10 wraps of cannabis, each weighing just under 1g, and worth around £100 in total.
He was arrested and his phone was examined.
It was found to contain messages involving terms like “molly”, meaning MDMA, and “ammo”, a particular type of cannabis.
The messages related to the period between December 12 and 21, 2018. Officers also seized £69 in cash and the judge made an order for it to be confiscated.
When he was interviewed Butts denied doing anything wrong.
He stated he bought cannabidiol ( CBD) – a product derived from cannabis – from Amazon.
Prosecutors said he had 26 previous offences on his record including affray, assault, and criminal damage.
The court heard he had a previous conviction for possessing cannabis, which was his only previous drug-related conviction.
Butts, 19, who appeared via video link from HM Cardiff Prison, admitted offering to supply MDMA, offering to supply cannabis, and possessing cannabis with intent to supply.
Robert Chudleigh, defending, accepted his client had an “unpleasant” record of criminal offences.
He said: “He is still a very young man.
“He had a difficult childhood.”
The court heard Butts was in foster care and was diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. He also had difficulties with speech and language.
Recorder David Harris sent him to a young offender institution for 11 months and ordered him to pay a £140 victim surcharge.
He made an order for drugs and paraphernalia to be destroyed.