Delivery driver used work van to transport heroin
A DELIVERY driver used the same van he used for his job to transport heroin between west Wales and Newport, before being caught by police as he attempted to do it on a seventh occasion.
Thomas James was stopped by police at Pont Abraham petrol station in Cross Hands on April 4. He was found to be carrying more than £17,000 worth of the drug together with £140. Police sought to detain him but he physically resisted and caused injury to a police officer.
He refused to provide a pin number for his phone, but a police investigation using automatic number plate recognition discovered he had carried out six separate trips to deal the drugs.
He later told officers that it was smaller quantities on those occasions, something Judge Paul Thomas said that put together would have created a substantial quantity.
James, 35, who was a heroin user at the time and employed by the Hermes delivery service, decided to embark on what was described at Swansea Crown Court as a “commercial arrangement” to transport money to Newport and bring drugs back after being approached by a third party.
He would be paid £200 and half an ounce of heroin for the service. He had no involvement in the onward dealing of the drugs.
When he was stopped by PC Grant Limebear, he appeared nervous and tried to walk around the rear of his Ford van before he used force to attempt to get away after he wriggled out of his jacket, causing the officer to fall and suffer injuries. Other officers arrived and James was arrested.
James, of Heddfan, Llanddarog, Carmarthen, appeared at Swansea Crown Court for sentencing having pleaded guilty to possession of a quantity of diamorphine with intent to supply, being concerned in the supplying of diamorphine and assaulting PC Limebear in the execution of his duties.
Sentencing him to three years and six months in prison, Judge Thomas said: “You physically resisted and caused injury to the officer’s elbow and finger. I have no doubt that you acted in panic, but that is no excuse.
“Heroin brings untold misery to users and their families. You come from an affluent, supportive family and you went into this enterprise with your eyes wide open.”