Cocaine’s street value was £35k

A DRUG dealer found with cocaine which had a potential street value of more than £35,000 told officers he was holding it for someone else.

Police raided the home of James Witchell in Tonyrefail on February 2 this year where they found significant amounts of cocaine and cannabis, Cardiff Crown Court heard.

Witchell, 21, was sentenced yesterday after pleading guilty to possession of class A and class B drugs with intent to supply.

Prosecutor Jason Howells told the court: “The defendant was present at the time of the raids and told officers where they would find the substances in an upstairs bedroom and downstairs living room.

“Upstairs, officers found a plastic tub containing a white substance and a silver spoon.

“This was later found to be 73.6g of cocaine with a purity of 86%.

“Downstairs they found 10 bags of cannabis containing just under a gram each, inside a blue Roses tin, as well as £130 in cash.”

The amount of cocaine was valued at £7,360 but had a potential street value of £35,418, while the cocaine was worth between £80 and £100.

In his police interview, Witchell told officers he was holding the cocaine for another person, who he would not name, and the cannabis was for his own use and to sell to a small group of friends.

However, due to his guilty plea, this was not accepted by the court.

Defending, Peter Donaldson said his client was not the “main player” when it came to the drugs operation and had got himself “caught up” in the offending due to a cannabis addiction.

He added that Witchell was remorseful and described him as a man “terrified” of the prospect of gong to custody.

Sentencing, Judger Stephen Hopkins QC said: “You are 21 years of age and you have had no previous convictions involving drugs.”

He added: “This is a case where you have told the police interview you were simply a custodian and were only supplying a close circle of friends.

“In my experience of these cases, it seems everyone is supplying to a close circle of friends.”

Witchell, of Heol Pentwyn, Tonyrefail, was sentenced to a total of three years and seven months in prison.