DRUG DEALER PREYED ON TEENAGERS
ATEENAGE girl ended up in hospital after taking “Donkey Kong” pills. The girl – who has not been named – was found in woodland on April 20 after taking both “Donkey Kong” and “Versace” tablets.
The girl had to be treated in hospital and made a full recovery.
The case involving the teenage girl was not related to another which involved a death.
Five days after she was found by police, the girl’s carer saw messages advertising drugs coming through on her phone and contacted police.
On the same day, officers went to Phyllis Street in Barry after receiving information that Michael Iannucci had supplied a child in the Vale of Glamorgan area with 16 Ecstasy tablets.
Michael Iannucci’s home was searched and officers found drugs worth between £7,000 and £14,000 hidden in shoeboxes under his bed.
There were 1,403 MDMA tablets – including Donkey Kong, Versace and Mojo Jojo – with an estimated street value between £7,000 and £14,000.
At his sentencing hearing, Cardiff Crown Court heard the defendant
had sent out messages like: “Donkey Kong £5. Three for a tenner. Best deals around.”
Police also seized £1,275 in cash, mobile phones, scales and packaging.
Prosecutor Nigel Fryer said: “When police went into his bedroom, they found shoeboxes full of pills. A lot of material was recovered, pointing to a sophisticated, thriving drug-dealing business.”
The defendant was arrested and made no reply to the caution. He did not answer any questions, apart from saying the cash was savings from his job at a Chinese takeaway.
Prosecutors said the phones were analysed and found to contain messages like: “I need two donkeys.” And: “Last day of this deal so take advantage.”
Mr Fryer added: “It is quite clear he was dealing far and wide.”
The court heard the other set of offences happened at the Borough Arms pub in High Street, Barry, just before 10pm on December 16 last year.
Iannucci was detained after damaging a wall and searched by the police, who found a stun gun disguised as a torch in his jacket pocket, plus a small amount of cocaine.
Asked by a police officer what the device was, the defendant replied: “What do you think it is?”
He was arrested.
CCTV showed him with another man in an alleyway and the other man was heard to say: “Oh my God, it’s the f***ing police, bruv. I’ve got a Taser on me. You go down there and hide it.”
The defendant would not name the other man, who has still not been identified. He initially said he carried a stun gun “for protection” in Barry, as he felt threatened. He later told officers he had found it at a supermarket that day and put it in his bag because he thought it was a torch.
Prosecutors said the black stun gun, disguised as a torch, was 17cm long and marked “police”, also containing Chinese writing.
The defendant accepted he had been taking cocaine with friends and stated someone must have slipped some into his pocket.
Mr Fryer said Iannucci received a youth caution in January 2017 for possessing cannabis, but did not have any previous convictions.
Iannucci, 20, admitted possessing MDMA with intent to supply and two counts of offering to supply MDMA, as well as criminal damage, possessing a disguised firearm and possessing cocaine.
Susan Ferrier, defending, said her client was supported by his family in court and drew the judge’s attention to “glowing” references.
She said the defendant had not received counselling since his best friend was killed in a road collision and his group of friends fell apart.
Ms Ferrier added: “He fell into bad company.”
Iannucci was sent to a young offender institution for five years and four months. He must serve half of that in custody before he can be released on licence.
The judge made an order for the drugs and paraphernalia to be destroyed.