WOMAN LET DRUG DEALERS USE HOUSE
Jailed for 3 years 9 months after police raid found heroin and crack cocaine:
AWOMAN who admitted allowing the terraced house she rented to be used for supplying illegal drugs has been jailed.
Police raided a house in Ambrose Street, Bangor, in March this year and found it was being used for drugs supply.
It emerged Lorraine Roberts had taken out a tenancy on the property and there was evidence she was subletting it.
The 52-year-old, of Hyfrydle Road, Caernarfon, admitted charges of being concerned in the supply of drugs and was jailed for three years and nine months.
She had failed to appear for sentence last month and the judge added another month to her sentence making a total of 46 months.
Co-defendant, Luke Sargent-Ward, 24, of no fixed address, also admitted the charges and was jailed for three years.
Sentencing, Judge Timothy Petts said those who involve themselves in the supply of drugs in North Wales, even those at lesser levels, can expect “heavy sentences”.
Sion ap Mihangel, prosecuting, said police raided the house in Bangor and found a youth in the bathroom trying to flush illegal drugs away. Some wraps of heroin were found in the toilet, the lawyer said.
Ward was found in the living room, where drugs paraphernalia and £360 cash was found, as well as more drugs, including crack cocaine, said to have a street value of £6,800.
Ward told officers he had been sent to Bangor to look after the youth who had a significant drugs debt. His role was to collect items and deliver drugs.
Mr ap Mihangel said police seized mobile phones used by Ward and Roberts and examination of the devices led them to discover Roberts had been involved in the supply of illegal drugs to her partner and others.
Ffion Tomos, for Roberts, said she had pleaded guilty and had only one previous conviction going back many years.
She said Roberts had played only a limited role in the supply of drugs.
Dafydd Roberts, for Ward, said he accepted the sentence would be one of immediate custody but pointed out Ward’s guilty plea and young age, and said he had “learned his lesson”.
The judge ordered the drugs be destroyed and the cash be confiscated.
After the hearing, PC Elwyn Williams, of North Wales Police, said: “The sentence sends out a message that we will pursue those who cause the most serious harm to our communities and, under Operation Rattle, those who supply Class A drugs will be put before the courts to face the consequences of their crimes. There is no hiding place.
“The total street value of the drugs seized was £6,805. Each defendant played a significant role within the gang.
“Lorraine Roberts allowed the use of her flat in Bangor to be used to store heroin and crack cocaine, she was a courier for the gang members and also contacted the upstream drug dealers in Liverpool on numerous occasions.
“Luke Ward acted as the enforcer for the gang, ensuring that the heroin, and crack cocaine was kept safe.”