Police found £6k worth of cocaine in woman’s fridge
POLICE found more than £6,000 worth of cocaine in a woman’s fridge after she allowed her house to be used by her dealer boyfriend to store drugs. Also found was almost £2,000 worth of amphetamine.
The home of grandmother Rachel Williams, 38, in Maesteg, Bridgend, was visited by officers on November 16 last year and she told them there was “something in a bag” in the fridge. When the fridge was searched, a blue bag containing three clear bags was found.
A sentencing hearing at Merthyr Tydfil Crown Court last Thursday heard the bag was found to contain cocaine, and another bag contained three wraps of cocaine. The total amount of cocaine found weighed 56g and was valued between £3,200 and £6,400.
Prosecutor Nik Strobl said another shopping bag was discovered and found to contain 178g of amphetamine worth between £890 and £1,780. A bum bag containing £1,600 in cash was also found.
While police were still at the house, dealer Gareth Boast, 43, arrived and tried to escape but was detained and arrested, as was Williams.
Boast told an officer he needed a prison bag, saying “I’m not getting out after this.” Williams provided the PIN to her phone but Boast refused.
During her police interview, Williams said she had no involvement in supplying drugs. She accepted knowing about the bags in the fridge, but not about the contents. Boast gave a no comment interview.
Boast, of Margam Street, later pleaded guilty to possession with intent to supply controlled drugs of Class A and B, and the court heard he had previous convictions for the supply, possession and production of drugs.
Williams, also of Margam Street, pleaded guilty to permitting the use of premises for the supply of controlled drugs of Class A and B, and the court heard she had previous convictions for offering to supply Class B and C, possession of drugs, and for permitting production of cannabis on premises.
Defence barrister Tom Roberts, for Boast, said his client had been a “longstanding” heavy user of cocaine and amphetamine and was using them to self-medicate for mental health issues. He said the defendant had little financial advantage from dealing, the proceeds of which went to funding his own habit.
Kevin Seal, for Williams, said his client was resolved to make changes to her life in order to assist herself, her family, her teenage daughter and grandson. He said the defendant was “willing to turn a blind eye” to her partner’s dealing.
Sentencing, Judge Neil Bidder KC said: “Boast, you did expect to make significant financial gain from the onward supply of those drugs... Williams, you also expected to share in significant financial gain from the drugs.”
Boast was sentenced to a total of three years’ imprisonment and Williams was sentenced to a total of 20 months’ imprisonment.