Concert drug dealer’s Taff panic plunge
ADRUG dealer trying to sell cocaine to music fans at Coldplay’s concert at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff jumped into the river Taff to evade police.
But Daniel Ainsworth, 22, was left shivering and vomiting after being pulled from the water by police and the ambulance crew on July 12.
Ainsworth – who had travelled from Liverpool to sell drugs to people attending the massive concert – became abusive when officers tried to question him, and he was searched.
They found a yellow plastic Kinder egg container which was found to contain 10 small wraps of cocaine, while he also had £500 on his person.
Police later attended his address in Davidson Road, Liverpool, where they found a small amount of cannabis resin, tick lists, three mobile phones, scales and cash in excess of £500.
The total amount of drugs recovered weighed 3.57 grams and had been split into small street deals of cocaine, with a value of £235 to £360.
Of the mobile phones seized only one contained evidence of drug dealing, with two texts dating back to 2013 found.
Speaking at a sentencing hearing at Cardiff Crown Court on Thursday, prosecutor Gareth James said Ainsworth was a street dealer and had been sent to the Cardiff area due to the large crowds attending the Coldplay concert.
He later pleaded guilty to possession with intent to supply a Class A drug.
Defence barrister Rosamund Rutter said her client, who appeared via video link from HMP Berwyn, had pleaded guilty at the first opportunity. She said his motivation was purely to make profit but she added he had not made a significant amount through his dealing.
Since he had been in prison, she said, Ainsworth was attempting to turn his life around and gain qualifications.
Sentencing, Judge Philip Harris-Jenkins said: “You have previous convictions in respect of similar possession offences as well as dealing with drugs of Class A and Class B.
“Your previous history makes this a serious aggravating feature in this case and there’s little by way of mitigation.”
Ainsworth was jailed for four years and eight months.