Michael Samual / © South Wales Police
A man has been jailed for possession with the intent to supply cannabis – some of which was hidden in his underwear.
Michael Samuel, 28, of Newport Road in Caldicot – who was also in possession of cocaine – was sentenced to four years and eight months by Judge Tracey Lloyd-Clarke at Cardiff Crown Court.
He was pulled over by police on Cardiff Road in Barry last July after he was seen to be not wearing a seatbelt.
Officers detected a strong smell of cannabis and searched him and his passenger, co-defendant Antonia Barker.
Whilst nothing was found on either person, officers found a satchel under the driver’s seat containing £665 in cash, three bags of cocaine, empty “deal bags”, digital weighing scales and other items – he said “it isn’t mine” and that the cash was savings.
Travelling to Bridgend Police Station, officers could still smell a strong scent of cannabis coming from Samuel. He told them it was “in his pants”, before he was strip-searched and was found to be carrying cannabis and six bags of cocaine.
The court heard how he was a plumber’s mate, helps his brother on the weekend and also helps his sister deliver fast food.
His defence barrister, Gareth Morley, said: “The amounts involved are not huge, and he’s kept out of trouble.”
Before passing her sentence on Samuel, the judge said: “The high purity of the cocaine was an aggravating factor.”
Barker, 25, of Warwick Way in Barry was later arrested, telling officers: “I knew you were coming.” Her phone – which was registered to Samuel – was seized and was found to contain messages related to drug dealing. She denied knowledge of the messages and being involved.
Her defence barrister, Christopher Rees, said her involvement “does not cross custody threshold” as she had a “lesser role”.
She was handed a 24-month community order, with 15 days of rehabilitation activity, and ordered to complete 100 hours of unpaid work, after eventually admitting she was concerned in the supply of a Class B drug.
In total, the cannabis was valued around £40 and the cocaine – which has a purity of around 83% - was valued around £900.
The judge ordered the drugs and associated items to be destroyed.