Mark Curle, 26, was found with messages on his phone in which he spoke about supplying cocaine with an upstream drug dealer.
A drug dealer told a judge he did not want to delay his sentencing hearing for a probation report despite the fact he would be sent straight to prison. Messages on his phone revealed he was involved in supplying cocaine.
Mark Curle, 26, was visited by police at his home in Newport on June 13 last year so they could execute a drugs warrant. Officers seized three snap bags of cannabis and a black iPhone which was examined by the authorities.
A sentencing hearing at Cardiff Crown Court on Thursday heard messages were discovered on the phone which revealed he was in contact with an upstream drug dealer. Don’t miss a court report by signing up to our crime newsletter here
An email address belonging to the defendant was found to be involved in the supply of cocaine.
Prosecutor Sarah Grace said Curle told the upstream supplier he would be available to collect cocaine and could wash it to make crack cocaine.
He also sent messages to customers saying he was “active”, meaning he was available to supply drugs.
The defendant was arrested and largely answered no comment to questions in his interview, but responded: “I am not a drug dealer, I am a drug user.”
Curle, of Clarence Place, pleaded guilty to being concerned in the supply of class A drugs.
The court heard he has a previous conviction for possession of class B drugs.
In mitigation, Alice Sykes said her client performed a limited function through direction and he became involved out of naivety.
When asked by Recorder Robin Rouch if he wished for the sentencing hearing to be adjourned so he could have an appointment with probation to consider non-custodial options, the defendant said: “No.”
Curle was sentenced to a total of two years and three months imprisonment.
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