A TORFAEN man has been jailed for almost four years for possessing and intending to sell £1,600-worth of cocaine.

In October last year, Alan Jenkins, 22, of Pen-y-mynydd Close, Pontypool, admitted possessing cocaine on May 2, 2012, and later admitted intending to supply it in August this year on the day of trial.

Jeremy Jenkins, prosecuting, told Cardiff Crown Court that in the early hours of May 2, two police officers were on patrol near Abergavenny bus station. The only car in the car park was a BMW 3 series with the driver’s door open and two people, including the defendant, standing outside. Officers were approached by a man named Luke Lewis who was behaving erratically, so they searched the people and the car.

In the car door was a clear ziplock bag containing 7.8g of white powder, which Jenkins claimed was benzocaine, an anaesthetic.

Police searched Jenkins’ home in Pontypool where the defendant’s mother’s partner’s car was parked. Inside, they found five small clear bags of white powder, totalling 33.78g of cocaine mixed with the benzocaine cutting agent, as well as scales.

A specialist drugs officer advised the police this was consistent with quarter-ounce deals, and if sold in 1g deals could achieve £1,694 on the streets.

They also found and analysed mobile phones containing messages such as “Can you get me a 10-bag for tomorrow?”

In interview, Jenkins said the white powder was cocaine for his own use, roughly £800-worth, he estimated.

Andrew Taylor, mitigating, said he was selling cocaine purely to fund his own habit.

Jenkins had since weened himself off cocaine and was remorseful, he said.

Judge Huw Davies QC sentenced him to 45 months in prison, of which he will serve half.