TWO drug dealers were caught after their car overturned following a police chase and the dazed traffickers tried to get out of their vehicle with bags of cocaine.
Keenan Sawyers, aged 21, of Moore Crescent, and Daniel Matthews, aged 26, of Beaufort Road, St Julians, both Newport, were jailed at Cardiff Crown Court.
Prosecutor Tony Trigg said: “Their vehicle drew the attention of the police in Newport when it was being driven slightly over the speed limit and they indicated for it to stop.
“The car was driven off at speed and it crashed and turned over. Fortunately, no one else was injured.
“They were arrested when they were trying to get out of the overturned vehicle. Both of them gave ‘no comment’ interviews but when they were detained, they were both found in possession of drugs.
Mr Trigg said Matthews had a black bag across his chest which contained 21 wraps of crack cocaine inside Kinder Egg containers with a street value of between £350 and £500.
He told Judge Michael Fitton QC: “Sawyers had an Adidas bag hanging around his neck with cocaine inside worth £240 to £400 and a large quantity of cash.
“Three mobile phones were also found which contained a large number of contacts and drug-related text messages.”
The prosecutor said both defendants’ homes were searched and police recovered more drugs, seal bags and weighing scales.
Both pleaded guilty to the possession of class A drugs with intent to supply.
Mr Trigg said that Sawyers had three previous convictions for dealing class B drugs for which he had served custodial terms.
Matthews had eight previous convictions for 14 offences but none for trafficking.
Gareth Williams, representing Sawyers, said he was the “official carer” for his mother who was in court to support her son.
His barrister added: “He was sensible enough to enter a guilty plea.”
Harry Baker, for Matthews, said: “He has pleaded guilty. He is still a young man and this was not a huge amount of drugs.”
Judge Fitton told Sawyers and Matthews: “You entered into a cynical enterprise for financial gain as street dealers.”
He jailed them both for 40 months each.
The pair are also subject to a Proceeds of Crime Act application.
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