A DEALER supplying cocaine, ecstasy, cannabis and Valium claimed to police that nearly £800 of drug money seized was a Christmas present from his grandmother.

James Preece had a new year shock when officers smashed down his front door and arrested him at the Newport home he shared with his mother.

Prosecutor Claire Pickthall said: “On January 2, the defendant was in the living room and became obstructive at first and had to be taken to the ground.

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“After a short while he calmed down and, after a search of his bedroom, police found scales with traces of white powder.”

Newport Crown Court heard how the scales contained remnants of cocaine, ecstasy and cannabis.

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Also discovered was an 8.5g bag of cannabis with a street value of £80, two mobile phones and £790 cash.

Miss Pickthall said: “The defendant said the money was left over from £1,000 his grandmother had given him as a Christmas present.”

Analysis of Preece’s mobile phones revealed his history of drug trafficking.

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It included videos of a large quantity of cash, estimated to be around £4,500, on a bed, a big bag of cocaine and someone, believed to be the defendant, snorting the class A drug.

He also sent out text bombs advertising his goods to customers.

Preece, 29, of Alexandra Road, Pill, Newport, admitted being concerned in the supply of cocaine, ecstasy, cannabis and Valium.

The offences were committed between June 26, 2020 and January 2, 2021.

The defendant had 37 previous convictions for 53 offences but none for any drug matters.

He was jailed for five years in 2014 for wounding with intent.

Gareth Williams, representing Preece, asked for his client to be given maximum credit for his early guilty pleas.

His barrister said: “He’s dreading custody, but that’s his fault.”

The judge, Recorder Duncan Bould, told Preece: “For seven months, you were running a small, one-man organisation supplying class A, B and C drugs to a modest amount of individuals.

“You were not dealing one kind of drug but four kinds of drugs which no doubt made selling more lucrative and easier.”

Recorder Bould added: “This will come as a blow and a shock to your parents with whom you have close contact.

“You need to seek to avoid these kind of drugs in the future.”

Preece was jailed for 30 months and ordered to pay a £190 victim surcharge following his release from prison.

The court ordered that the £790 be handed over to Gwent Police to help in the fight against drug crime.

The defendant’s cannabis, scales and phones will be destroyed.