TWO men were jailed for two and half years after admitting to conspiring to supply cannabis.

Aaron Slade, 20, of Usk Court, Cwmbran, and 22-year-old Christopher Stephens of Ty Gwyn, Gwehelog, Usk, appeared at Newport crown court for sentencing today.

Daniel Jones, 20, of Tolpath, Coed Eva, Cwmbran, also appeared charged with possession of cannabis.

The court heard police were on patrol in the Thornhill area of Cwmbran on January 12 when they stopped a Ford Escort van being driven by Stephens with Jones as a passenger.

The officers immediately smelled cannabis and searched the van and found Jones in possession of one bag containing 0.33 grams and a further four bags of between 26.3 grams and 27 grams of skunk cannabis with a total value of around £520.

Jones immediately said the cannabis belonged to Stephens who agreed. The officers then searched Slade’s home and found one bag of 21.9 grams of cannabis with scales and a further eight bags of between 25.8 grams and 27.1 grams, a total value of around £1,160.

A search of the rest of the house recovered a drawstring bag containing 480 grams of cannabis with Stephens’ fingerprints on it.

Stephens also pleaded guilty to possessing cannabis with intent to supply.

On January 28 police were following a car on Llantarnam Road, Cwmbran, when the car pulled over and Stephens ran from the vehicle throwing a black holdall into a nearby garden containing a total of 420 grams of skunk cannabis with a street value of between £2,500 and £3,500.

Representing Stephens, Robert Buckland said Stephens made an error of judgement in putting a debt over and above everything else.

Slade’s counsel, Harry Baker asked for as short a sentence as possible as Slade was already serving a 27-month sentence for other offences.

Claire Pickthorn, on behalf of Jones, said it was a matter of simple possession and proceedings should probably have never got to this stage.

Slade was ordered to serve two and a half years in detention.

Judge Denyer said he sentenced Stephens with regret but he had brought it on himself.

Stephens was given two and a half years for conspiracy to supply plus 12 months for possession to run concurrently.

Jones was given a 12-month conditional discharge.