A JUDGE told a Powys man he had been “peddling in a very dark trade” as he jailed him for more than two years this week for supplying cocaine.

Jay Ashby, 28, was imprisoned for 28 months by Judge Huw Rees at Swansea Crown Court on Thursday, June 13, for dealing the Class A drug in south Powys.

Ashby was arrested at his Pen y Bryn home in Ystradgynlais on the evening of May 10 this year, where officers found over £1,000 worth of cocaine. They also discovered £1,000 in cash in his wallet and messages on his phone indicating he was dealing to customers.

Ashby entered guilty pleas to being concerned in the supply of cocaine, possessing cocaine with intent to supply and possessing criminal property between March and May this year at a previous hearing at Merthyr Tydfil Magistrates’ Court.

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Prosecutor Harry Dickens said Ashby directed officers towards a drawer in a coffee table containing drugs when they called at his home.

“Inside, officers found 10.5 grams of cocaine, as well as weighing scales. He was arrested,” said Mr Dickens.

“He said the drugs were for personal use. £1,000 in cash was found in his wallet. Messages on his phone indicated he was involved in drug dealing.”

Mr Dickens said the estimated value of the cocaine was £525-600 at street level, but between £1,050-£1,310 if sold at higher purity.

He said Ashby had 13 previous convictions, seven related to drugs, but no previous involvement in supplying drugs.

Harriet Ealden, defending Ashby, described her client as a “classic street dealer”.

“He has had an issue with drugs for a long period of time, which has caused almost all of his antecedent history,” she said.

“The only reason he got involved was to fund his own habit. He was very candid in interview and said he knew the time would come when he would be caught. He is very, very remorseful.

“He is, for the first time in a long time, completely abstinent from drugs and alcohol, he has felt the best he has in a long time. He has told me he wants to remain abstinent for the rest of his life.”

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There was an argument during the hearing that Ashby had a lesser role in the supply chain, but Judge Rees said: “He was dealing between March and May this year, he was making £300 on every half ounce he sold. Everybody’s trying to water this down.”

He told Ashby: “There is hope in you, that’s obvious from the pre-sentence report.

“You have always been employed in the construction industry, as a plasterer.

“This was a big mistake in your life. You were peddling in a very dark trade. That’s the lecture over, it’s up to you now to deal with it.”

He jailed Ashby for 28 months in total for the supply offences. Another three months was added, concurrently, for possessing criminal property.

Judge Rees ordered the drugs to be destroyed and the money to be forfeited.