Shrewsbury cocaine dealer gets three years in jail
A drug dealer from Shrewsbury who planned to sell at least 40 bags of cocaine has been jailed for three years.
Mark Williams, 24, of Abbots Road, previously admitted two counts of possessing a class A drug with intent to supply at Shrewsbury Magistrates Court.
He was yesterday sentenced to three years in prison on each count, to run concurrently, by a crown court judge.
Judge Robin Onions, sitting at Shrewsbury Crown Court, also ordered that the drugs be destroyed and Williams forfeit £210 believed to be from the sale of drugs.
Judge Onions said: "You cannot deal in class A drugs and expect a community order."
He pointed to Williams' previous convictions, which included possession of drugs and breach of community sentences, and added: "Not only do you not learn from your court experiences, when you are given a chance you do not take it.
"You were motivated by financial gain with no regard to the law or the effect on the users."
Mr Robert Edwards, prosecuting, said Williams had been spotted at 3am riding a bicycle along Monkmoor Road in Shrewsbury, on the wrong side of the road and without lights.
He ran off when police tried to stop him but was caught in the Abbey churchyard.
When police searched him they found 39 bags of a white powder and £210 cash.
When they later searched his home, a white lump was found in a bedroom drawer. Both the powder and lump were confirmed to be cocaine, amounting to 13.8 grammes in total, the court heard.
When interviewed, Williams admitted he had already sold one bag of cocaine for £40 and had intended to sell the rest 'to make some money on the sly'.
Mr Mike Sherwood-Smith, defending, said: "This is a naive young man who stupidly thought he could make a little money but without thought to the significant risk to his long term liberty."
He said that the month Williams had already spent in jail after breaking a court order had been a wake-up call and he asked the judge if he would impose a community sentence instead of prison.
