Drugs courier is jailed for four years

Christopher Shaw, 45, had been trying to pay a debt he owed for drugs which had been seized when he was jailed for eight years and four months for conspiracy to supply in 2015, it was claimed.

He was released from jail on licence in November 2019 but when his car was stopped in Chirk just before last Christmas nine ounces of cocaine with a street value of between £7,200 and £10,800 were found.

Sion ap Mihangel, prosecuting at Mold Crown Court, said Shaw's home in Quarry Street, Liverpool, was then searched and cannabis plants were recovered with a street value of between £4,480 and £13,440. When his VW Golf had been stopped by police on the A483 at 9pm on 19 December a mobile phone and dealer’s list had also been discovered, and Shaw stated he had been heading to Welshpool.

He pleaded guilty to possessing cocaine with intent to supply and to producing cannabis.

Andrew Alty, defending, said Shaw maintained he had incurred a large debt and had been prevailed upon to carry the drugs.

“Those people who become involved in drugs dealing when they’re arrested and sentenced often lose large amounts of drugs. As a consequence of that he incurred a large debt to those from whom he had sourced the drugs.”

He was growing the cannabis for the same reason, said Mr Alty.

Judge Rhys Rowlands said Shaw's car had been stopped by good police work. Recalling that later in 2015 Shaw had also received a separate two-year consecutive sentence for producing cannabis it was clear he was embedded in the drugs culture.

“You were transporting the cocaine down to mid Wales as a courier so it could be sold by others,” said the judge.

“You were playing an important role in spreading the misery of drugs and those associated problems in Mid Wales.”