Dealer used 'graft' phone to sell drugs and arrange his probation appointments

Charley Jones, 19, of Maes y Cwm, Llandudno, was sent to a youth offenders' institution for three years for being concerned in the supply of cocaine plus nine months from a suspended sentence
-Credit: (Image: North Wales Police)


A dealer used a "graft" phone to both sell drugs and arrange his probation service appointments. Charley Jones, 19, was advertising cocaine, ketamine and cannabis on the device but was also being supervised as part of a suspended sentence.

But police swooped on Jones' home and found drugs, scales and £1,100 in cash. The defendant, of Maes y Cwm, Llandudno, claimed the money had just been released from a trust fund.

But he admitted being concerned in the supply of the three types of drugs. A judge at Mold Crown Court today sent him to a young offenders' institution for three years and added nine months of a suspended prison sentence.

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Prosecutor Thomas McLaughlin told how the dealing took place between June 7 and August 14 this year. North Wales Police identified a graft phone number as sending out flare or bulk messages advertising the sale of the three drugs to the public. You can sign up for all the latest court stories here

Between June 7 and July 18 some 1,654 messages were sent from this graft phone, said the prosecutor. Sometimes he offered discounts to more trusted customers and there was "management of the clientele", the court heard.

The phone was also used to book taxis and also probation service appointments. Jones had previously been given a suspended, 16-month sentence for threatening someone with a bladed article.

Police executed a search warrant at Jones' home and found the drugs, scales and cash. He gave no comment answers to questions except to say the money came from a "trust fund".

Sarah Yates, defending, said Jones had had a drug habit, got into debt and was pressurised to pay off his debt. His parents had split up and he got involved with the "wrong crowd" as a youth.

He worked as a plasterer but it was casual work and when it ended he moved back into his old circle. The judge The Recorder Wyn Lloyd Jones told Jones: "Controlled drugs are a very serious problem in society

"They destroy lives, they destroy families and they have brought you to this Crown court." He sent Jones to the YOI for three years for being concerned in the supply of cocaine.

He was also given two, eight-month terms there for the ketamine and cannabis offences - both concurrent - plus the nine months of a suspended sentence.

The judge ordered the forfeiture and destruction of the drugs, paraphernalia and cash.

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