University drop-out found with more than £1,000 worth of cocaine (original) (raw)

A university drop was found in possession of more than £1,000 worth of cocaine after police stopped him while he was driving under the influence of cannabis. Messages were also found on his phone which showed he had been dealing cocaine and cannabis.

Josh Murphy, 25, was pulled over by police in Bridgend on May 20 last year as he was driving a white Ford Fiesta. Officers noticed a strong smell of cannabis coming from the car and the defendant tested positive for the drug.

A sentencing hearing at Newport Crown Court on Thursday heard Murphy was asked if there was anything in the car, and he told the officer there was a Tesco bag containing cannabis. The bag was found to contain a number of items of drug paraphernalia including rolling papers, a grinder, empty pots, lighters, weighing scales, and a jar containing cannabis.

Prosecutor Jason Howells said in the defendant's wallet was found £400 in cash and a packet of white powder found to be cocaine. An iPhone was seized from the car, and when examined was found to contain messages relating to the supply of cocaine and cannabis to six numbers.

A further search of the car was carried out with a police dog, which led to the discovery of a cylindrical pot which contained 11 grip seal bags of cocaine. A search of Murphy's home in Deri Avenue, Pencoed, resulted in the discovery of £730 in cash, cocaine in a green bag, two packets of diazepam tablets, weighing scales and zip lock bags.

Mr Howells said the total amount of drugs seized included 58 street deals of cocaine, weighing a total of 22.13g, with a street value between £1,160 and £1,740. There were a total of four street deals of cannabis weighing 1.8g, with a street value of £20.

Murphy later pleaded guilty to possession with intent to supply cocaine, cannabis and bromazepam, being concerned in the supply of cocaine and supplying cannabis. He did so on the basis that he was dependent on drugs, using up to three to four grams of cocaine on a night out and 0.5 to one ounce of cannabis per week. The defendant said his drug dependency led to an "emotional breakdown" which led him to drop out of university. The court heard he has one previous conviction for drug driving, committed on the same day as the current offences.

In mitigation, Ross McQuillan-Johnson said his client was acting as a "one man band" and did not have knowledge of the scale of the operation. He said the defendant is employed and has a strong family support network which will prevent him from offending again.

Sentencing, Recorder John Philpotts said: "There are terribly serious offences. You should understand how serious the scourge of class A drugs is within our society, particularly among young people."

Murphy was sentenced to a total of three years imprisonment. He will serve half the sentence in custody before he is released to serve the remainder on licence.

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