Liam Spittle, left and Joel Parry.
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TWO drug dealers were caught after police spotted them in a car being driven erratically, and then smelt cannabis from inside the vehicle after pulling them over.
Officers who stopped Joel Parry and Liam Spittle in Port Talbot on the evening of March 6, also discovered three bags in the car's glove compartment, containing 8.5 grams of cannabis, and Spittle handed over a further two bags.
Prosecuting, Janet Gedrych told Swansea Crown Court that £238 was also found in Spittle's wallet, and officers confiscated their mobile phones, and a third which was found in the car, which when analysed was found to contain messages with evidence of drug dealing, including cocaine.
She told the court: "Liam Spittle's phone had a number of texts related to the supply of cannabis including 'How much are you after mate, I got flake as well'
"On Joel Parry's phone there was the message 'I've got some banging green if you want any' which was sent to 18 individuals".
Other messages on the phone included: 'I would rather sell tidy stuff and make money rather than be stuck with stuff I do not want to sniff and can't sell'.
Mitigating, Tom Scapens for Spittle said: "In the contact of the supply of cannabis, these are not the greatest or most sophisticated that come before the courts.
"Liam Spittle has no previous convictions for drug offences and the effect [of a custodial sentence] on his mother is his greatest concern".
Frank Phillips, for Parry, added: "This unfortunate offence occurred because he was taking cannabis and had run up a large amount of debt.
"He has now stopped taking cannabis".
Spittle, aged 26, of Southdown Road in Port Talbot, and Parry, aged 27, of York Place, were both charged with being concerned in sale and supply of cannabis and cocaine, and with possessing cannabis, and had both pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing.
Sentencing, Judge Paul Thomas QC said: "Police concerned with the manner of your driving followed you and your car was stopped and it was clear from the smell coming from the car you had been smoking cannabis.
"But of more significance were three mobile phones which when analysed identified that you had been clearly involved in street dealing with cannabis and cocaine.
"There is a huge problem with drugs in south Wales, and it has nearly reached endemic proportions. Those addicted to them turn to crime to afford them.
"Those involved will always get a custodial sentence from these courts. You both carried out a significant role in street dealing".
Both received a custodial sentence totalling 32 months.
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