Pembroke Dock drug mule had 12 grams of heroin up his bottom
Prosecutor Caitlin Brazel told Swansea Crown Court that Mark Briskham and another man drove to the Swansea area to pick up a quantity of diamorphine – heroin – at around 9.30am on June 8 last year.
Briskham was stopped by police in Llanteg on his way back home that afternoon. No drugs were found in the car or on either of the men, so they were both taken to Withybush Hospital for a scan.
The passenger's scan was negative, but Briskham then refused to be examined.
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He was taken to the police station and kept under supervision, until he asked to go to the toilet and expelled a package containing 12.7 grams of diamorphine from his rectum.
Ms Brazel said the heroin valued by an expert at £1,590 if sold in street deals.
Briskham initially denied a charge of possession with intent to supply heroin, but admitted a charge of possession. However, he pleaded guilty on the morning of trial on a basis which was accepted by the prosecution.
The defendant said he only wanted to buy seven grams of heroin for his own personal use. He had agreed to drive to pick the drugs up and bring them back, and would be supplied with seven grams out of the total haul when this was done.
'He's being used as a mule,' Judge Geraint Walters summarised.
The court heard 52-year-old Briskham, of Cuckoo Wood in Pembroke Dock, had appeared in court 35 times for 112 offences – including twice for possession of cannabis resin and once for possession with intent to supply MDMA – a Class A drug.
'There has been a significant gap in his offending,' said Jon Tarrant, in mitigation. 'In the last 17 years or so there has been very little which the defendant has troubled the court.'
Mr Tarrant said Briskham contacted the health board about his addiction issues following his arrest, and was now drug-free.
He said the defendant 'welcomed' his period in custody after pleading guilty, adding that it had been 'a bit of a wake-up call' for him.
'He has other obligations he should be attending to in his life,' Mr Tarrant said.
Judge Walters accused Briskham of having 'played cat and mouse' with the police after initially refusing to be examined in hospital and then not pleading guilty to possession with intent until the morning of trial.
'Amongst all Class A drugs, this is the most harmful of them all,' he said.
'Engaging in the activity of supplying it has to be treated as a serious matter.'
Briskham was jailed for a total of 16 months.
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