6 days ago
She told police officers she had come to collect her car keys, the problem was it had £45,000 of cocaine in it
A drug dealing couple were found in possession of more than £100,000 worth of cocaine after police followed them to a house where the stash was found. Both of them have previous convictions for drug offences.
Nicole Locke, 32, and Guy Priddle, 33, were arrested on February 6 after Priddle was seen by police officers engaging in a suspected drug deal in a car. He was recognised by one of the officers and was followed to his address in George Street, Penygraig, Tonypandy.
A sentencing hearing at Cardiff Crown Court on Friday heard Locke entered the house and was spoken to by police as Priddle left through a rear window. For the latest court reports sign up to our crime newsletter.
READ MORE: Storm Dexter to hit UK within hours but Met Office says it's great news for heatwave
READ MORE: Major Cardiff road closed as firefighters battle blaze
She told officers she had come to collect her car keys and her car was parked in a nearby lane.
Prosecutor Nuhu Gobir said police found a quantity of cocaine and drug paraphernalia in the kitchen and bathroom of the property, as well as a large quantity of cash.
A package of 35g of cocaine was found, with a value between £1,300 and £2,040, and a separate package of 77g of cocaine, worth between £2,800 and £4,290.
Locke was arrested on suspicion of possessing class A drugs with intent to supply, and claimed she had nothing to do with the substances.
Her iPhone was seized and she refused to give the PIN code, but officers were able to gain access and found numerous messages on a Snapchat account which were related to drug supply.
In the defendant's handbag was a set of electric scales and a small bag containing white powder.
Keys were taken from Locke and were found to belong to a Mercedes vehicle which was parked nearby.
Recovered from the boot of the Mercedes was a large brown packet containing a kilo of cocaine, worth £30,000, and another package containing half a kilo of cocaine, worth £15,000, as well as £4,154 in cash.
Also found were seven rocks, found to be 28g of cocaine, worth £1,000 to £1,500 each.
Mr Gobir said the total amount of cocaine found weighed 1.8kg and had a street value between £75,660 and £100,888.
Priddle handed himself in to the police on February 7, and both he and Locke were interviewed.
Both Locke, of Pergwm Street, Trealaw, and Priddle, of George Street, Penygraig, pleaded guilty to possession with intent to supply class A drugs and being concerned in the supply of class A drugs.
The court heard Locke has four previous convictions, including an offence of conspiracy to supply cocaine and crack cocaine, and Priddle has one previous conviction for possession with intent to supply cocaine.
In mitigation for Locke, Ruth Smith said her client became addicted to cocaine at the age of 20 after being given the drug by a violent boyfriend. She was left a "shell of a person" and when arrested for the previous drug offence she was found in a crack den, undernourished with no shoes on.
Ms Smith said the mother-of-two had made great strides to rehabilitate herself but after suffering a miscarriage she had a mental health crisis.
In mitigation for Priddle, Jeffrey Jones said his client is a carer for his mother who has osteoporosis, and he is due to become a father due to the pregnancy of another partner.
Sentencing, Recorder Anna Price said: "Drugs cause crime and harm to those who take them and those around them."
The judge said Priddle was of a "significant role" and he stood to make "serious financial gain", while Locke was categorised as being of "lesser role".
Locke was sentenced to two years and three months imprisonment and Priddle was sentenced to five years and four months imprisonment.
Get daily breaking news updates on your phone by joining our WhatsApp community here. We occasionally treat members to special offers, promotions and ads from us and our partners. See our Privacy Notice.
