23-07-2025
Newport money-laundering family caught with £14k cash
Molly Cook, 23, had £9,800 in her bedroom while her drug-dealing brothers Harry Cook, 30, and Nico Cook, 32, were found with £2,500 and £1,700 respectively.
The three siblings from Newport were sentenced at the city's crown court for a number of different offences.
Harry Cook, who was jailed for five years and seven months last summer for drug trafficking, admitted possession with intent to supply cocaine, possession of criminal property and possession of cannabis.
Nico Cook pleaded guilty to being concerned in the supply of cannabis, possession of criminal property and possession of cannabis.
Their sister Molly Cook admitted possession of criminal property and possession of cannabis.
Their offences date back more than two years to November 17, 2022.
This drew heavy criticism from their barristers over the poor handling of the case by the police and CPS.
The judge described the extraordinary delay as "beyond belief".
Ruth Smith, prosecuting, said matters started to unravel for the trio when Harry Cook was found with 23 wraps of cocaine in a stolen BMW car on Stockton Road in Newport.
He was wearing a £19,000 Rolex at the time.
As he was being arrested, he shouted out to a passer-by to tell his brother he had been arrested.
Nico Cook was picked up shortly after he was spotted in a Volkswagen car.
High value designer gear, cash and a small amount of cannabis were found when police raided the family home on Cumberland Road.
Harry Cook has three previous convictions for trafficking class A drugs while Nico Cook was jailed for 40 months in 2017 for possession with intent to supply cocaine.
Sol Hartley representing Harry Cook said: 'There is no explanation as to why it has taken so long to bring these matters to court.'
He added that his client is due to be released from his current jail sentence on September 2, 2026.
Paul Hewitt for Nico Cook told the court the defendant suffers with mental health difficulties.
William Bebb representing Molly Cook said she has no previous convictions and runs her own domestic cleaning business.
Judge Celia Hughes said: 'The delay in the case is beyond belief.'
She told Harry Cook: 'You flaunted your lifestyle.'
Harry Cook was jailed for 45 months and Nico Cook sent to prison for 18 weeks.
Molly Cook was fined £1,320.
All three defendants will also have to pay a victim surcharge.
The court ordered the forfeiture and destruction of the drugs.
