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Western Telegraph
02-05-2025
- Western Telegraph
Welsh drugs boss boasted about living highlife from Dubai
Jerome Samuels, 31, from Newport was able to splash out on expensive trips while playing 'a leading role' in a crime gang. The father-of-four's reign was ended when he was caught with more than £50,000 worth of heroin, crack cocaine and cocaine weighing over 1kg earlier this year. Tabitha Walker, prosecuting, said the defendant was arrested by Gwent Police officers who were on patrol in an unmarked car in the Bettws area of Newport. They arrested Samuels on suspicion of drug dealing and found more than £5,000 in cash inside his Vauxhall Insignia car. (Image: Jerome Samuels) Police also came across a key for a Volkswagen Tiguan SUV which they traced to Maesglas Crescent. When they searched the vehicle they came across the large drugs stash. They seized 205.8g of crack cocaine with a potential street value of £20,020, 651.5g of heroin worth £22,200 and 491.8g of cocaine which could be sold for £12,000. Detectives discovered incriminating evidence on Samuels' mobile phone which included the video of him showing off in Dubai. Miss Walker said: 'The Crown say this defendant played a leading role and there was the expectation of significant financial gain with influence over others in the chain.' Samuels, of Monnow Way, Bettws admitted possession with intent to supply heroin, possession with intent to supply crack cocaine, possession with intent to supply cocaine and possession of criminal property. The offences occurred on January 26, Cardiff Crown Court was told. Julia Cox representing him asked the court to take into account the fact that her client had no previous convictions for drug trafficking offences. She added how he is mourning the recent death of his grandmother who passed away last month. Judge Celia Hughes told Samuels: 'It's clear that you were enjoying the life of a drug dealer. 'You were showing off your lavish lifestyle in a video I have seen of you staying in a penthouse suite at a top end hotel in Dubai with a bowl of white powder.' She added: "You weren't at the top but you were high up in the chain. 'You were running street dealers and your sales were on a commercial scale and you knew the risks that you were taking.' The defendant was jailed for four years and eight months. He is due to face a proceeds of crime hearing on December 2. PC Thomas Meazey, the officer in the case, said: "Jerome Samuels funded a lavish and extravagant lifestyle through his criminal activities. "The supply of drugs is not a victimless crime, it causes harm and misery not only to those involved and their families but also the wider community. "We welcome the sentence imposed on Samuels and hope that it demonstrates that those involved in such criminal activity are not untouchable."
South Wales Argus
02-05-2025
- South Wales Argus
Drugs boss boasted about living highlife from Dubai suite
Jerome Samuels, 31, from Newport was able to splash out on expensive trips while playing 'a leading role' in a crime gang. The father-of-four's reign was ended when he was caught with more than £50,000 worth of heroin, crack cocaine and cocaine weighing over 1kg earlier this year. Tabitha Walker, prosecuting, said the defendant was arrested by Gwent Police officers who were on patrol in an unmarked car in the Bettws area of Newport. They arrested Samuels on suspicion of drug dealing and found more than £5,000 in cash inside his Vauxhall Insignia car. (Image: Jerome Samuels) Police also came across a key for a Volkswagen Tiguan SUV which they traced to Maesglas Crescent. When they searched the vehicle they came across the large drugs stash. They seized 205.8g of crack cocaine with a potential street value of £20,020, 651.5g of heroin worth £22,200 and 491.8g of cocaine which could be sold for £12,000. Detectives discovered incriminating evidence on Samuels' mobile phone which included the video of him showing off in Dubai. Miss Walker said: 'The Crown say this defendant played a leading role and there was the expectation of significant financial gain with influence over others in the chain.' Samuels, of Monnow Way, Bettws admitted possession with intent to supply heroin, possession with intent to supply crack cocaine, possession with intent to supply cocaine and possession of criminal property. The offences occurred on January 26, Cardiff Crown Court was told. Julia Cox representing him asked the court to take into account the fact that her client had no previous convictions for drug trafficking offences. She added how he is mourning the recent death of his grandmother who passed away last month. Judge Celia Hughes told Samuels: 'It's clear that you were enjoying the life of a drug dealer. 'You were showing off your lavish lifestyle in a video I have seen of you staying in a penthouse suite at a top end hotel in Dubai with a bowl of white powder.' She added: "You weren't at the top but you were high up in the chain. 'You were running street dealers and your sales were on a commercial scale and you knew the risks that you were taking.' The defendant was jailed for four years and eight months. He is due to face a proceeds of crime hearing on December 2. PC Thomas Meazey, the officer in the case, said: "Jerome Samuels funded a lavish and extravagant lifestyle through his criminal activities. "The supply of drugs is not a victimless crime, it causes harm and misery not only to those involved and their families but also the wider community. "We welcome the sentence imposed on Samuels and hope that it demonstrates that those involved in such criminal activity are not untouchable."
Wales Online
01-05-2025
- Wales Online
Drug dealer who used habit to fund swanky Dubai hotel stays sobs as he's jailed
Drug dealer who used habit to fund swanky Dubai hotel stays sobs as he's jailed Jerome Samuels, 31, was found in possession of more than £48,000 worth of heroin, crack cocaine and cocaine when pulled over by police. Jerome Samuels, 31, was found in possession of more than £48,000 worth of heroin, crack cocaine and cocaine. (Image: Gwent Police ) A drug dealer who was found with £48,000 worth of heroin and cocaine sobbed in court as he was sentenced. Jerome Samuels was said to have lived a "lavish" lifestyle through his criminal enterprise with nights spent in penthouse flats and high end hotels in Dubai. Samuels, 31, was stopped by police in Newport on January 26 this year after he was seen getting out of a Vauxhall Insignia and was recognised. He was arrested on suspicion of supplying class A drugs and a search of his person and the vehicle were carried out. A sentencing hearing at Cardiff Crown Court on Thursday heard a total of £5,650 in cash was discovered as well as a key to a Volkswagen Tiguan. For the latest court reports sign up to our crime newsletter. This vehicle was tracked to Maesglas Crescent and in the boot of the car were JD Sports bags. The bags were searched and were found to contain quantities of heroin, crack cocaine and cocaine. Prosecutor Tabitha Walker said a total of 205g of crack cocaine worth £20,020, 651g of heroin worth between £16,740 and £22,266, and 491g of cocaine worth £12,000 was discovered. Article continues below The defendant's phone was also examined and a variety of messages including voice notes were found which indicated he was involved in supplying drugs. Ms Walker said Samuels was a "high level and wholesale supplier" and was involved at various stages of the enterprise, with the voice notes referencing large amounts of controlled drugs. Samuels, of Monnow Way, Bettws, later pleaded guilty to two counts of possession with intent to supply class A drugs and possession of criminal property. The defendant, who sobbed in the dock during the hearing, has 13 previous convictions including an offence of drug possession. In mitigation, Julia Cox said her client was an abuse of cocaine and cannabis and fell into debt with dealers above him in the chain who enforced the debt and recruited him into dealing. The court heard the father-of-four was not present for his grandmother's death on Sunday due to him being remanded in prison. Sentencing, Judge Celia Hughes said the total value of the drugs found in Samuels' possession was £48,760. She said the defendant had lived a lavish lifestyle with stays at penthouse flats and high-end hotels in Dubai. The judge added: "When you became involved in dealing class A drugs you knew the risks that you could receive a substantial sentence. You took that risk despite having a family and having contact with three of your young children." Samuels was sentenced to a total of 56 months imprisonment. Following the hearing, PC Thomas Meazey, of Gwent Police, said: "Jerome Samuels funded a lavish and extravagant lifestyle through his criminal activities. "The supply of drugs is not a victimless crime; it causes harm and misery not only to those involved and their families but also the wider community. "We welcome the sentence imposed on Samuels and hope that it demonstrates that those involved in such criminal activity are not untouchable." Article continues below
Leader Live
22-04-2025
- Leader Live
Bolton man fined and banned for Wrexham drink-drive
Ricki-Lee Brindle, of Hampton Road in Bolton, appeared at Wrexham Magistrates Court on Tuesday morning. The 29-year-old admitted that on April 5 this year, he drove a Vauxhall Insignia in Chester Road, Rossett, after consuming so much alcohol that the proportion of it in his breath exceeded the prescribed limit. Prosecutor Suzanne Cartwright told the court that on the day of the offence, police spotted the defendant travelling on Chester Road. After carrying out a u-turn, he appeared to pass the police vehicle at a speed in excess of the 20mph limit for the road. As such he was asked to carry outside a roadside alcohol test, which led to his arrest. In custody, he gave an evidential reading of 78 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath (the limit being 35.) Melissa Griffiths, defending, told the court: "He'd been staying in the area at an Airbnb with his partner and best friend. "But there had been an argument earlier in the day. "He had been drinking and he foolishly decided to take himself out of the situation by driving away. "Unfortunately, at that point he was seen by the police. MORE COURT NEWS "He tells me his life has been problematic over the last few months as a result of this, and other circumstances, he and his partner have now separated. "They have three children. He has also fallen out with his best friend who he had an argument with on the day of this incident. "He very much regrets what happened." The court handed down a 17 month driving ban, as well as ordering Brindle to pay a £450 fine, £180 victim surcharge and £85 costs.
BBC News
21-04-2025
- BBC News
Hartlepool teens in hospital after car and motorbike crash
Two teenagers have been taken to hospital after a crash between a motorcycle and a happened on Chester Road in Hartlepool at about 20:00 BST on Sunday, Cleveland Police said. The motorbike's rider and passenger, a man aged 19 and a 13-year-old boy, were both taken to hospital and their injuries are not believed to be life-threatening. The 38-year-old driver of the car, a grey Vauxhall Insignia, was arrested in connection with the crash and remained in custody, police said. The force is appealing for witnesses. Follow BBC Tees on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.
