Cocaine was found in the glasses case of a car belonging to a drug dealer which had been left in a pub car park. He and his fellow dealer were discovered after fingerprints were found on a drugs package.
Ashley Stockwell, 22, and Norbert Brudkiewicz, 23, were later identified from CCTV at the Castell-y-Bwch pub in Cwmbran on July 1, 2021. The drugs were discovered in the passenger door of the car after the police were called to the scene.
A sentencing hearing at Cardiff Crown Court heard two packages containing 17g of cocaine in total were discovered with a value of £1,020. When CCTV footage was analysed it showed Brudkiewicz getting out of the passenger door, Stockwell getting out of the driver's side, and a third person called Lloyd Virgo exiting from the backseat.
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The fingerprints of Brudkiewicz were discovered on one of the packages and he was later visited by police at his home in Blaenavon. They tried to place the defendant under arrest but he said: "No, I am not under arrest." He then threw a punch at an officer and attempted to run away but he was detained.
When Stockwell was arrested he was found in possession of a phone which contained messages relating to drug dealing. He initially claimed he was dealing ketamine, not cocaine, but the defendant, of Railway Close, Pontypool, was found guilty of being concerned in the supply of cocaine. Brudkiewicz pleaded guilty to possession with intent to supply cocaine and assaulting an emergency worker.
The court heard Stockwell had relevant previous convictions including being concerned in the supply of cocaine in 2019 for which he received a term of 32 months detention in a young offenders' institute. Brudkiewicz has two previous convictions but none concerned drugs. Virgo, 23, of Ton Road, Cwmbran, was sentenced to three years and four months imprisonment in February after he pleaded guilty to being concerned in the supply of cocaine.
In mitigation for Stockwell defence barrister Christopher Evans said his client was "realistic" he would receive an immediate custodial sentence. He said the offences were of some age and described the defendant's upbringing as "chaotic" and "disruptive" but he now has a stable relationship and is due to become a father.
Kevin Seal, for Brudkiewicz, said his client lives with his mother and father and invited the court to take an "exceptional course" by steering away from an immediate custodial sentence due to the defendant's lack of relevant previous convictions. He said Brudkiewicz was in debt at the time of the offence and was under threat.
Recorder Christian Jowett sentenced Stockwell to five years imprisonment. He sentenced Brudkiewicz to two years imprisonment, suspended for 18 months, and ordered him to carry out a 20-day rehabilitation activity requirement and 100 hours unpaid work.
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