Drug Addict Found with Crack Cocaine on Cardiff’s St Mary’s Street
In a failed attempt to feed his drug habit, Matthew Young, 42, was caught with wraps of crack cocaine in his possession on St Mary’s Street in Cardiff. The police stopped and searched him leading to the discovery of the class A drug, neatly stored in a green carrier bag. This incident unfolded in Cardiff city centre on February 11, where Young was spotted with another individual, prompting officers to act upon intelligence received.
During a recent sentencing hearing at Cardiff Crown Court, it was disclosed that Young intended to sell the crack cocaine to sustain his habit. Upon being questioned by the police, he admitted to having “only a couple of wraps” on him. A subsequent search revealed a green plastic bag containing individual wraps of the illicit substance, along with a mobile phone and £45 in cash, tucked away in Young’s trouser pocket.
Following the discovery, Young was promptly arrested on suspicion of possession with intent to supply class A drugs and taken into custody at Cardiff Bay police station. A more thorough search ensued, leading to the uncovering of 26 wraps of crack cocaine, each weighing 0.1g and estimated to be worth £260.
In his defence, Young claimed that the drugs were given to him by another individual to distribute on his behalf. He cited an urgent need for heroin that day due to missing his methadone prescription, intending to sell the wraps to procure drugs for personal consumption. Young, who currently has no fixed abode, pleaded guilty to the charge of possession with intent to supply class A drugs.
The court learned that Young has a history of seven prior convictions, primarily related to drug possession. Notably, he had previously been convicted of possession with intent to supply heroin, resulting in a two-year prison sentence. Mitigating factors presented in court highlighted that Young’s past convictions were largely unrelated to the present offence, and he was reportedly battling depression at the time of the incident.
During sentencing, Recorder Andrew Hammond imposed a two-year prison term on Young for his latest offence. The gravity of the crime and Young’s prior criminal record likely factored into the decision, underscoring the stringent stance against drug-related activities in the Welsh capital.
The case of Matthew Young serves as a stark reminder of the detrimental impact of drug addiction and the harsh legal consequences associated with drug trafficking. Such incidents shed light on the challenges faced by individuals grappling with substance abuse issues, underscoring the need for comprehensive support and intervention strategies to address underlying causes and prevent recidivism in vulnerable populations.