**Cardiff Couple Caught with £20,000 Worth of Class A Drugs Sentenced at Crown Court**
A Cardiff couple have been sentenced after being caught with a substantial quantity of class A drugs, following a police operation that uncovered heroin and crack cocaine valued at more than £20,000. The pair, James Thompson, 36, and Laura-lee Morgan, 31, both residents of Ely, now face very different futures following their respective court sentences.
The investigation began when officers in Cardiff observed Thompson acting suspiciously on 15 October last year. He was riding a bicycle near a block of flats in Heol Trelai, Ely—a site previously linked by police to illicit drug activity. Upon following him into the building and questioning his purpose there, officers detained Thompson as he unsuccessfully tried to make a phone call.
A search of his person revealed bags containing white powder, later confirmed as cocaine. In addition, police found weighing scales, which Thompson explained were for his own protection to ensure he was not “ripped off” during drug transactions. His initial arrest led authorities to execute a search of his shared address, where more drugs and evidence of drug dealing activities were soon unearthed.
At the shared property, officers discovered multiple bags containing various illegal substances. Among the items seized were 0.129g of cocaine, 8.87g of amphetamines in four bags, 37.8g of cocaine in numerous packets, and smaller quantities of heroin in separate wraps. The most significant find included a plastic bag holding nearly 250g of heroin and cocaine. Additionally, police recovered two larger bags with 39.4g and 193g of cocaine, alongside three bags with a total of 2.25g of cannabis.
Laura-lee Morgan, who was present at the address during the raid, became implicated in the criminal proceedings following the discovery of drugs on the premises and evidence on her mobile phone. Prosecutor Emily Jermin told Cardiff Crown Court that the drugs in total were valued between £20,070 and £21,670.
Analysis of Thompson’s iPhone exposed “text bombs”—mass messages sent to drug users, advertising illegal substances for sale. Morgan’s device contained incriminating voice messages from Thompson, saved under the alias “Emily”, in which he pressured individuals to settle outstanding drug debts.
Both Thompson and Morgan admitted to charges including being concerned in the supply of class A drugs, as well as possession with intent to supply. Morgan also entered a guilty plea to charges relating to class B drugs. While Thompson had a criminal record with five previous convictions, the court heard none were related to drug matters. In contrast, Morgan had no outstanding convictions prior to this case.
In mitigation, Thompson’s representative, Neil Evans, explained that his client had suffered traumatic experiences in his youth. He argued that Thompson’s descent into drug abuse and eventual involvement in drug dealing stemmed from a search for solace and escapism, which ultimately led to significant debts and risky behaviour in the local drug trade.
Meanwhile, Morgan’s barrister, Emma Harris, painted her client’s involvement as less active, describing her as having become involved only after collecting a cannabis debt on behalf of her boyfriend. The court was told that Morgan, who is four-and-a-half months pregnant after previously suffering a miscarriage, had otherwise maintained a good character.
Presiding Judge Paul Hobson handed Thompson a three-year custodial sentence, citing the seriousness of his criminal activity and his role in distributing class A drugs. Morgan, however, received an 18-month community order paired with a 15-day rehabilitation activity instruction—a decision reflecting her lesser involvement and personal circumstances.
This case underscores the ongoing efforts of South Wales Police to disrupt drug networks in the local community and the complexities that often surround individuals caught up in such activities, particularly when addiction and coercion are involved.