**Drug Deal Turns Violent: Birmingham Man Jailed After Stabbing in Powys**
A violent confrontation over a botched drug deal has left a 28-year-old man fighting for his life and resulted in a prison term for Ricco Douglas, 25, who travelled from Birmingham to Llandrindod Wells. The incident, which occurred on a quiet residential street in December, left locals deeply shaken and led to a major police investigation spanning counties.
The story unfolded after Douglas made the more than 100-mile trip from his Birmingham home to rural Powys to meet Scott Wheel. The meeting, intended as an exchange of cocaine, went catastrophically wrong. According to evidence presented at Newport Crown Court, Douglas and Wheel became embroiled in a heated argument, which escalated into violence. During the altercation, Wheel allegedly produced a knife, but Douglas managed to take control of the weapon and then stabbed Wheel four times in the chest and back.
Eyewitness accounts pieced together the moments leading up to the stabbing. A local resident reported seeing a scuffle near a parked vehicle, with two men clad in dark clothing. His initial account wavered—first claiming three men were present, then amending it to two as investigations progressed. Police were able to track Douglas’ journey to and from the scene using ANPR camera footage, which played a key role in identifying the perpetrator.
Once the violence had subsided, Wheel staggered back to his home, distressed and heavily bleeding. His friend, Liam Langley, described a scene of chaos: Wheel was “saturated in blood,” panic-stricken, and barely able to speak. Langley acted quickly, helping Wheel into the living room and stemming the bleeding with tea towels while awaiting emergency services. Armed response teams and paramedics soon arrived, providing immediate intervention that likely saved Wheel’s life.
Wheel suffered critical injuries, including two stab wounds to his chest—each up to five centimetres deep—and two to his lower back, close to the spine. One lung was punctured and collapsed, requiring urgent surgery at University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff. During a challenging four-hour operation, surgeons removed one lung and repaired further damage to Wheel’s diaphragm and spleen. Wheel was discharged just before Christmas, yet did not co-operate with further police enquiries, refusing follow-up appointments and declining to provide a statement.
Further investigation uncovered more evidence of criminal activity. Police found £180 in bloodstained cash outside the scene and over £2,000 inside Wheel’s home, both tainted with blood and traces of cocaine. Additionally, a search at the property revealed large quantities of drugs, as well as prohibited weapons. These discoveries highlighted the scale of the operation and provided crucial context for the judicial proceedings.
Ricco Douglas, who already had previous convictions including armed robbery and possession of weapons, was arrested in Birmingham three days after the stabbing. After initially being held on suspicion of attempted murder, Douglas pleaded guilty to wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm. In court, his defence accepted that excessive force had been used but maintained that Douglas wished to leave his criminal associations behind. Nonetheless, Judge Daniel Williams sentenced him to five years and three months in prison, emphasising the excessive violence used during the event.
Another man, Calum Samuel, 23, was revealed to have been involved in the arrangement of the deal and later admitted to being concerned in the supply of nearly two kilograms of cocaine. He received a sentence of five years and six months at an earlier hearing.
Detective Chief Superintendent Ross Evans of Dyfed-Powys Police commented on the case: “This was a violent incident in a residential area, and it was extremely fortunate that no life was lost. We are reassured by today’s sentencing, and hope it sends a clear message that violence will not be tolerated in our communities.” He also expressed gratitude to first responders and medical staff for their part in saving Wheel’s life and praised officers’ determination in bringing the offender to justice.
Though the court case may have concluded, the incident left an indelible mark on the local community, highlighting the dangers that accompany the drug trade. The authorities repeated their commitment to maintaining safety and called on those affected by drug-related crime to come forward, assuring residents that robust action will continue to be taken.