Joshua Seivwright, 22, was found in possession of a white rock, mobile phones and £501 when detained by police – but it was what was on one of the phones which told the full story
A drug dealer was found in possession of crack cocaine when he stumbled after attempting to run away from police after getting out of a taxi. Messages were also found on his phone which revealed he had been sending “text bombs” to customers, advertising drugs.
Joshua Seivwright, 22, was arrested by officers in Newport at 4.55am on April 13 in relation to another matter. He made an attempt to flee after getting out of a taxi, but stumbled and was apprehended.
A sentencing hearing at Merthyr Tydfil Crown Court on Tuesday heard the defendant was searched and found in possession of a pot containing white rock, an iPhone and a Nokia phone, together with £501 in cash. For the latest court reports sign up to our crime newsletter.
The white rock was examined and found to be 0.428g of crack cocaine.
His home was searched but nothing of note was discovered.
Prosecutor David Pinnell said Seivwright refused to give his PIN to the iPhone but the Nokia contained 277 messages, a large number of which were text bombs advertising drugs to customers.
During his police interview, the defendant admitted being a user of crack cocaine but denied he was a supplier and claimed the cash was from a trust fund.
He also said the Nokia belonged to his father, who had the same name as him.
Seivwright later pleaded guilty to possession with intent to supply class A drugs, being concerned in the supply of class A drugs and possession of criminal property.
The court heard he had 11 previous convictions for offences including possession with intent to supply heroin and crack cocaine.
In mitigation, Kevin Seal said his client appreciated he would be spending a lengthy time in custody because of his involvement in class A drugs.
He said the defendant had been addicted to crack cocaine since the age of 15 or 16 and fallen into debt after drugs he was holding had been seized during investigations.
Sentencing, Judge Vanessa Francis said the defendant was a “man of potential” but this was going to “waste” because of his time in custody, and warned him he could face a “revolving door” in and out of custody if he did not make a change.
Seivwright was sentenced to five years and seven months imprisonment.
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