Drugs supplier locked up for a third time
A man has been locked up for supplying drugs – for the third time. Carl Cowans, 35, admitted two charges, conspiring to supply cannabis and conspiring to supply amphetamine.
Cowans, of Mid Wales, was jailed for a total of 18 months at Mold Crown Court on Thursday.
The court heard how in 2005 the defendant had been jailed for three-and-a-half years for possessing ecstasy and amphetamine with intent to supply. Then in 2010 Cowans, of Troed y Rhiw, Llandrindod Wells, received four and a half years for possessing cocaine with intent to supply.
At Mold, two other men escaped immediate prison sentences. Karl Pink, 37, Lon Rhosod, Trehafren, admitted a joint conspiracy with Cowans to supply cannabis. He received a 12-month prison sentence suspended for a year, and was ordered to carry out 300 hours community work.
Jamie Jones, 23, of Heol y Coleg, Newtown, admitted a joint conspiracy with Cowans to supply amphetamine. He received an eight-month prison sentence, suspended for a year, with 150 hours community work.
Judge Niclas Parry said: "One again we see why rural communities in mid Wales are blighted by drugs and why young people are affected. It is because people like you conspire together to make drugs available for profit."
Prosecuting barrister Maria Massellis told how the case was based almost entirely on text messages found between Cowans and Pink, and Cowans and Jones.
Cowans and Pink had been stopped in a vehicle in October 2012 and arrested on suspicion of possessing drugs with intent to supply. But a search proved negative.
Jones's mobile phone was seized in May 2013 in a separate investigation and further incriminating text messages were found. She alleged that Cowans appeared to be directing Pink's involvement in the supply of cannabis and that it was Cowan who had the contacts with "upstream" suppliers – a claim which John Philpotts, defending, said was simply not accepted.
Kim Halsall, for Pink, said that her client was a street level cannabis supplier, who supplied to a small group of friends for some financial gain. She said he had changed his life, and he was now working as a self-employed mechanic.
Andrew Green, for Jones, said that his client had a record but no drugs convictions. He had started working as a joiner, with four lads working for him.
