Drug dealer jailed for four years

Adam Powney, 30, formerly of Queen Elizabeth Drive, Oswestry, was jailed when he appeared at Shrewsbury Crown Court yesterday.

Police had discovered a "drugs den" in a flat after seeing a man dealing drugs on the street and following him.

Powney, who also goes by the alias 'Ricky', admitted four charges of the possession of drugs - two of possessing crack cocaine and two of heroin.

Judge Jim Tindal was told that Powney, whose current address was Curlender Close, Birkenhead, had never been in trouble with drugs before and had got in over his head.

Miss Laura Nash, prosecuting, said Powney had been discovered after police were given a tip off that a man had a gun at an address in Queen Elizabeth Drive in September last year.

Armed police were sent to the property and Powney ran off.

Drugs, a baseball bat, a large quantity of cash and phones were then found in a BMW outside the address.

In November while on bail pending inquiries officers spotted him dealing drugs on the street in Welsh Walls and then down a nearby alley.

Police followed him to a flat and inside found a drugs den, Miss Nash said.

In all drugs worth between £1,500 and £2,500 were found in the car, and drugs worth around £4,000 were found in the flat along with scales and mobile phones.

When phone messages were analysed they included voicemails from his 'boss' claiming the operation was worth £100,000.

Mr Andrew McInnes for Powney said his client had been diagnosed with autism.

"He became embroiled in something out of his depth and has been exploited by others, possibly because of his size," Mr McInnes said.

He said his client and family had been threatened.

Judge Tindal said that Powney had been a key figure in the operation.

He said: "You got involved in an operation started and run by others but you ended up central to that operation."

He added that Powney would serve half his sentence before release on licence.