Dealer jailed weeks after suspended sentence for firearms offence
A DRUG dealer who stashed cocaine under a child’s car seat has been jailed just two weeks after receiving a suspended sentence for a firearms offence.
ANDREW HOWSE, aged 35, of Bassett Terrace, Pwll in Llanelli, was stopped by police on April 23 this year while travelling in a VW Tiguan on the Loughor bridge. Officers had received intelligence that the vehicle was linked to drug supply.
Swansea Crown Court heard that Howse initially claimed he knew nothing about the drugs and told police the car belonged to his partner. But a search of the vehicle uncovered 13 wraps of cocaine – with a street value of up to £650 – concealed under padding in a child’s seat.
When searched, Howse was also found with £1,130 in cash. His mobile phones revealed messages linked to drug dealing.
At the time of the offence, Howse was already subject to a suspended 12-month prison sentence for possessing an imitation firearm with intent to cause fear, imposed just 15 days earlier.
In police interview, Howse gave a prepared statement denying knowledge of the drugs, claiming the money came from the sale of his car two days before.
James Hartson, defending, said his client had expressed “deep shame and remorse” in a letter to the court, and that other references described him as a devoted father, supportive partner, and helpful neighbour. He added that Howse had not previously come to the attention of the courts until this year.
Judge Paul Thomas KC said the defendant had been given a chance by the court with a “merciful” suspended sentence – and then chose to deal Class A drugs just two weeks later.
“You really should have thought about your family and the impact on them when you took the decision to deal cocaine,” the judge said. He added that Howse’s first instinct had been to “throw his partner under the bus”.
Howse was sentenced to three years in prison, reduced from four due to his guilty plea to possession with intent to supply. The judge also activated the full 12-month suspended sentence for the firearms offence, to run consecutively – making a total sentence of four years.
Howse will serve up to half the sentence in custody before being released on licence.
