A drug dealer was so intoxicated by his own illegal substances that his father contacted the authorities over welfare worries.
Officers from Gwent Police responded to a call from Luke Cable’s father on February 24th after becoming alarmed when the defendant returned home severely drugged, prosecutor Hannah Head stated at Merthyr Tydfil Crown Court.
Police observed Cable was obviously impaired, with white residue beneath his nose, and discovered him in possession of a chunk of cocaine.
He informed officers he had consumed a substantial quantity of cocaine and his mind was completely affected, adding that he was attempting to repay debts.
Cable was detained on suspicion of cocaine possession and conveyed to Prince Charles Hospital because of welfare concerns.
At the medical facility, Cable told police he was in debt and had snorted a large amount of the drug.
He was subsequently re-arrested on suspicion of possession with intent to supply cocaine.
Officers confiscated 46 grams of cocaine from him, valued at a minimum of £3,000, along with his mobile phone.
During questioning Cable denied any involvement in cocaine supply and claimed his phone would contain no evidence connecting him to drug dealing.
An analysis of the device uncovered three distinct message threads spanning January and February that demonstrated Cable had been distributing cocaine, Ms Head indicated.
The defendant, aged 25, of Clydach Street in Brynmawr, admitted guilt to possession with intent to supply cocaine.
He possessed three prior convictions for nine separate offences, including serving a 34-month custodial sentence in 2024 for involvement in supplying cocaine and ketamine and possessing the drug with intent to supply.
He was freed from that prison term last autumn and remained under supervised release when the latest offence occurred.
Matthew Comer, representing Cable, noted that his client’s early guilty plea constituted his strongest mitigating factor.
He recognises he acted foolishly and understands the court has only one sentencing option available, he stated.
Mr Comer explained that Cable reverted to peddling drugs after accumulating debts from his own substance dependency.
Class A narcotics have damaged his entire adult life, he remarked.
The defendant wishes to move forward and rebuild his life.
Recorder Dyfed Thomas imposed a three-year custodial sentence.