A BARRY man has been given a suspended prison sentence for drug dealing.

In June 2022, plain-clothed police officers in an unmarked vehicle in the town watched as Jay Woodfield ran to his car and sped away without turning his lights on.

Officers pursued and pulled over 27-year-old Woodfield, who admitted to police he had drugs in the car.

The car was searched and found to have cannabis, weighing scales and cash in it, and Woodfield was found to have cocaine on him.

Officers would then go to Woodfield’s address where a further search would find cannabis hidden in places such as behind the TV and in pots.

Cannabis found was separated into deal bags.

In total, more than 42 grammes of cannabis was found on Woodfield’s possession.

There was a sizeable amount of cash confiscated from the property as well as Woodfield’s phone, which had messages on it suggestive of drug dealing.

In one of the messages – days before Woodfield was about to be arrested – the defendant seemed to be in an argument about the quality of the drugs he was selling.

Father of a four-year-old daughter, it was said in mitigation Woodfield had been “set-back” in the breakdown of a relationship.

Woodfield has no previous convictions, has not reoffended in the time since he was arrested and has full-time employment in the cladding industry.

Despite all these mitigating circumstances, judge Recorder Celia Hughes had some concerns about Woodfield.

On sentencing at Cardiff Crown Court, on February 13, Recorder Hughes said: “You knew full well what you were doing when you decided to sell drugs to others.

“The fact you also had possession of class A drugs in your car is also of concern.”

Woodfield, of Priory Gardens, Barry, pleaded guilty to the charges at magistrates court in December 2023.

For possession of cannabis with intent to supply and being concerned in the supply of class B drugs, Woodfield was given a six-month prison sentence suspended for 12 months - each charge to run concurrent. He’ll also do 100 hours community service.

For being in possession of class A cocaine, he was made to pay a £600 fine.

All drugs found were placed under a destruction order.