A PAIR of Llangollen men have been spared jail after they were caught with cash and a large amount of cannabis.

Trevor residents Jenson Barnes, of Maes Telford, and Adam Williams, of Station Road, appeared at Mold Crown Court on Friday for sentence.

Williams had previously admitted possession with intent to supply cannabis - as had Barnes, but he faced an addition charge of being concerned in the supply of cannabis.

The 22-year-olds were arrested on February 12 last year after a green Ford Fiesta was seen pulling into a layby near the Duke of Wellington pub in Acrefair.

Police approached the car, owned by Barnes and carrying Williams as a passenger, after detecting a smell of cannabis from it.

When it was searched, a large amount of cannabis was found.

Barnes also had some cannabis and just under £400 in cash.

He was arrested along with Williams, who was found to have £1,270 in cash and cannabis in his underwear.

READ MORE: Engineer in court for breaching sexual harm prevention order

Police found messages indicative of drug supply on Barnes' mobile, and £8,000 in third party transfers in Williams' bank account - at a time when he was believed to have been unemployed.

In total, police seized more than £2,000 worth of cannabis.

James Coutts, defending Barnes, said the strength in his client's mitigation came from the changes he has made in his life since the offences came to light.

"He's now much more mature," he said.

"He's a very different man than he was at the time of these offences.

"He no longer uses illegal drugs and he doesn't associate now with the drugs scene, as he did in 2020 and 2021."
Frances Wilmott, on behalf of Willias, said: "He's still a young man but clearly he's grown up since his arrest and made significant changes to his life.

"At the point these offences were committed he was unemployed, having lost his job in lockdown.

Make sure you don't miss the top court stories of the week by signing up to our free court newsletter

The Leader:

"He was unable to afford his long-standing cannabis habit and fell into debt

"He [now] has a job, which seems to have been the protective factor against offending."

Recorder Duncan Bould told the pair the offending took both of the defendants' cases over the custody threshold, but he took into consideration the fact they had both changed their "life patterns" for the better.

Barnes received a custodial sentence of 10 months, suspended for 18 months with 10 rehabilitation activity days.

Williams received an eight-month custodial sentence suspended for a year.
Both defendants must complete 80 hours of unpaid work.