A WREXHAM man has been put behind bars following a police operation to crack down on county lines drug dealing.

Harry Povey, of Tan y Coed, appeared at Mold Crown Court on Thursday for sentence.

The 22-year-old had previously admitted an offence of being concerned in the supply of cocaine, which took place over the course of around four weeks between September and October this year.

Laura Knightly, prosecuting, told the court Povey was arrested following a police operation targeting county lines drug dealing in Caia Park.

Officers were investigating the "Harry Line," with a so-called graft (drug dealing) phone being controlled by the defendant.

He was observed topping up the phone, which sent 'flare' messages advertising drugs for sale.

Plain-clothed police officers also saw Povey making transactions with others in the street but he ran when they attempted to arrest him.

He was eventually apprehended and his home was searched.

Cash and cocaine was found, in addition to a "Rambo-style knife."

Povey claimed he wasn't involved in drug dealing - but the contents of the phones found in his address coupled with the evidence police had already gathered proved otherwise.

Oliver King, defending, said: "He understands it will be a custodial sentence today.

The Leader: Harry Povey (NWP)Harry Povey (NWP) (Image: North Wales Police)"He is realistic about that and doesn't invite me to suggest anything other than that."

Mr King accepted his client had two previous offences involving drug trafficking, committed when he was a youth - meaning this latest one would ordinarily qualify him for a minimum of seven years.

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But he asked the court to find that there were exceptional circumstances not to do so in his case, explaining there was evidence to suggest he was being 'used' by criminals after building up a drug debt owing to his own addiction to illicit substances.

"He really does want to turn his life around," he explained.

"His life is just a revolving door of a few days or weeks in society and then returning to custody."

The Leader:

Judge Rhys Rowlands agreed to depart from the minimum seven year sentence, imposing one of four-and-a-half years overall.

He said it had been the view of the probation service that he had become "entrenched" in criminality and took "no responsibility" for his behaviour.

The Judge said: "It does seem to me that this is a case with many aggravating features; it shows deliberate and repeated ignoring of the law on your part."