The total value of the drugs were between £5,645 and £13,280, while the total amount of cash seized came to £199,455
Mark Horrell
A man who was caught with a plastic bag full of cash at a McDonald’s in Wales has been jailed for drug dealing.
Mark Horrell (42) was stopped by police in his car at the McDonald’s in Caerphilly with his partner and her son on February 13 last year.
As he was being searched, he asked to speak to an officer so his partner could not overhear.
He revealed that he had collected an amount of cash, but would not say who it belonged to.
The cash was found in a carrier bag in the passenger footwell, a sentencing hearing at Newport Crown Court on Monday heard.
A raid was then carried at his home, where various quantities of cash and white powder were found.
Prosecutors said a total of 124g of cocaine, of 76 per cent purity, and 1.98kg of amphetamine were found. The total value of the drugs were between £5,645 and £13,280, while the total amount of cash seized came to £199,455.
Horrell, of Mill Road, Caerphilly, gave a prepared statement denying his partner’s involvement in the drugs, according to a report in Wales Online, but made no comment.
However, he later pleaded guilty to possession with intent to supply class A and B drugs, and possession of criminal property. The court heard he has 19 previous convictions, the most recent of which is for supplying cocaine.
His defence barrister Hywel Davies said in mitigation, his client was a carer for his mother.
He also said the defendant had a steady source of legitimate income, receiving £1,000 a week working as a painter and decorator.
Recorder Andrew Hammond sentenced Horrell to a total of 32 months’ imprisonment. He will serve half the sentence in custody before he is released to serve the remainder on licence.
