A grandmother has been jailed for two-and-a-half years for dealing cocaine.

Julie Smith, 53, of Coed Main, Porset Park, Caerphilly, was arrested as part of a Gwent Police investigation into county lines drug activity.

She was arrested in October during police raids in Caerphilly and Cardiff, with drugs, cash, bikes, mopeds and phones seized during the operation, which saw two other people arrested

Smith was sentenced at Cardiff Crown Court on January 12 after pleading guilty to being involved in the supply of Class A drugs – offences which took place between March and October last year.

Two other people, including Smith’s son Robbie Smith, were arrested and charged as part of the operation and were handed suspended sentences.

PC Rhys Jones, of Gwent Police, said: “Smith played a significant role in the distribution of cocaine in the Caerphilly area and is now serving time behind bars as a consequence.

“Operations such as this are key to tackling county lines and associated criminality. Class A drugs cause misery in our communities and we are committed to making Gwent a hostile environment for those seeking to do harm.”