Double drugs bust for police after man moves his van

Police carrying out a drugs raid in a street found another cannabis hoard in a nearby property when an officer asked a resident to move his van.

When Scott Mitchell opened his door the officer smelled cannabis, and the property, on Gwern Avenue, Senghenydd, was searched.

Around 1.4kg of dried cannabis was found – worth around £10,000 – with a further 14 plants worth around £3,000.

Cardiff Crown Court was told how Mitchell, 42, co-operated with the police officer and invited him inside on June 28 last year.

At a later police interview, Mitchell tried to claim the drugs were for personal use. He later conceded that while most of it was for personal use, he did deal.

Mitchell admitted producing cannabis and possessing it with intent to supply and was handed a 12-month community order.

He has to complete 100 hours of unpaid work and 15 days of rehabilitation.

He was also ordered to pay £160 prosecution costs and a £90 victim surcharge.

An order was also made to destroy the seized drugs.

Officers were in Senghenydd that day carrying out a drugs warrant at another property in the same street.

Police raided the house of Nicholas Smith, 44, and found an estimated £15,000 worth of cannabis there. Smith also admitted growing in another property, in Commercial Street, where a further £15,000 worth was found.

Smith said the hoard was for his own personal use and smoked up to 60 joints a day. Last month, Cardiff Crown Court was told how Smith was taking steps to beat his addiction.

Smith admitted two counts of producing cannabis, possession of cannabis, cannabis oil, cocaine and amphetamine.

Smith was given a jail sentence for 12 months, suspended for 12 months, and ordered to complete a ten days of rehabilitation.

He was also told to pay £100 towards prosecution costs.