Drug dealer who wanted ‘to live like a king’ jailed

A “STUPID” drug dealer who boasted he wanted to “live like a king” on his earnings has been jailed for more than five years.

Daniel Easton admitted 11 drugs offences including possessing heroin with intent to supply, supplying the Class A drug and possession of cannabis.

Easton, who committed eight of the offences while he was on police bail, told officers he had begun selling drugs to pay off a debt racked up by his mother.

Easton was arrested at an address at Woodfield Street, Swansea, on April 5 after officers searched the house and found three bags of heroin as well as digital scales, smaller wraps containing drugs and £130 in cash. In his police interview he admitted he had been caught “red handed”.

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He told officers he had bought the drugs the day before and planned to sell the smaller wraps for £10 each. Nicola Powell, prosecuting at Swansea Crown Court, said Easton, who appeared at court by video link, told police he was selling the drugs for “financial reasons”.

“He said he was unemployed and he received benefits. He said he wanted to “live like a king” and buy a car,” Mrs Powell said.

Easton was bailed by police later that day but after his second arrest he pleaded guilty to six counts of supplying heroin between that date and April 12.

He was caught for the second time after officers searched two people they had seen leave his house and found wraps of heroin. When they went inside, Easton told them he had flushed most of his drugs down the toilet when he saw the two men being arrested.

“I’m not stupid. I don’t keep drugs here anymore,” he told officers.

In his interview he admitted he had been selling drugs since his release from custody but said he had tried to tell his dealer he did not want to sell any more after he had paid off a debt.

Swansea Crown Court was told he had inherited a debt which had been run up by his mother and stepfather and ordered to pay it off. Easton was bailed for a second time — something the judge called “remarkable” and “mystifying ”— and arrested for a third time on August 2, when he had failed to attend at hearing at Swansea Magistrates’ Court.

When officers searched his home they found drugs on his coffee table which he said were his own supply. Ian Wright, representing Easton, said his client had begun selling drugs to pay off the debt but then continued dealing and was making a profit for himself.

Judge Paul Thomas told Easton: “As you well know, anyone who sells heroin can expect a long prison sentence. You were making money out of other people’s misery. You took a chance, in fact you took two, and you have to pay the price.

“You said two things to police. The first was you were not stupid. I am afraid I cannot agree with that. Anyone who returns to drug dealing is stupid. You also said you wanted to “live like a king” that’s not going to be happening,” he told him. As the judge handed down a five-and-a-half year sentence, Easton’s father, who was in court, shouted out from the public gallery and was ordered to leave.