Cannabis dealer caught outside student accommodation

Aadil Abdi said he had 'moved on' since being caught and is now working as a delivery driver

A cannabis dealer was caught after police saw a group of people acting "suspiciously" outside student accommodation, a court has heard. While officers were speaking to Aadil Abdi they noticed his phone was continually receiving calls from unsaved numbers and was receiving text messages.

Abdi's barrister told Newport Crown Court that his 23-year-old client has "moved on" since he was caught dealing, and now has a job as a delivery driver. Making the defendant the subject of a community order the judge told him he was giving him a chance - a chance he should not spurn.

The court heard that on November 23, 2022, police on patrol in city centre Cardiff saw a group of people on Howard Gardens, and their behaviour gave rise to suspicions that they were involved in drug dealing.

The group - which included Abdi - was spoken to, and the court heard that while officers were talking to the defendant his phone was "continually" receiving calls from unsaved numbers and receiving text messages.

When Abdi's car on nearby Howard Terrace was searched officers found 6.9g of cannabis and £1,900 in cash. Read about how the contents of a mobile phone led to police busting an organised crime group

The defendant was arrested and taken to a police station where his phone continued to receive a stream of calls and messages. Officers could see the messages as they popped up on the lock screen, and they were related to drugs.

A search of the defendant's house turned up another phone, and a "ledger" on a USB stick. The court heard that when both seized phones were downloaded they were found to contain messages related to the supply of drugs.

The defendant answered "no comment" to all questions asked in interview. For the latest court reports sign up to our crime newsletter here

Aadil Abdi, of Whitaker Road, Tremorfa, Cardiff, had previously pleaded guilty to possession of cannabis with intent to supply and to being concerned in the supply of cannabis when he appeared in the dock for sentencing. He has no previous convictions.

David Pinnell, for Abdi, said given the delay in the case the defendant "has simply moved on" and the offending dates back to a time when his client was a younger man.

He said Abdi had been working in security for some six weeks when he was arrested and he noted, in contrast with the delay in the case, his client's SIA licence had been revoked on the evening of his arrest.

The barrister said his client now has a job with a firm that delivers white goods to customers.

Judge Eugene Egan said given the delay in the case, the defendant's lack of convictions before or since his arrest, the contents of the pre-sentence report, and the fact that Abdi has a job meant a community order was the most appropriate disposal.

With a one-quarter discount for his guilty pleas Abdi was sentenced to an 18-month community order and must complete a rehabilitation course and do 180 hours of unpaid work.

The defendant must also pay £1,000 in prosecution costs. Judge Egan told Abdi: "The ball is now in your court. I am giving you a chance today - please don't spurn it".