A COUPLE of men from Gwynedd who were involved in the supply of cocaine have been spared jail.

Dafydd Barnes, 34, of Wenallt, Dolgellau; and Steven Connor, 28, of Garth Road, Porthmadog; were today (September 17) each sentence to two years’ imprisonment, suspended for the same time period, at Caernarfon Crown Court (sitting at Llandudno Magistrates’ Court).

Connor had previously pleaded guilty to possession of cocaine with intent to supply and possession of cannabis, while Barnes had admitted being concerned in the supply of cocaine.

Prosecuting, Amy Edwards told the court that, in the early hours of July 27, 2019, police stopped a black Vauxhall Insigna car travelling along the A470 in Blaenau Ffestiniog.

The car belonged to Barnes, who was driving it, with Connor one of two passengers also inside the vehicle at the time.

Officers searched the car, and found £340 in cash, plastic “snap bags”, cocaine powder, cannabis, and mobile phones.

Later that day, police were contacted by a person who lived by where the car had been stopped, who said that a package had been found on their driveway.

This package was found to contain 54.5g of high purity cocaine, worth up to £6,800 if sold as “street deals”.

The packaging also had Connor’s DNA on it.

Messages on Barnes’ phone were found to be “entirely consistent” with him having been involved in the supply of drugs for some time.

Barnes refused to provide police with the PIN code for the other phone which was found in the car.

Their involvement in drug-dealing spanned from October 2018 to July 2019, the court heard.

Defending Connor, who had six previous convictions for 10 offences, Dafydd Roberts asked the court to be mindful of his client’s guilty pleas.

Connor has not re-offended this incident, the court heard, while he is in employment, and suffers from a mental disorder.

Representing Barnes, who had one previous conviction for two offences, David Birrell also reminded the court of his client’s guilty plea, adding that he, too, is currently working.

Sentencing, Judge Nicola Saffman told Connor he had played a “significant role” within a chain.

Both were also ordered to complete 20 days each of rehabilitation activity requirements.

Judge Saffman told them: “You are not criminal masterminds by any stretch.

“The punitive element is the fact that this is a prison sentence, albeit suspended.

“Ordinarily, people in your position would go straight to prison for a lengthy period of time, but you’ve shown yourselves worthy of a chance of rehabilitation.”

Judge Saffman ordered the forfeiture and destruction of the drugs and paraphernalia seized, and confiscation of the cash found in the car.

Connor and Barnes will pay £160 and £500 respectively in costs, while both will also pay a statutory surcharge.