A MAN who used his girlfriend’s home in Newport to store around £22,000 worth of drugs has been jailed for three years.

Anthony Smith, 30, was jailed for three years yesterday, after police searched the home of his partner, Leila Hanford, in Amelia Way, Newport, and found class A and B drugs, as well £6,700 in cash, three sets of weighing scales and 11 mobile phones, Cardiff Crown Court was told.

He pleaded guilty to three counts of possession with intent to supply drugs, namely cocaine, diamorphine and cannabis at a previous hearing.

Hanford, 30, who the court heard played the lesser role, was given a sentence of two months imprisonment suspended for two years. She previously pleading guilty to a joint charge of possession with intent to supply cannabis.

Police discovered the drugs after being called to reports of a domestic incident on January 5.

After noting the smell of cannabis, officers searched the home and arrested Smith at the scene.

Two packets of cocaine – totalling 16.4 grams of 98 per cent purity – were found in a pair of pyjama bottoms stuffed behind a bed in one of the bedrooms, valued at £1,630.

A total of 8.45 grams of heroin, valued at £845, was also found.

Large quantities of cannabis, valued in total at £20,660, were found in buckets – including £9,750 worth in a cupboard, and £3,690 worth in an airing cupboard.

Diamorphine was also found on a table, while large quantities of cash were found in a kitchen drawer, coat pockets and in Hanford’s handbag.

The court heard Hanford and Smith had been in a “volatile” relationship since September 2016.

Smith, of Romford Street in Stratford, London, would visit Newport around twice a week, the court was told.

Ben Walters, defending, said Hanford had agreed to store cannabis belonging to Smith under pressure. She was not aware of the class A drugs, or the extent of the cannabis, Mr Walters added.

Tim Evans, defending Smith, said the defendant accepted he was street dealing drugs and had pleaded guilty at the first opportunity. He said Smith was using class A and B drugs at the time and has since made attempts to fight his addiction.

Sentencing, recorder Mark Powell QC told Hanford: “This is your last chance. You can count yourself fortunate that you have not gone to prison.”