A GIFTED student from a Gwent school who achieved three As at A-level and studied law and criminology at university is behind bars this weekend along with her drug dealing boyfriend.

Emily Lock, 22, a former pupil at Fleur-de-Lys’ Ysgol Gyfun Cwm Rhymni, had hoped one day to be a probation officer but a modern fascination with a Kim Kardashian type of lifestyle was hinted at as a motivation for her fall.

But her career dreams are in tatters after she appeared for sentencing at Cardiff Crown Court after admitting acquiring criminal property.

Prosecutor Roger Griffiths told Judge Tom Crowther QC how Lock and her partner Mark Price, 27, had enjoyed an “extravagant lifestyle” funded by his cocaine dealing.

Lock, the court heard had posted pictures of herself living the highlife on Instagram and that over the space of a year in 2016, she had been on holiday to Amsterdam twice, Paris, Alicante, Miami and Dubai.

Mr Griffiths said a planned trip to Thailand was scuppered by a police raid which brought an end to it all.

Her annual salary of £10,000 a year working at a Lidl store was “far removed” from the kind of existence she was really enjoying, the court heard.

Mr Griffiths said Price had boasted in texts to his “subordinate” in his drug dealing, Kyle Crowley, 28, that he could make up to £1,600 a week from peddling cocaine.

When police raided Price’s home they found £50,000 worth of jewellery and designer clothing from luxury brands like Rolex, Gucci, Cartier and Vivienne Westwood.

Price also admitted to fraud after he lied in his application to obtain a £33,000 loan for an Audi S4.

He claimed he worked in construction for a firm that had gone into liquidation.

Price, of Coed Y Wennol, Caerphilly, also admitted possession with intent to supply cocaine.

Crowley, of Plasturtwyn Terrace, Llanbradach, near Caerphilly, admitted supplying cocaine and the production of cannabis after police found 12 plants in his home.

Crowley’s partner, Dionne Thomas, 25, of the same address, admitted acquiring criminal property.

A fifth defendant involved in the investigation, Christopher Morgan, 30, of Green Hill Close, Penybryn, near Ystrad Mynach, pleaded guilty to the production of cannabis after 30 plants were found at his address and possessing the drug with intent to supply.

Jeffrey Jones, mitigating, for Price said his client had been “immature” and was not a “racketeer”.

The judge replied: “He was a racketeer, but he wasn’t very good at it.

“You don’t get mitigation for being a bad drug dealer.”

Andrew Taylor, for Lock, from Cae Du Mawr, Caerphilly, said she had been “devastated” by her arrest and outlined her academic achievements.

He hinted that young people today were fixated by a Kim Kardashian type of lifestyle.

Gareth Williams, for Morgan, said his client had been the “architect of his own downfall”.

Ed Mitchard, mitigating for Crowley and Thomas, said the former was an ex-nurse and the latter had no previous convictions.

Judge Crowther remanded Lock, Price, Morgan and Crowley in custody for sentencing at Merthyr Tydfil Crown Court on Monday.

He released Thomas on bail and told her she would not be going to prison.