A GIFTED student from a Gwent school who achieved three As at A-levels and studied law and criminology at university was jailed for 15 months along with her drug dealing boyfriend who was given a seven-year prison sentence

Emily Lock, 22, a former pupil at Fleur-de-Lys’ Ysgol Gyfun Cwm Rhymni, had hoped one day that she would become 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 dreams are in tatters after she was put behind bars at Merthyr Tydfil Crown Court after admitting acquiring criminal property.

On Friday, prosecutor Roger Griffiths had told Judge Tom Crowther QC at Cardiff Crown Court 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 worth £33,000.

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 and was jailed for five years.

Crowley’s partner, Dionne Thomas, 25, of the same address, admitted acquiring criminal property, and was sentenced to a community order to carry out 120 hours of unpaid work.

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.

He was jailed for 20 months.

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 had remanded all the defendant in custody from Friday’s hearing apart from Thomas in custody over the weekend before sentencing them on Monday.

Speaking after the sentencing, PC Michael Coles, officer in charge of the case for Gwent Police, said: “I hope the sentences issued to these individuals highlight that the supply of controlled drugs will not be tolerated in Caerphilly.

“These people endanger our community, and this lengthy investigation shows we are committed to using all powers and resources available to bring them before the courts.

“I hope this sends a message to those who continue to be involved in the supply of controlled drugs, that you will not just be prosecuted, we will also use our powers to seize any financial assets you have acquired though criminality.”