A NEWPORT drug dealer who tried to pass off hot chocolate powder as heroin - and then sell it to an undercover police officer - has received a 12 month community order.

Ellis Brock, 21, of Gaer Vale, appeared at Newport Crown Court on Friday, June 30, as part of Gwent Police’s drug crackdown – Operation Jewels.

He pleaded guilty to offering to supply a class A drug following the incident which occurred in January in Cardiff Road.

Prosecuting, Ian Kolvin told the court that Brock received a call from an undercover police officer posing as a heroin drug addict.

The undercover officer arranged to meet Brock by Subway, after ordering £20 worth of the drug in a wrap prepared by the defendant.

“When it was submitted for forensic examination, results showed it was just 2.5 grams of heroin in the wrap,” said Mr Kolvin.

“It was not drugs, it was hot chocolate powder.”

The barrister added that the chocolate powder resemble heroin in powder form.

“The similarity is it is a dark brown powder,” he said.

Mr Kolvin added that Brock had six convictions for 13 offences between July 2010 and May 2017, including road traffic offences, battery, criminal damage and a public order offence.

Defending, Sophie Toms told the court that the defendant had no intention of actually giving the undercover police officer any drugs.

“In order to get rid of her, he went home to package something up that looked like heroin from what he had seen in films,” she said.

Miss Toms added that Brock has attempted to turn his life around and has taken up a role with a ground work contractor.

“He has straightened himself out in a number of considerable ways,” she said.

Concluding, judge Daniel Williams said that Brock’s actions were a deception offence and he should have been aware of the possible dangers of ingesting unknown materials.

“You met the undercover office on Cardiff Road. You handed her a £20 wrap to the undercover officer,” said Mr Williams.

“It was as you well know not heroin but chocolate powder.”

Brock received a 12 month community order, 80 hours of unpaid work and a 20 day rehabilitation activity requirement as well as a victim surcharge of £85.