A MAN was caught with cocaine and cannabis worth about £10,000 after he was stopped while driving in Wrexham.

Theo Mertakkas had turned to drug dealing to fund his own cocaine habit, which at one stage saw him spending £600 every week on the Class A drug.

He recruited his girlfriend, Molly Davies, to help with his enterprise, although Mold Crown Court was told that her involvement was restricted to the supply of cannabis.

Police were led to the couple’s home in Borras after police officers had reason to pull over Mertakkas while he was driving Davies’ BMW in Wrexham town centre.

They found a small quantity (34g) of cannabis, but also bundles of cash totalling £1,880.

Prosecutor Maria Masselis said Mertakkas claimed the money was his uncle’s and he was taking it to the bank.

But his property was searched and drugs were recovered from a TV cabinet, including two bags of cocaine, one of which contained five small wraps (100g) of cocaine with a high purity measuring from 74 to 79 per cent.

Three bags of cannabis were also recovered from the house with 85g of the drug in one of them, as well as two sets of scales and empty boxes.

The street value of the cocaine was estimated to be between £6,000 to £10,000, while he had cannabis worth more than £900.

Mobile phone records showed incoming and outgoing messages indicating the extent of Mertakkas’ dealing with references to pricing and buying on tick.

Davies had a small number of messages indicating her involvement, but she initially denied knowledge of the drugs although she said she was aware that Mertakkas smoked cannabis.

The couple both made full admissions after their mobile phones were analysed.

Mertakkas said he had been supplying drugs for six to seven months and did it to fund his own drug habit.

At the time of his arrest he said he was on his way to Birkenhead to get his drugs from someone he owed money to.

He said Davies had involved herself on only a handful of occasions and that was because he “exerted control” over her.

Davies told police that she felt under pressure to get involved.

Mertakkas, 23, of Huntsman’s Corner, Borras, admitted possession of cocaine with intent to supply, possession of criminal property (cash to the value of £1,880) and possession of cannabis with intent to supply in January last year.

Davies, 21, also of Huntsman’s Corner, pleaded guilty to being concerned in the supply of cannabis with intent to supply in January last year.

Defence barrister Nicholas Williams said Mertakkas suffered from depression and had reduced his cocaine intake to £100 a week and was hopeful of receiving treatment for his addiction in prison.

“Events in his life meant he took drugs more and more,” said Mr Williams.

“He regrets dealing class A drugs and he regrets getting his girlfriend involved in it.”

Jailing Mertakkas for two years, Judge Niclas Parry said: “You were bang at it.

"You were stopped in the car with cash bundles and up to £10,000 of drugs were found.

“You know the misery they cause because you are suffering it yourself.”

Davies received a 12-month community order and was told to do 80 hours of unpaid work and pay costs of £340.

The judge told her: “You acted out of character. You became involved because you were naïve and because you were loyal.”

A destruction order was made for the seized drugs.