A DRUG dealer who held a ‘significant role’ and brought thousands of pounds worth of drugs into North Wales has been jailed.

David Bateman, 43, of High Street in Caerwys, appeared at Mold Crown Court on December 15 for two counts of possession with intent to supply cocaine, three counts of possession with intent to supply cannabis and possession with intent to supply MDMA.

However, the events date back to 2018 and it took 18 months to summon him to court, which Judge Rhys Rowlands branded as ‘unacceptable’ as it is ‘not in the public interest’ and ‘takes away from the good police work’.

The court heard how on October 22, 2018, a cleaner at a Northop hotel found a holdall full of drugs in Bateman’s room which contained £400-500 worth of cocaine and cannabis resin worth around £10,000.

When interviewed by police, Bateman said he had been buying drugs from a Liverpool dealer and had ‘run up a debt’.

Prosecution Counsel Andrew Green said, on April 2, 2019 in Shotton, whilst released under investigation from the previous offence, Bateman was spotted in a parked car on Charmleys Lane in Shotton.

The court heard how once searched he was found to have on him over £1,000 with of cocaine, over 300 MDMA tablets and drug related items.

This led to a search of an address in Connah’s Quay were more drugs were found and a mobile phone which once examined ‘showed an element of trust’.

Defence Counsel Robin Boag said that growing up, Bateman had ‘gone off the rails’ and fallen in with ‘bad company’.

He had the ‘misfortune’ to have been introduced to an associate who allowed him to ‘run up a debt’ which had to be repaid.

In his defence, Mr Boag told the court that Bateman has since ‘rebuilt bridges’ with his family and is looking to ‘get himself away from drugs’ and has shown ‘genuine remorse’.

Judge Rhys Rowlands said: “Surprisingly, you were released under investigation by police, but for some inexplicable reason, it took until July this year for a decision to prosecute.

“Such a delay in my judgement was plainly unnecessary. It is not in the public interest and takes away from the good police work which led to your arrest in the first place.”

He went on to say that there were ‘significant amounts of drugs’ found on both occasions and was considered ‘street level dealing’.

Judge Rowlands added that Bateman’s role was a ‘significant one’ as he was ‘assisting others with the distribution of drugs’ into North East Wales.

Bateman was given a total of 54-months in prison.