Wrexham man found to have hundreds of pounds worth of drugs has been jailed

Corey Li, 21, of Tudor Avenue, Rhostyllen, Wrexham, had earlier pleaded guilty to possession with intent to supply the class A drug cocaine, along with the class B drugs cannabis and ketamine.

At Mold Crown Court on Thursday, December 16, Judge Rhys Rowlands jailed Li for 21 months.

Judge Rowlands acknowledged it had been a long time in between Li being found to have had the drugs in 2019 and the decision to prosecute two years later.

The court heard Li was 18 when he got involved in drug dealing, with police finding a stash at his address.

A total of 10 bags of cocaine, collectively weighing 10.5g with between 77 per cent and 80 per cent purity, valued at between £800 and £1,700, was found.

Also found were 13 bags of ketamine, collectively weighing 30g and of "significant value", as well as 80g of cannabis valued at £800.

Two mobile phones were also found showing months of drug-dealing text message evidence.

The judge said despite the "overwhelming evidence" against Li, it was more than two years before he was prosecuted, and that did "detract from the good work the police had done" prior to the defendant's arrest and was an "unacceptable delay".

Li had pleaded guilty at the first opportunity, but although there had been no similar offending since then, Li had committed battery at the beginning of 2020.

Li played a "lesser role" in drug dealing, and there was a degree of immaturity to him at the time.

The judge ruled that immediate custody was appropriate.