A BLAENAVON man who was found with £90 worth of cannabis in a pizza box in his car has been sentenced to eight months in prison.

Luke Davies, aged 28, of Brynavon, previously pleaded guilty to possession with intent to supply a Class B drug. He had been on bail.

Newport Crown Court heard how the incident occurred on January 12, when PC Baker and PC Davies were on mobile patrol in the town.

At around 9.45pm, they passed Abergavenny Road, near the Blorenge car park, and noticed a green Ford Fiesta parked on the mountain.

Leah Pollard, prosecuting, said that as the police car drove towards the Fiesta, Davies bent down at the footwell of the car.

Officers could immediately smell cannabis in the air and asked him to step out of the car. They found nine 1g wrap bags of cannabis stored in a pizza box, as well as £50 in cash.

Davies was arrested and gave a no comment interview to police when taken to Ystrad Mynach Police Station.

Incriminating messages were found on his phone, dating back to September 20, 2015, including “supply on tick” and requests for a 10g bag.

Newport Crown Court heard he had 13 convictions for 24 offences, and it transpired he had been on bail at the time for an unrelated criminal damage offence that he was later to be given a suspended sentence for.

Ben Waters, defending, pointed out that Davies had no drug related offences on his record up until this point.

He said: “He is a defendant who suffered with cannabis use himself. It’s not a drug he enjoys taking, but sadly a drug he’s addicted to.”

Recorder Mark Powell said that while Davies had not breached the suspended sentence, as this incident happened before he was handed the suspended sentence, he would still take into account that he had been on bail at the time.

He said: “The offence occurred when you were on bail from magistrates to the crown court.

“You were dealing, if the texts are to be believed, on a regular basis.”

He handed down a sentence of eight months in prison and ordered the forfeiture and destruction of the drugs seized.