Man tried to hand himself in at police station but was turned away

A drug dealer who left £5,000 in his car after crashing it attempted to hand himself into a police station but was told to "come back in business hours". He was later found in possession of £1,000 worth of heroin when he was raided by police.

Anthony Edgell, 36, was seen driving an Audi A3 by police officers in Waterloo Terrace in Carmarthen on December 27 last year. The officers were later alerted to a collision involving the defendant in Pentrefelin Street.

A sentencing hearing at Cardiff Crown Court on Tuesday heard Edgell left the scene of the crash on foot. 

A search of the vehicle was carried out and resulted in the discovery of 460g of cannabis located on the passenger seat. At 11.19pm the same day the defendant called 999 and informed the operator he had been involved in a collision and admitted he had been in possession of cannabis and was not insured to drive.

He later attended Carmarthen police station and attempted to hand himself in, but was told the station was not open and he would have to come back the next day.

On January 7 police officers attended an address in Waterloo Terrace belonging to Edgell's sister to execute a search warrant. The defendant's sister said her brother was not present but told officers there was "stuff" belonging to him in a cupboard.

A search of the cupboard resulted in the discovery of 8.6g of heroin and digital scales. Edgell later arrived at the property and was arrested.

He was searched and a small wrap of cannabis was seized along with a mobile phone. The defendant was taken to Llanelli custody suite and a small snapbag containing 0.3g of cocaine was found in his pants.

Prosecutor Emily Bennett said the cannabis seized was worth a total of £5,100, the heroin was worth £1,050, and the cocaine was worth up to £30. The mobile phone was downloaded and messages were found advertising the sale of heroin, cannabis, cocaine, valium and pregabalin.

Edgell, of Clos Sticle, Carmarthen, later pleaded guilty to possession with intent to supply class A and B drugs, possession of cocaine, and driving without insurance or a licence.

The court heard he had 39 previous convictions, including seven previous drug convictions and offences of inflicting grievous bodily harm, theft from a person and failing to surrender to custody.

In mitigation Dean Pulling said his client had recently been in hospital with pneumonia and an abscess on his right lung as well as being treated for a longstanding addiction to drugs.

The barrister said the defendant had attempted to hand himself in but was told to "go back there in normal business hours".

Recorder Simon Hughes sentenced Edgell to a total of 36 months imprisonment.