A FORMER drug dealer from Colwyn Bay was spared jail after beating his cocaine addiction and rehabilitating himself.

Ryan Lehane, 37 of Abergele Road, was sentenced to two years’ imprisonment, suspended for the same period, at Caernarfon Crown Court today (May 23).

He will also complete 30 days’ rehabilitation activity, and pay costs of £900 and a £156 statutory surcharge.

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Prosecuting, Elen Owen told the court that, at 8pm on September 25, 2021, police attended the Red Lion pub in Old Colwyn following reports of two men involved in a disturbance.

Of those two men, one of them, Lehane, had been suspected of possessing illegal drugs.

By the time police arrived at the pub, Lehane had left the premises, but was eventually apprehended, and a wrap of cocaine was found in his shoe.

Lehane’s home was then searched, which revealed cocaine of 78 per cent purity found on his television stand, weighing 25.7g.

Found on the floor by the TV was a further 6.37g of cocaine of 31 per cent purity, and a small block of cannabis resin on a heater.

His phone was also examined, which found numerous messages between May and September 2021 showing an involvement in drug supply.

Lehane’s bank accounts were examined, which showed he had paid £15,800 into a cryptocurrency account across the same five month-period.

Regular payments had been made from a person who had often ordered drugs from him.

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Defending Lehane, who had one previous conviction for a matter in 2006, Matthew Dunford said his client had involved himself in these offences at a time when he lost his job.

Through involving himself with these offences and his cocaine use, he lost contact with his three children.

Mr Dunford said Lehane was “remorseful” for his actions; “in particular, for what he’s put his family through”.

But he has since found employment again as a floor fitter, and has re-established contact with his three children, to whom he makes regular financial contributions.

Lehane has also stopped consuming illegal drugs.

“The Ryan Lehane today before this court is very different to the Ryan Lehane of 2021 who committed these offences,” Mr Dunford said.

“A prison sentence would obviously impact Mr Lehane, but also his children, as well. He is determined never to be before the courts again.”

Inviting the court to consider suspending Lehane’s prison sentence, Mr Dunford added: “Immediate custody would have a significant harmful impact on others.”

Sentencing, Judge Nicola Saffman agreed to suspend Lehane’s sentence on the basis that he had made positive changes to his life since his arrest.

She also ordered all drugs and paraphernalia seized by police in relation to Lehane’s offences to be forfeited and destroyed.

Judge Saffman told him: “You were a street dealer. You were dealing a drug to which you became addicted during the COVID-19 pandemic, during which you lost your job.

“(But) you have rehabilitated yourself; (and) there would be significant harm to your young children now if I were not to suspend your sentence.

“The very fact of the custodial sentence, albeit suspended, is sufficient punitive measure in your circumstance.”