Woman used ‘vulnerable’ man’s Llandudno home as base for dealing drugs

Jodie Hayward, 29, of Canol Creuddyn, Llandudno was sentenced to three years’ imprisonment at Caernarfon Crown Court today (July 4).

She had previously admitted two counts of being concerned in the supply of class A drugs, and a further charge of possession of a class A drug with intent to supply.

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Prosecuting, Jade Tufail told the court that, on March 14, officers attended an address on the Ffordd Las estate following intelligence they had received implicating Hayward in the supply of drugs from the man’s home.

It was suspected that the man had been a victim of “cuckooing” - the name given to the process where vulnerable people are exploited by having their homes used as a base for dealing drugs.

Hayward was stopped by officers after she was seen walking away from the communal entrance to the flats.

She struggled to free herself, made attempts to delete data from a mobile device, and threw a small bag of powder to the floor.

Additional officers had to be called to secure her detention, following which three wraps of heroin were found in her handbag.

Officers attended the man’s flat, and found him sat on his couch “quiet and subdued”, asking if Hayward would be returning because she had his mobile phone.

While arrangements were made for his phone to be returned to him, the man told police a week later that he couldn’t access it because its PIN code had been changed.

It transpired that Hayward had used his phone to send 791 “flare messages” advertising the sale of drugs, including at least two per day.

A sample of these messages included "On.. best of both!!” and “best of both”.

Hayward would travel between Llandudno and Colwyn Bay, using taxis to supply class A drugs.

Messages identified by police referred to Haywards drugs as making people ill, and "frazzled" - a term used to describe poor-quality drugs.

She was bailed after her initial arrest, but was found in the man’s flat again on April 9, in a bed with the duvet pulled over her head.

Hayward denied being responsible for the messages and claimed the man was a family friend.

Hayward was jailed at Caernarfon Crown Court (Image: Newsquest)

Defending Hayward, who had 12 previous convictions for 32 offences albeit none for drug-dealing, Sarah Yates said her client’s own issues with substance misuse partly explain why she “became involved in this behaviour”.

She said Hayward incurred debts of her own, so sold drugs in an attempt to discharge these.

Hayward, a mother-of-three who receives medication and therapy for mental health issues, was said to be “appalled” at and “extremely remorseful” for her actions.

Sentencing, Judge Nicola Saffman also ordered the forfeiture and destruction of the drugs seized from Hayward, who she said had targeted a “very vulnerable” man.

“You played, in my judgement, a significant role,” she told Hayward.

“You may have started off in a lesser role, but you worked your way up. You were a street dealer.”

PC Ashley Davies, of North Wales Police's Serious Organised Crime Unit said: “County Lines drug dealing is linked to the most serious violence, which causes misery and fear in our communities.

“I welcome the sentence handed to Hayward and I hope this case provides reassurance to the local community, demonstrating that we are committed to doing all we can to tackle drug-related crime in North Wales.”