The videotape of a drug-dealing mother commenting on the quality of her cocaine wound up in the hands of cops.
‘There is more fish scale than there is coke,’ Natalie Jones said to a supplier as she videotaped the white powder. I look at you as if you were a family member, but I swear to God.’
The 35-year-old mother of three, from Cwm near Ebbw Vale, wept and shook her head during her sentencing at Cardiff Crown Court on Tuesday.
Jones, who is a member of the Blaina rugby club and has no prior criminal record, was detained after leaving her phone at a relative’s residence.
Prosecutor Laurence Jones said: ‘The phone was going off in the early hours, and when [the relative] investigated they found text messages which suggested she was involved in the supply of Class A drugs.’
The relative found videos on the phone in which the defendant Jones discusses the cutting of cocaine with ‘fish scale’, or levamisole — a cattle-deworming medication which some dealers use to bulk up their cocaine.
She can be seen looking over white lines and telling the recipient of the video: ‘Cam I was gonna separate all the fish scale from the coke so we can compare but by f***, there is a s***load in here… You can’t see on the camera but honest to God, Cam.
‘There is more fish scale than there is coke. I wouldn’t lie to you, f***ing hell I look at you like family, but I swear to God… I don’t know if he’s had the s*** end of it cos it’s your last with him, Mr Tiny, but it’s definitely not worth 520 babe.’
Separating lines of powder, she continues: ‘That’s fish scale and that’s coke… Oh Cam, honest to God babe, I wouldn’t kick off and that, right, but you know the price he paid for it and that.
‘Can you just sort him a teenth and an eighth out… Because it’s f***ing coming back on me, it is babe. And I’d be the same, mind, if I paid that for that.
‘I’m not saying it’s you but obviously you know when you said it’s the end of your stuff and if you don’t chop it tidy, whoever cut it, a lump of f***ing fish scale is going to go in that coke… It is f***ing shocking babe, I wouldn’t say otherwise.’
The relative called police, who attended Jones’ home in October 2020 and found snap bags containing white residue.
They also discovered 4.55g of amphetamine, a list of customers and a cutting agent. On her phone there were more than 7,000 messages since July that year discussing cocaine and amphetamine deals.
In some of the messages Jones suggested she used the drugs personally, declaring herself ‘flying’ in an approving verdict on one batch. Her contact replied: ‘Just had that. Ripped off. Had better off the Turks.’
Jones, of Canning Street, pleaded guilty to being concerned in the supply of cocaine, being concerned in making an offer to supply amphetamine, and possession of amphetamine.
Her mother and stepfather sat in the court’s public gallery to support her.
Jeff Jones, mitigating, said some of the messages on the phone were from a man who was also involved in the dealing.
He added: ‘There was a 16-month delay between Ms Jones’ arrest and her being summoned to court. My learned friend [the prosecutor] can’t point to a reasonable reason for that. It is a significant time to fret and worry over what will happen to her in this case.
‘There is an inflammatory disease in her stomach which she believes will shortly be diagnosed as Crohn’s disease. She is significantly unwell with it at times, and if she were in prison that disease may not be easily attended to.
‘She was in employment as a manager for four years, before she was made redundant due to the pandemic.
‘She began to mix with the wrong sort and became hooked on Class A drugs. Since her arrest she has pulled herself up by her bootstraps. She has recreational outlets and is doing rugby training twice a week.’
The defendant, who is £9,000 in debt, no longer uses drugs and received a positive character reference from a fellow Blaina rugby club member.
Her barrister added: ‘Ms Jones has a very fledgling business with her art pieces. She has done work at care homes in her area, and she has done artwork for her friends’ houses. It is of a good quality and it is popular. She feels she has a future there.’
The judge, Recorder Matthew Porter-Bryant, denied the barrister’s call for a suspended sentence.
He took into account the absence of previous convictions, the impact prison would have on Jones’ family and the court delays she had already been through, but he said the offences were ‘significant and serious’ enough for immediate custody.
Jones sobbed as the judge imposed a 31-month jail term.