A MAN from Rhuddlan who was found to be in possession of crack cocaine and heroin when police arrested him in Rhyl has been jailed.

Frederick Palin, 46, of Tan Yr Eglwys, was sentenced to two years and four months’ imprisonment at Mold Crown Court today (February 29).

He had previously admitted two charges of possession with intent to supply class A drugs.

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Prosecuting, Thomas McLoughlin told the court that, on January 13, 2023, plain-clothes police officers in Rhyl saw Palin leaving an address acting in a “suspicious manner”.

The officers confronted Palin, who attempted to make off from police, but was arrested.

During his arrest, he appeared to discard two green bags, while a mobile phone and £110 in cash was also discovered upon his person.

The two green bags were recovered and found to contain crack cocaine, valued at about £180 in single-deal amounts, and heroin.

A subsequent search of the address he was seen leaving also led to drug paraphernalia being discovered.

Analysis of his phone showed messages indicative of “street dealing”, including sending and received “flare messages”, advertising the sale of illicit substances.

When interviewed, he said the drugs were for his own personal use, and that the £110 which officers found he had received from his benefits.

Defending Palin, who had 14 previous convictions for 32 offences, Sarah Yates said he had a “very, very heavy drug addiction” at the time, having been addicted to heroin and crack cocaine for 15 years.

Ms Yates said he “effectively was funding his own habit”, but had not been before the courts since 2018, and has not re-offended since this incident 13 months ago.

She added that Palin, who lives with his partner and two children and has “a lot of ongoing health issues”, has been able to abstain from taking class A drugs for a year.

“This offence has actually taught him a bit of a lesson; he knows he needs to grow up,” she added.

Sentencing, Judge Niclas Parry ordered the seized drugs to be forfeited and destroyed, while Palin will pay a statutory surcharge upon his release from prison.

“Common sense does indeed go out of the window when you and drugs collide,” Judge Parry told him.