A MAN from Kinmel Bay who accrued debts from gambling was found to be in possession of more than £37,000 of cocaine.
Gareth Hastie hid quantities of the class A drug in places including a plastic tub in his kitchen, and a storage unit in Rhyl.
Hastie, 44, of Tir Llwyd Industrial Estate, was jailed for six years and four months at Mold Crown Court today (February 26).
He had previously admitted two counts of possession of cocaine with intent to supply.
Prosecutor Amy Edwards said police first searched Hastie’s home on November 25, 2024 while nobody was present.
Officers seized £300 in cash found in a coffee pot in his kitchen, a plastic tub containing cocaine worth up to £14,000, scales, and more cocaine valued up to £500 which a police dog found in a plastic pot.
Then, on January 29, 2026, police searched a unit at Whites Self Storage in Rhyl attributed to Hastie, where they found a green fishing tub containing cocaine worth up to £23,113.
He was arrested once more, and again gave no comment.
Police then searched Hastie’s property, and seized £4,800 in cash from a coat pocket in his wardrobe.
Representing Hastie, who had 35 previous convictions for 119 offences, Duncan Bould said he “sensibly pleaded guilty at the first opportunity”.
Mr Bould said Hastie, a father to a teenage boy, developed a gambling addiction, which led him to accrue debts he could not repay.
He added that Hastie is “ashamed that he fell into re-offending,” has not gambled now for about a year, and feels he has “let himself down”.
Character references written on Hastie’s behalf described him as a “hard-working, caring and kind” man.
Sentencing, Recorder Benjamin Blakemore told Hastie: “You know the police were onto you.
“It’s clear you’d been involved in a fairly significant operation. You knew what you were getting yourself into.
“You have an antecedent record which is unenviable and significant.”
Detective Inspector Kris Williams, of North Wales Police's central priority crime team, said: "This was a substantial quantity of cocaine which would have caused serious harm within our communities.
"The seizure of almost half a kilogram of this class A drug represents a significant disruption to the supply chain. Drug-dealing brings exploitation, violence and misery to our neighbourhoods.
"We will pursue those who seek to profit from such criminality and will use all the tools at our disposal to strip criminals of any assets they have acquired as a result of their activities.
"We remain committed to targeting those involved in the supply of illegal drugs and will continue to act on information from the public."
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