A 19-YEAR-OLD drug dealer from Barry has been sentenced to three years in a Young Offender Institution after he was caught with large quantities of cash and illegal substances following a police chase.
In the early hours of 17th November 2025, Jack Finch drew the attention of the police while speeding in his Peugeot 207. Officers signalled for the car to stop, but Finch instead drove the vehicle at 60mph in a 20mph residential area.
During the 17-minute pursuit, Finch undertook a series of dangerous manoeuvres on the wrong side of the road, drove in the wrong direction along a one-way street, switched his lights off and went the wrong way around a roundabout.
The vehicle eventually came to a stop at 1.50am and Finch surrendered himself to police.
A roadside drugs wipe showed Finch was under the influence of cannabis, though he was not charged with drug-driving, and checks revealed he only had a provisional driving licence.
Prosecutor Hannah Head told Cardiff Crown Court the vehicle was searched at the scene and a number of items were seized, including four bags of cocaine, £1,460 in cash, a quantity of cannabis, empty bags and weighing scales. Police also discovered a metal baseball bat and a red iPhone.
Finch’s home was searched where items seized included £9,980 in cash, empty bags, cannabis seeds along with an iPhone and cannabis residue. Officers also found a McDonald’s bag containing cannabis cakes.
During a police interview, Finch said the cash was money inherited from his grandfather, but enquiries with his mother proved the claim to be false.
Police examined the red iPhone and discovered Finch was involved in the supply of cannabis and cocaine to a “substantial customer base” and messages revealed his name was stored as ‘Jack Weed’ on some customers’ phones.
Ms Head told the court the drugs seized were worth £1,170 and the combined amount of cash found totalled £11,445.
Finch later pleaded guilty to possession with intent to supply Class A and Class B drugs, being concerned in the supply of Class A and Class B drugs, possession of criminal property, dangerous driving, failing to stop, and driving without a licence and insurance.
Ross McQuillan-Johnson, mitigating on behalf of Finch, said his client’s only previous conviction was for driving without a licence, and added: “He’s experiencing his first period in custody. His eyes have properly been opened, essentially seeing what his life will look like if he continues this type of offending.”
Mr McQuillan-Johnson said that Finch had only become involved with the supply of drugs through “naivety” and that he was only 18 years old at the time of the offences.
Sentencing Finch, Judge Paul Hobson rejected the attempts at mitigation and said: “I don’t accept that. You were involved in this to make money knowing full well what you were doing was wrong.
“This was a substantial operation with an established customer base. It was only sheer good fortune you did not injure or kill anybody.”
In addition to his three-year custodial sentence, Finch was disqualified from driving for 34 months.
A Proceeds of Crime Act hearing has been scheduled for 26th June.
By Marcus Stead – News Reporter
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