2 days ago
He turned up in Nissan Juke and police knew immediately what he was up to
He turned up in Nissan Juke and police knew immediately what he was up to
Allan Lapping realises he has made a "terrible mistake"
Allan Lapping
(Image: South Wales Police )
When Allan Lapping pulled up in his Nissan Juke in the Waun Wen area of Swansea, he had the misfortune that undercover officers were watching.
The officers had been keeping an eye on a group of people standing on the street as one their number was on the phone - and they hyad concluded the group was arranging for a dealer to turn up. As soon as Lapping pulled up, the officers moved in.
When they searched the 47 year old they found he had more than 80 wraps of heroin and cocaine hidden in his pants.
Swansea Crown Court the former taxi driver had turned to dealing to makes money and now realises he made a "terrible mistake".
His barrister said the defendant works as a barista in prison and his "prime motivation in life" is now his two children and being a good role model for them.
Emily Bennet, prosecuting, told the court that on April 29 this year police in an unmarked car were operating in the Waun Wen area of Swansea. She said at just after 1pm the officers were monitoring activities on Baptist Well Street "an area known for the supply of Class A drugs".
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The court heard that five minutes after the call was made the defendant pulled up in his Nissan Juke and the group on the street approached both the driver's and passenger's windows. At that point the undercover officers moved in and detained the driver who was found to have two heroin deals and two crack deals in his hand. In his shoulder bag officers found £1,147 in cash and in a bag on the seat officers found more wraps of Class A drugs.
The prosecutor said Lapping was taken to Swansea Central police station where he indicated he had further wraps of heroin and cocaine in his boxer shorts. The defendant was searched and officers recovered a total of 84 wraps. Lapping refused legal representation for his subsequent interview and answered "no comment" to all questions asked. For the latest court reports sign up to our crime newsletter
Allan Lapping, of Jones Terrace, Mount Pleasant, Swansea, had previously pleaded guilty to possession of cocaine with intent to supply, possession of crack with intent to supply, and possession of heroin with intent to supply when he appeared in the dock for sentencing. He has two previous convictions for seven offices from 1996 and 1997 but none for drugs matters.
Sarah John, for Lapping, said the defendant had worked as a taxi driver for many years before losing his licence. She said her client then found work in an Amazon warehouse but that employment ended after the pre-Christmas rush and he found himself building up debts and asking around the local community for any cash-in-hand work. She said Lapping now realises he made, in his own words, the "terrible mistake" of turning to drug dealing to make money.
The barrister said her client is on the drug-free wing at Swansea Prison, has been fast-tracked to enhanced prisoner status, and works as a barista in the staff coffee shop and in the coffee shop used by visitors. She said Lapping's "primary motivation in life" is now building bridges with his two children and being a good role model for them.
Judge Geraint Walters said Lapping had been caught red-handed with "significant quantities" of Class A drugs. He said it was a shame to see a 47-year-old father-of-two in court for such serious offences but said everyone who involves themselves in peddling Class A drugs know what kind of sentence awaits them if caught.
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The judge told Lapping that pleading guilty at the earliest opportunity had been "the most sensible decision you have taken for a while" as it meant he would get a one-third discount on his sentence.
The defendant was sentenced to 32 months in prison for each of the three offences to run concurrently with one another. He will serve up to half the 32-month sentence in custody before being released on licence to serve the remainder in the community.
Judge Walters ordered that the cash seized from the defendant on arrested by forfeited and given to South Wales Police to assist them "in their battle against those who peddle misery in the streets".
