A cocaine dealer was caught by police after texts were discovered on the phone of a customer who was arrested at a house party.
Richard Rees, 32, was raided at his Cardiff home where he was found in possession of cocaine, cannabis, and various drug paraphernalia.
Texts from Rees were discovered on the phone of Elliott Phillips who was arrested at a house party in Tongwynlais on November 15 last year where people had been taking Class A drugs.
Having been arrested at his house in Yewtree Close in Pentrebane Rees claimed he was selling drugs to friends having become addicted to cocaine himself.
A sentencing hearing at Cardiff Crown Court on Wednesday heard police saw Rees reaching out of an upstairs window and discarding a number of items that fell to the floor.
Prosecutor Laurence Jones said the items were later found to include £160 in cash and small plastic bags containing the residue of white powder.
They also discovered 4.12g of cannabis in a plastic tub and a yellow Kinder egg containing six plastic bags of 0.5g deals of cocaine worth £180 in total. When he was cautioned the defendant said: "I'm a buyer not a seller."
Rees was arrested and gave a no comment interview but he later pleaded guilty to being concerned in the supply of cocaine, possession with intent to supply cocaine, possession of cannabis, and possession of criminal property.
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Defence barrister Derrick Gooden said his client was "under no illusion" that he would be serving an immediate custodial sentence.
He added: "He's had time to reflect on how his offending has affected his family, his relationship with his child, and on the error of his ways in supplying a friend with a drug to which he was a user."
Sentencing Judge David Wynn Morgan said: "Those who sell Class A drugs go to prison for a long time. They create havoc and misery in the community.
"Some think it's glamorous to take cocaine but the fact is it ruins people's lives and people who supply cocaine to others are helping them in that degradation."
Rees was sentenced to a total of 38 months imprisonment.
