Jailed for three years for drug supply

A drug dealer who sent several thousand messages relating to drugs has been jailed for three years.
Derry's Courthouse on Bishop Street. 3003JM66Derry's Courthouse on Bishop Street. 3003JM66
Derry's Courthouse on Bishop Street. 3003JM66

Jason Paul Villa, with an address in Luton, Bedfordshire, pleaded guilty to being concerned in an offer to supply MDMA and cannabis.

The 29-year-old also admitted simple possession of cannabis between October 2014 and February 2015.

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Derry Crown Court heard that Villa was arrested for an unrelated incident and police seized his phone.

He initially denied it was his phone, however was able to provide police with the PIN code.

The mobile phone was examined and several thousand text messages relating to drug supply were found.

Police searched Villa’s home and a small bag of cannabis, worth around £40, was seized.

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The court heard the text messages confirmed the 29-year-old was involved in the supply of MDMA and cannabis.

Some of the messages were sent to 51 contacts.

During police interview, Villa claimed he was a drug dealer who supplied small amounts of cannabis but denied supplying ecstasy.

Passing sentence, Judge Philip Babington said: “This is a case in which the defendant has been involved in very serious offending. Texts confirm that he is supplying to a large number of people.

“They also confirm that he is involved in the supply of both class A and class B drugs with presumably little or no regard for the consequences of his actions on those to whom he supplies or to the local community as a whole.”

The judge said a previous custodial sentence for drugs offence has had ‘little or no effect’ on Villa.

The defendant will serve half his sentence in custody and half on licence.