A PROMISING Powys footballer who turned to drugs after seeing his dreams of making it in the professional game dashed by injury, has avoided immediate prison for supplying cocaine.

Jordan Nathan Steven Dean was jailed for two years at Mold Crown Court on Thursday (September 16) – but Judge Niclas Parry suspended the sentence for two years; saying he had been impressed by the 22-year-old turning his life around in the period since committing the offence.

Dean, 22, was a passenger in a car stopped by police in Newtown in August 2019. He was found in possession of a package containing £1,500 of cocaine. The court heard how Dean had fallen into a life of drugs after being left feeling “very low and in constant pain” from the injury he sustained.

Prosecutor Jade Tufail said police stopped the Vauxhall Corsa Dean was travelling in on August 28 as it was linked to drugs supply and was regularly making journeys between Newtown and Welshpool.

“The vehicle was stopped at around 4.45pm on the Treowen estate in Newtown,” said Ms Tufail.

“The defendant was in the front passenger seat, he was asked if anything was there that shouldn’t be. He gestured to a package in the footwell and said it was drugs."

As well as the drugs, phones, weighing scales and snap bags were found in the car. He issued a prepared statement tolling police the cocaine was for his own use.

Ms Tufail said Dean, who had previously pleaded guilty to a charge of possessing cocaine with intent to supply, was of previous good character.

Acting for Dean, who grew up in Caersws and played for his hometown team, but now lives at Gallowstree Rise, Welshpool, Oliver King said his client was “deeply remorseful” for getting involved in drugs but had turned his life around.

“The defendant doesn’t want to give the court a sob story and blame this on things that happened in his childhood, but it would be remiss of me if I didn’t mention that he didn’t have a conventional or happy childhood,” said Mr King.

“He lived with his mum in Oxfordshire until the age of nine, but that became unsustainable due to her problem with alcohol. He moved in with his dad, with his brothers and sisters, which was more crowded, then his dad suffered poor health.

“He didn’t go out drinking as he had seen the toll it had taken on his mum; he instead channelled his energy into something he’s very passionate about – football. And he did well. He had played for Caersws first team and had dreams of moving up the league to professional football, but that ambition was taken away when he suffered a ligament injury so serious that he was told he would never be able to play football professionally again.

“He lost his income, was no longer able to support himself, was very low and in constant pain from the injury. Having never taken drugs before he started taking cannabis; he took more and more of it."

The court heard he had found himself owing money to other people, leading ultimately to his arrest. He was recently offered a two-year apprenticeship at a Welshpool food company and is supporting his family.

Judge Parry told Dean: “Mid Wales is riddled with criminality because people commit crimes to buy Class A drugs. This was by no means your operation but you played a vital role.

“You were an accomplished footballer; I accept how the devastation of that dream being ended by an injury will have caused you to lose motivation.

“The two years since this offence has been a period that has enabled you to transform your life. You have used that time constructively. It is up to you now, take your chance and carry on making something of your life.”

Dean must also complete 250 hours of unpaid work.