Sign up for our Crime and Punishment Newsletter The inside stories on the latest court stories from Wales Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Invalid Email

A bungling drug dealer caught himself in the act after using his own dashboard camera to film himself dealing.

Scott Curtis, 45, was caught red-handed after throwing cocaine and cannabis out of the window before leading officers to his exploits.

Curtis, of Graiglwyd, Cwmdare, was stopped by police while driving along the A4059 towards Mountain Ash on September 6, 2018.

As they approached the car he tried to throw a small bag of cocaine and heroin out of the window but it was recovered and he was arrested and taken into custody. After his arrest officers executed a warrant to search his Aberdare home where they found cannabis plants.

But it was dashcam footage from his yellow Ford Focus which sealed his fate.

(Image: South Wales Police)

In the footage Curtis is seen polishing his car before answering his phone and telling a buyer: "I don’t do Valium, gear I do." He then agrees a price of "three for 25".

After agreeing to meet the client the drug deal then played out in full view of detective constable Steve Woolley.

Curtis later appeared at Merthyr Tydfil Crown Court where he pleaded guilty to possessing cocaine and possessing heroin with intent to supply and producing cannabis. He was jailed for two years and six months.

Detective constable Woolley, of South Wales Police, said: “Scott tried his best to get away with his crimes. He threw drugs from his vehicle and then claimed that it was all for own personal use.

"But when we played back his own dashcam footage I don’t think he could quite believe it himself. Initially he replied no comment each time he was given the chance to explain what was going on but, so good was the case against him, he pleaded guilty to all charges and will spend a considerable time behind bars.”