A DRUG dealer who was arrested with £1,000 worth of high purity cocaine at a beauty spot car park has avoided going straight into custody.

Robert Dumazel, 20, of Andrew Road, Penarth, was spotted by a police officer acting suspiciously in a Ford Fiesta at Barry’s Porthkerry Country Park.

Cardiff Crown Court heard the defendant had 21 small bags of cocaine with a purity of 70 per cent in an Adidas sports bag.

Nicholas Gedge, prosecuting, said: “When he was cautioned, he replied, ‘What’s this? Whose is it?’”

An Apple iPhone was seized and a search of Dumazel’s home uncovered £1,200 in a wallet which the defendant said was “Christmas and birthday money”.

Mr Gedge added: “DC Mark Glover, a police drugs expert, said the cocaine was of a high level of purity and had a street value of between £800 and £1,000.

“The defendant’s iPhone had drug dealing texts going back to August 4, 2018.”

Dumazel admitted possession of cocaine with intent to supply, the offence being committed on September 16, 2019.

Adam Sharpe, mitigating, asked for his client’s “genuine remorse”, guilty plea, age and the delay in the case coming to court to be taken into account.

His barrister said the defendant, a former car salesman, had no previous convictions and committed the offence when he was 18.

Mr Sharpe added that Dumazel had stopped using drugs and found a job.

The judge, Recorder Sean Bradley, told the defendant: “You were running this as a business.”

He said he was able to spare Dumazel an immediate custodial term because he was capable of being rehabilitated.

The defendant was sent to a young offender institution for 24 months, suspended for 24 months.

Dumazel was ordered to carry out 100 hours of unpaid work, complete a 12-day rehabilitation activity requirement and be the subject of a four-month curfew, between 8pm and 4am.

He must pay £500 prosecution costs and a £149 victim surcharge.