Man's 'fascination' with weapons led to him being uncovered as drug dealer

Andrew Hanley has a history of possessing weapons including a knife, knuckleduster and martial arts nunchucks

A man who is "fascinated" by weapons was found to be dealing drugs after Border Force officers intercepted an international parcel containing an extendable baton, a court has heard. The border authorities tipped off police in Swansea about the parcel and when officers went to Andrew Hanley's house to look for further weapons they found a haul of cocaine, a mixing agent, and empty bags.

Swansea Crown Court heard 33-year-old Hanley has a history of convictions for possessing offensive weapons including a knuckleduster and martial arts nunchucks. The defendant's barrister said it was unlikely that when his client bought the baton online he realised that he had set in motion a chain of events which would end with the police coming to his door.

Dean Pulling, prosecuting, told the court that on November 2 last year Border Force officers intercepted a parcel containing an extendable baton known as an "asp" which was addressed to Hanley in Swansea. The weapon was seized and South Wales Police was informed about the find.

The court heard officers went to the defendant's house in Townhill on March 9 this year and when they explained why they were at his door Hanley said he had bought the item on Snapchat. For the latest court reports sign up to our crime newsletter here

Officers told the defendant they were going to search the property for other weapons, and the court heard that during the search they uncovered 623g of cocaine along with more than half a kilo of benzocaine - a so-called "cutting agent" commonly used when preparing drug deals - sets of weighing scales, a quantity of empty snap-bags, a sheathed knife, £660 in cash, and a small amount of cannabis.

The prosecutor said officers arrested Hanley and seized his mobile phone, and his reply to being cautioned was "I'm f***ed". The defendant subsequently answered "no comment" to all questions asked in interview.

Andrew Hanley, of Pantycelyn Road, Townhill, Swansea, had previously pleaded guilty to importation of an offensive weapon, possession of cocaine with intent to supply, and the simple possession of cannabis when he appeared in the dock for sentencing. He has previous convictions for possession of offensive weapons including a knuckleduster, a baton, and nunchucks, and for possession of a knife. The knife conviction from October 2020 saw the defendant taking a large kitchen knife into Swansea Central police station and asking to be arrested saying "I want to be locked up to sort my head out".

Andrew Evans, for Hanley, said it may be that the defendant is "fascinated by weapons" and said it was unlikely that when his client bought the asp online he realised he had set off a chain of events which would lead to police officers turning up at his door. He said Hanley's drug use had led to debts which in turn had led to him dealing to fund that habit. The advocate said that not withstanding what his client has put his mother through she remains supportive of him and will always provide a home for him.

Judge Huw Rees told the defendant that at the age of 33 he would be wasting his life if he carried on with his involvement with drugs and weapons. With one-third discounts for his guilty pleas Hanley was sentenced to 42 months in prison comprising 12 months for the importation offence, 42 months for the cocaine offence, and 14 days for the possession of cannabis all to run concurrently. The defendant will serve up to half the sentence in custody before being released on licence to serve the remainder in the community.

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