Ben Garvey, a 38-year-old criminal defence solicitor, has been sentenced to three years and six months in prison after being found guilty of supplying cocaine and perverting the course of justice. A judge at Bristol Crown Court stated Garvey's actions were "a clear abuse" of his position.
Garvey, from Port Talbot, encouraged friends to purchase Class A drugs via WhatsApp and facilitated communication between his client, Daniel Baker, and drug runner Jake Blackburn. He had met Baker in 2021 after buying cocaine from him, later representing him when Baker was arrested on suspicion of drug dealing.
Messages discovered on Baker's phone led to the arrests of Garvey and Blackburn. Messages on Garvey's phone revealed his involvement in a WhatsApp group where he encouraged friends to buy cocaine, with images and videos of drug use also found.
Daniel Baker, 34, Garvey's ex-client, was jailed for three years and four months after pleading guilty to perverting the course of justice and admitting conspiracy to supply Class A drugs. Jake Blackburn, 28, received a sentence of four years and 10 months for perverting the course of justice and being concerned in the supply of Class A drugs.