A criminal defence solicitor has been sentenced to three years and six months in prison after being convicted of drug offences and perverting the course of justice.
A South Wales Police investigation revealed that Ben Garvey, a practising solicitor throughout the period of offending, Daniel Baker and Jake Blackburn were involved in the supply of cocaine.
The investigation began after Baker was arrested in August 2021 in connection with separate drug offences. Garvey and his firm represented him. Subsequent analysis of mobile phones and other devices revealed Garvey was also involved in the supply of drugs.
Officers found Blackburn had been distributing drugs on Baker’s behalf and messages revealed cocaine was supplied to Garvey. Police searched Garvey’s home in September 2021 and seized mobile devices and steroids, a class C drug. Further examination of devices showed Garvey’s ‘direct involvement’ in the supply of cocaine and steroids among his associates, South Wales Police said.
Garvey was an active member of a 17-person WhatsApp group in which members discussed sourcing and supplying cocaine between 2020 and 2021. Messages between the group included footage of cocaine being used and images of wholesale quantities of the drug. While Baker was in custody in 2021, Garvey acted as an intermediary for messages between Baker and Blackburn.
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All three men were convicted of offences relating to drug supply and perverting the course of justice. They were sentenced at Bristol Crown Court last month. Garvey was sentenced to three years and six months for being concerned in the supply of steroids, being concerned in the supply of cocaine, assisting or encouraging the supply of cocaine, and perverting the course of justice.
Baker was jailed for three years and four months for being concerned in the supply of cocaine with Jake Blackburn and perverting the course of justice. Blackburn was jailed for four years and 10 months for being concerned in the supply of cocaine with Daniel Baker and perverting the course of justice.
Senior investigating officer chief inspector Russ Jenkins said: ‘This was an extremely complex investigation requiring the careful handling of a significant volume of legally privileged material.
‘Ben Garvey was a practising criminal defence solicitor throughout the period of offending, which spanned several years. As an officer of the court, he had a clear duty to uphold the integrity of the criminal justice system. Instead, he chose to abuse that position of trust by actively engaging in the very criminality he was professionally bound to challenge.
‘The sentences imposed today reflect the seriousness of these offences and should serve as a clear warning to others involved in organised drug supply.’
