Юрист заявил, что обвинения в торговле наркотиками разрушили его карьеру

Solicitor told police drug dealing allegations had ruined his career Ben Garvey, 38, is accused of being concerned in the supply of cocaine and steroids, and of perverting the course of justice A solicitor accused of being involved in drug dealing became upset during his police interview and said the allegations made against him had "ruined his career". He also claimed that text messages to a cocaine dealer and his client were in reference to champagne, not drugs. Ben Garvey, 38, of Port Talbot, is also accused of supplying steroids and of encouraging his friends to purchase cocaine in messages found in a WhatsApp group named 'The Old C***s'. He later went on to represent his cocaine dealer Daniel Baker, 34, who was arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to supply Class A drugs and passed on messages from Baker's runner Jake Blackburn, 28, to his client while he was in police custody, Bristol Crown Court has heard. A trial heard Garvey was a solicitor and was previously a partner at David W Harris Solicitors & Co based in Swansea, Pontypridd, and Talbot Green. Don’t miss a court report by signing up to our crime newsletter here. The court heard the defendant's association with Baker began in the summer of 2021 when it is alleged Garvey purchased cocaine from Baker on behalf of himself and his friends. A trial on Thursday heard transcripts from Garvey's police interview, following his arrest in September 2021. During the interview, it was said that Garvey became upset and told police the allegations against him had "ruined his career". The court heard he went on to "challenge" police to find any messages on his phone which indicated he had been dealing cocaine. He conceded he had used steroids as a younger man when training in the gym, but had stopped using steroids years ago. Garvey told police: "I’ve never been involved in purchasing or supplying drugs. Have I put myself in stupid situations, yes, have I been a f****** idiot, yes but I’ve never purchased or supplied drugs." He added: "Do I look like I’m on steroids now? I was a very stupid young boy." When asked about messages between himself and Baker, he said he had known his co-defendant as a client, as someone from Port Talbot and as the boyfriend of a friend's sister. In a later police interview, Garvey gave a prepared statement in which he "vehemently denied" the allegations against him. The defendant said meet ups between himself and Baker were about legal advice and on one occasion he saw multiple boxes of champagne in his car. Garvey said he told Baker he could take the boxes off his hands as he was friends with the owner of Juniper Place in Swansea, who would be happy to purchase the champagne. He said: "The messages relating to Daniel Baker relate to Dom Perignon and he didn’t even f*****g drop them off." Referring to "The Old C***" WhatsApp group, Garvey said: "The group was often joke related and banter taken out of context... My close friends know I am not a drug user. "The vast majority of my friends I have known for 30 years through school or playing sport together and everyone talks complete nonsense. The objective is to make others laugh by being outrageous." Concluding his statement, the defendant said: "I am not involved in the possession, use, or supply of drugs. Nor through my actions have I intended to encourage anyone to purchase or use cocaine." Garvey, of Vivian Park Drive, Sandfields, Port Talbot, denies perverting the course of justice, being concerned in the supply of Class A and C drugs, and encouraging or assisting in the commission of an offence. Baker, of Silver Avenue, Sandfields, Port Talbot, denies perverting the course of justice. He previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply Class A drugs. Blackburn, of Chrome Avenue, Sandfields, Port Talbot, denies perverting the course of justice but changed his plea to guilty to being concerned in the supply of Class A drugs. The trial continues. Get daily breaking news updates on your phone by joining our WhatsApp community here. We occasionally treat members to special offers, promotions and ads from us and our partners. See our Privacy Notice.