A DRUG dealer caught with heroin and crack cocaine hidden in his backside stole an 85-year-old man’s wallet containing £1,000 in a pub while on bail, a court heard.

Roger Nugent, aged 44, was jailed for two years and one month at Cardiff Crown Court after targeting pensioner John Price in Monmouth town centre’s Robin Hood pub six weeks ago.

Mr Price had been saving to buy a television, and when he realised his wallet was gone, staff checked CCTV which showed Nugent reaching around his side and taking it unnoticed.

The court was also told that Nugent, of Hendre Close, Monmouth, was a passenger in a Volkswagen Golf that was stopped by police in Coldra Road, Newport, on Monday, March 8.

Officers initially found 0.5g of cocaine with a street value of £60 and two mobile phones.

But a strip search at the police station discovered more class A drugs protruding from Nugent’s backside, including 3.12g of heroin and 3.26g of crack cocaine worth between £160 and £240.

While on bail for that offence, Nugent went to the Robin Hood pub on Friday, August 27, in breach of a a criminal behaviour order banning him from going to commercial premises, imposed for a Christmas crime spree in Monmouth in 2019.

Prosecutor Nik Stobl said: "Victim John Price, 85, was drinking in the pub when Nugent approached him, reached round his side, and stole his wallet.

“Mr Price did not notice the theft. When he realised he told bar staff who checked CCTV and identified the defendant."

The £1,000 in the wallet was never recovered.

The court was also told that data from Nugent’s Nokia phone contained messages relating to drug dealing.

Nugent, who has several previous convictions for drug offences, admitted possession with intent to supply Class A drugs, theft and breaching a criminal behaviour order.

The 2019 crime spree targeting the likes of Waitrose, Marks & Spencer, WH Smith, Boots and Budgens in Monmouth which led to his town centre shop and pub ban included the theft of a Christmas tree, £450 of alcohol, cosmetics worth nearly £600, razor blades worth £250, Lego, meat and children’s books.

Ben Waters, defending said Nugent had had been addicted to Class A drugs and dealt to a "small circle of friends" to pay for his habit, but was now on a methadone prescription.

Judge Huw Rees jailed Nugent for 25 months.