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A criminal defence solicitor has been sentenced to three years and six months in prison after becoming involved in the supply of cocaine linked to one of his clients. Ben Garvey, aged 38 and formerly a partner at David W Harris Solicitors & Co in Swansea, Pontypridd, and Talbot Green, was found to have encouraged acquaintances to buy class A drugs via WhatsApp. Additionally, he facilitated communication between his client, drug dealer Daniel Baker, and Baker’s drug runner, Jake Blackburn.
The court heard that Garvey initially met Baker in 2021 after purchasing cocaine from him. When Baker was arrested on suspicion of drug dealing, Garvey took on his legal representation. However, during Baker’s custody, Garvey relayed messages between Baker and Blackburn, actions that were condemned by the judge at Bristol Crown Court. The judge described Garvey’s behaviour as “a clear abuse” of his professional role and remarked that Garvey had “let down the whole profession of solicitors whose professionalism and diligence the criminal justice system depends on daily.”
Daniel Baker, aged 34, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply Class A drugs and perverting the course of justice, resulting in a sentence of three years and four months. Meanwhile, Jake Blackburn, 28, who acted as Baker’s drug runner, was sentenced to four years and ten months after being found guilty of perverting the course of justice and admitting involvement in the supply of Class A substances. Prosecutor Ray Tully KC explained that Baker was engaged in a drugs operation based in South Wales with connections extending to Oxford, where he was sourcing and distributing drugs.
Messages extracted from the phones of Baker and associates demonstrated their deliberate attempts to protect and maintain their drug operation even while Baker was in custody. Blackburn requested Garvey’s assistance to obtain Baker’s iCloud credentials so that incriminating information could be deleted. Garvey’s involvement extended beyond passing messages, as he also participated in a WhatsApp group where he urged friends to purchase cocaine, sharing images and videos of drug use. Upon arrest, Garvey was convicted of perverting the course of justice, being involved in the supply of Class A and C drugs, and encouraging criminal offenses. The judge noted that although Garvey was once regarded as a “hardworking and qualified solicitor,” he had “got too close” to his client, leading to his downfall
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