A 38-YEAR-old Ross-on-Wye man is to be sentenced next month for being in possession of a large quantity of cocaine, valued in excess of £13,000, with intent to supply.

William Long of Brookend Street appeared at Worcester Crown Court, sitting at Hereford, on Monday where his lawyer Lee Egan told the court: “My client has some fairly extensive mitigation in that he was a drug user and became drawn into the world of supplying because he had to feed his own habit.

“I will elaborate further at the sentence hearing as this will be used for the basis of his guilty pleas.”

Judge Martin Jackson observed: “Eight ounces of cocaine is a lot, even for somebody who is a prolific user selling the drug to fund their own habit.”

An emotional Long pleaded guilty to being in possession of a class A drug, cocaine with intent to supply on November 6; being concerned in the supply of class B drug, cannabis between November 1 and November 6 with intent to supply; being in possessing of criminal property, namely £1,235 cash on November 6 as proceeds of criminal activity and possession of an offensive weapon in a private place, namely an extendable telescopic baton.

Prosecutor Lal Amarasinghe requested that any basis of plea should be submitted to the court as early as possible.

Judge Jackson told Long: “I’m not making any promises as to what sort of sentence you’ll receive. However, the starting point for somebody found in possession of eight ounces of cocaine with intent to supply is going to be custodial sentence, which is likely to be a prison term of some length.”

Judge Jackson ordered a pre-sentence report to be carried out on Long and remanded him in custody until he is sentenced at the same court on January 30, 2026.