A man who played a leading role in County Lines class A drugs supply and threw boiling water over a fellow HMP Berwyn inmate has been jailed. 

Scott Powell, of Heol Camlas in Gwersyllt, appeared before Mold Crown Court for sentencing on Tuesday (November 26) having been arrested in Oswestry. 

The 25-year-old had previously admitted being concerned in the supply of Class A drugs and inflicting grievous bodily harm with intent. 

Paulinus Barnes, prosecuting, said that first matter involved "classic street dealing" in the North Shropshire and Shrewsbury area  - with Powell involved in the selling of crack cocaine and heroin in March 2022. 

The court heard that on March 9, 2022, Powell was stop searched in Oswestry town centre by a plain clothed police officer from the County Lines team. The defendant was arrested after being found to be in possession of two phones - an iPhone and a Nokia.

The Nokia was described by police as the "graft" phone, and an examination of it revealed messages indicative of the sale of drugs. 

Regarding the incident at HMP Berwyn, it occurred on May 16, 2023 and the court heard Powell "hot-watered" a fellow inmate named David Williams - who had previously been in a relationship with the defendant's mother. 

CCTV footage played to the court showed Powell, carrying a flask, walking towards where Mr Williams was standing. Mr Williams heard him say 'What did you say about my mum?', before the defendant threw liquid over him. The court heard it contained boiling water, and salt and sugar to maximise injury.

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It landed on the right side of Mr Williams' face, neck and ear. The court heard that Mr Williams' face immediately blistered and was bandaged. He was taken to hospital in Liverpool and was treated for blistering to his face, neck and right ear. 

After being arrested, the defendant claimed he had thrown the liquid as an act of self-defence as he thought he was about to be assaulted. 

The court heard that Powell was also concerned in the supply of heroin and crack cocaine in the Chester area between April and June of this year. The court heard that Powell controlled a County Lines operation, known as 'The Wrexham Team'. It involved sub-dealers and drug runners sending out messages to customers. 

Powell was arrested on June 25 in Wrexham, and found to be in possession of an iPhone which showed messages which were orchestrating the operation. Customers would contact Powell's phone, and then their numbers would be passed to street dealers. 

Philip Tully, defending, said Powell had a "very difficult upbringing", and that he remained out of trouble for a large part of his life. He said that the defendant suffers from mental health issues.

In a pre-sentence report, Powell was described as being of "limited maturity" and would be easily influenced by those more criminally sophisticated. Mr Tully added that Powell expressed remorse for his actions, and that the three offences occurred in a "particularly chaotic period in his life".

Judge Niclas Parry sentenced Powell to six years and nine months imprisonment.