Judge Condemns Teen Criminal for Wasting Precious Years in Custody
A teenager who had previously been imprisoned for drug offences found himself back in court for the same crimes, as a judge condemned him for squandering the best years of his life behind bars. Liam Devois, aged 19, was sternly told by the judge that his return to drug dealing had cost him his late teenage years and early 20s, which are considered to be some of the prime years in a person’s life.
Devois, released from a custodial sentence for dealing heroin and cocaine, fell back into old habits and began supplying drugs again, the court heard. His advocate mentioned that Devois initially had good intentions upon leaving custody but succumbed to the negative influence of his peers after losing his job with the council. The defendant was reportedly remorseful for bringing shame upon his family.
Georgia Donohue, the prosecutor, revealed that police investigation traced Devois through incriminating messages found on a seized phone. A subsequent search at his residence uncovered various drugs and paraphernalia, indicating his involvement in drug trafficking. Devois had been actively advertising cocaine, ketamine, and cannabis for sale through bulk text messages since January 2025, as revealed by evidence on his phone.
Devois, residing at Robert Street in Swansea, pleaded guilty to multiple drug-related charges, possession offences, and driving violations. This was not his first brush with the law, as he had previous convictions and had served time in a young offenders institution. Despite being released with good intentions, he regressed back to illegal activities after losing his job and associating with a negative peer group.
Upon sentencing, Devois was given a four-year detention term in a young offenders institution, with the possibility of early release on licence after serving half of the sentence. Judge Paul Thomas KC expressed disappointment in Devois’s regression into drug dealing shortly after his release, highlighting the wasted potential of his formative years spent in custody. The judge admonished Devois for his ‘stupidity’ in returning to criminal activities, questioning whether he would repeat the same mistakes in the future.
The court proceedings shed light on the stark reality of young offenders getting caught in a cycle of crime and imprisonment, with Judge Thomas underscoring the irreversible loss of time and opportunities that Devois faced due to his actions. The case serves as a reminder of the destructive impact of drug-related crimes on individuals and their families, urging for a more proactive approach to rehabilitation and prevention in such cases.
In conclusion, the judge’s poignant remarks to Devois about the consequences of his choices resonate with the broader societal challenges in addressing youth crime and recidivism. It is a sobering reminder of the importance of intervention, support, and guidance for young individuals at risk of falling into criminal behaviour, in order to prevent them from wasting their potential and years in the criminal justice system.