An A-grade schoolgirl turned drug dealer from a rural village was jailed for 44 months on Friday after a court heard how police seized cocaine worth £49,000.

Hayley Bellis, aged 28, of Maes Llan, Eglwysbach, in the Conwy Valley, who passed ten GCSEs and three A levels mainly with top grades, admitted possessing cocaine with intent to supply. Police had followed a car driven by her into a supermarket car park at Llandudno Junction in April last year and discovered almost half a kilo of cocaine.

Her passenger Henri Hughes, aged 36, a welder, of the same address, was jailed for five years and three months after he also pleaded guilty to the charge.

Judge Huw Rees at Caernarfon crown court said Bellis claimed to have started taking drugs when 13. She had sourced drugs while Hughes, who had a previous similar conviction involving amphetamine, collected payments and delivered them.

“This was a significant amount of cocaine for onward supply,” Judge Rees declared.

Prosecuting barrister Richard Edwards said Hughes had £1,074 when stopped and a list of names. An Easter egg box had “wraps” of cocaine. Amphetamine and cannabis were also discovered.

Mr Edwards said a caravan linked to Hughes was searched and it appeared £10,500 was owed.

Matthew Dunford, defending Bellis, said she excelled at school and played a full part in the life of the village where she grew up. But Bellis suffered from depression and a relationship led to her becoming involved with cocaine.

Mr Dunford said she was supported in court by family and friends.

Myles Wilson, counsel for Hughes, said he had been brought up in a hard-working professional family. But Hughes began mixing with drug users.