Lidl worker earning less than £10k caught out as gangster’s moll after posting Instagram pictures of ‘Kim Kardashian’ lifestyle
She showed off their extravagant holidays and designer clothing on social media - despite the budget supermarket worker earning less than £10,000 a year
A LIDL worker and her cocaine dealing boyfriend were snared by cops after they boasted of their "Kim Kardashian" luxury life on Instagram.
Gangster's moll Emily Lock "liked the high life" and gave the game away by posting pictures of extravagant holidays and expensive designer items online.
Her partner, Mark Price - who claimed to be a struggling builder - funded their high-end lifestyle as he raked in £1,600 a week selling drugs in South Wales, a court heard.
Lock showed off their holidays and her designer clothing on social media - despite the budget supermarket worker earning less than £10,000 a year.
Suspicions were raised after they shared snaps sunning themselves in Paris and Dubai, wearing Gucci sunglasses and driving an Audi RS4.
Defending Lock, Andrew Taylor told the court she became obsessed with living like a celebrity, adding: "Many young people today are fixated by a Kim Kardashian type of lifestyle."
it is thought they spent more than £100,000 on their high-end life during Price's drug dealing.
Cops eventually raided the 27-year-old's home in September 2017 and found a 110g bag of cocaine.
Price admitted possessing cocaine with intent to supply, being concerned in the supply of cocaine and fraud.
A message on his phone to co-defendant Kyle Crowley was also found boasting of earning £1,600 a week dealing the drug.
Lock's home was searched while the couple were on another luxury holiday to Thailand and dozens of luxury items were found including jewellery, watches and bags worth around £50,000.
When she was quizzed by cops she claimed she had no idea her boyfriend was a dealer and thought he was a builder.
The 22-year-old admitted acquiring criminal property and was sent to prison for 15 months.
The court heard Lock, in her second year of a criminology degree, was 19 at the time of the offending and Price – who is five years older – was her first boyfriend.
Price was jailed for seven years after the court hear he had no previous criminal record.
He had bought himself an Audi RS4, while Lock bought herself Vivienne Westwood handbags, Gucci sunglasses, Christian Louboutin shoes and Christian Dior perfume.
The CPS estimate the pair blew £100,000 while Price was dealing drugs.
During the police raid, officers seized Price's phone and found a message to co-defendant Kyle Crowley where he boasted of making up to £1,600 a week through dealing cocaine.
Cops also found a receipt for his Audi.
Police raided Crowley and his partner Dionne Thomas’ home, also in Caerphilly, and found 12 cannabis plants with a potential street value of up to nearly £8,000.
Edward Mitchard, defending Crowley, said he had been forced to stop working as a nurse following mental health problems and set up a cannabis factory to make money.
The court also heard Price had taken out a £33,000 loan by fraudulently stating he was employed by a construction company that had actually gone bust.
Crowley was jailed for five years, while Thomas was given a community order requiring her to complete 120 hours of unpaid work.
Price’s phone led officers to Christopher Morgan and they found 30 cannabis plants in his attic on January 5.
He claimed the plants were for personal use but the 30-year-old later admitted producing and supplying cannabis and was given 20 months in jail.
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PC Michael Coles, for Gwent Police, said: "I hope the sentences issued to these individuals highlight that the supply of controlled drugs will not be tolerated in Caerphilly.
"These people endanger our community and this lengthy investigation shows we are committed to using all powers and resources available to bring them before the courts.
"I hope this sends a message to those who continue to be involved in the supply of controlled drugs, that you will not just be prosecuted, we will also use our powers to seize any financial assets you have acquired though criminality."
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