Repeat drug offender William Twist, 22, has been sentenced to 31 months in prison for his latest drug-related offence, which involved using a heavily pregnant, vulnerable woman to hide cocaine worth up to £9,500.
Twist, of College Way, Gloweth, Truro—formerly of Falmouth—pleaded guilty at Truro Crown Court to two counts of possession with intent to supply: Class A drug cocaine and Class B drug cannabis.
He was arrested on January 29, 2025, while staying at a hotel in St Ives, where police discovered cannabis valued at £1,530 and a block of cocaine found on an eight-month pregnant woman. The cocaine was estimated to be worth between £6,000 and £9,500. Officers also found creatine, a mixing agent, an unknown white powder, and between £1,000 and £2,000 in cash.
Twist told officers he was coerced into storing the drugs after previously losing a shipment, which led to threats from another dealer. He claimed to be acting under duress, a claim considered by the court, though Judge James Adkin stressed Twist’s clear understanding of the operation’s scale and value.
The judge described Twist as a cocaine user and past dealer, noting this was not his first offence. In September 2022, Twist was convicted after being caught with £25,000 worth of cocaine, and was sentenced in early 2023.
An aggravating factor in the latest offence was the use of an “extremely vulnerable” pregnant woman to hide the drugs. Despite the mitigation presented—including his recent progress in prison and pursuit of qualifications—Judge Adkin handed down a 31-month custodial sentence, of which Twist must serve at least 40% before becoming eligible for release.
