Drill star Digga D has been jailed for almost four years for supplying 45kg of cannabis after he was arrested during an Instagram livestream.
The musician, whose real name is Rhys Herbert, pleaded guilty to two charges relating to the importation and supply of the Class B drug.
Herbert, 24, from Notting Hill in London, was arrested on 21 February last year while livestreaming on Instagram.
During a two-day trial of issue – known as a Newton hearing – in December, prosecutors said Herbert played a role in supplying up to 60kg of cannabis. He denied this.
Appearing from prison via video link, Judge Simon Hirst told him he was “satisfied” the rapper had been in possession of 50.65kg of cannabis and had sold at least 45kg for profit.
“The level of the offending is so serious that there must be a sentence of imprisonment,” he said, before jailing him for three years and 11 months.
Herbert will have to serve half his sentence in custody.
The prosecutor told the sentencing hearing Herbert had six convictions for 13 previous offences – including possession of a blade and violent disorder.
Defending, James Scobie KC said: “He does not have a team, this is very much a one-man band.
“The defendant has been away now since February of last year. There is a very much positive side, legitimate side, to this young man’s life in respect of his work which is that of a performer and a writer to some degree of international notoriety and following.
“It is very, very sad and disappointing that he has had at the very least a year of his productive working life behind bars.
“He’s not a danger to the public, he’s actually a contributor to the public.”
A letter was read to the court from Herbert’s mother, who said since being in jail he had been reading the Bible daily and was “remorseful for what he had done”.
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Detective Constable Jacob Saville, of the Metropolitan Police, said: “Rhys Herbert has already admitted to his role in the importation and supply of large quantities of cannabis; now a judge has reviewed all of the evidence and determined he played a significant role in this operation.”
He added: “Drugs and the associated criminality they bring devastates communities and we will continue to identify and arrest those responsible who engage in this activity.”
