News
48 years in jail for Pembrokeshire drugs gang [Updated]
MEMBERS of a drugs gang who shipped more than £1m worth of cocaine into Pembrokeshire have been jailed today(Jun 24) for a total of 48 years.
The “head” of the west Wales link, businessman James Bolton, 48, of Kiln Road, Johnston, was jailed for nine and a half years.
Detectives bugged his business, Station Automotives, and heard him discussing drugs deals.
His then partner, Siobhan Jackson, 39, also of Kiln Road, was jailed for five years and four months.
Leigh Salter, aged 37, of Steynton Road, Milford Haven, said to be the “main man” in Milford Haven, was also jailed for five years and four months.
Andrew Davies, aged 54, of Hill Street, Haverfordwest, who made four drugs runs as a courier in return for £700, was sent down for four years and four months.
Part way through the conspiracy, which involved linking up with drugs suppliers in Liverpool, Salter started a quite separate scheme to buy drugs from a dealer in Swansea.
He used former soldier David Parker, aged 41, of Skomer Drive, Milford Haven, who was caught by detectives as he collected drugs for Salter.
Parker, said to be an active charity fund raiser in Milford, was jailed for 16 months, suspended for two years, and ordered to carry out 250 hours of unpaid work for the community.
They had all admitted conspiring to supply cocaine between September 1, 2012, and April 22, 2015.
Judge Paul Thomas, sitting at Swansea crown court, said the “kingpin” in Liverpool had been Adam Idris, 33, of Grove Dale Road, Liverpool.
The conspiracy was smashed by detectives working on Operation Pigeon but before they could move in Idris was arrested in Stoke on Trent as he delivered 250 grams of cocaine.
He was granted police bail while inquiries continued but spent his time setting up the Pembrokeshire conspiracy.
He was jailed for 12 years.
Adam Woodhouse, 34, of Weaver Close, Alsager, Staffordshire, his main courier who admitted making 60 trips to Pembrokeshire to either deliver drugs or collect money, received six years and eight months.
Idris’ cousin, bank worker John Foster, 34, of Tiverton Road, Liverpool, admitted money laundering and was jailed for two years and six months.
Dannielle Maloney, 36, of Dovedale Road, Liverpool, admitted the same charge. She was sentenced to 16 months, suspended for 12 months, and told to undertake 60 days of a rehabilitation activity and to carry out 250 hours of unpaid work.
Judge Thomas told all the defendants they had known the risks involved in supplying a class A drug.
“You took a gamble and lost. Now you must pay the price,” he said.
“Cocaine is often referred to as a leisure drug, but that hides the ugly truth, that it destroys lives and families.
“But each of you took a deliberate decision to get involved in this illegal activity.”
The gang, he said, had made huge amounts of money out of west Wales while creating huge amounts of misery for the people who ultimately consumed the drugs.
During a two day sentencing hearing Robin Rouch, the barrister leading the prosecution, said police logged mobile telephone traffic, car movements and money transfers and in all were able to identify 43 drug runs, although after his arrest Woodhouse alone confessed to at least 60.
It became clear, said Mr Rouch, that Salter and Bolton were the “main players” locally and that Idris was the supplier and Woodhouse the main courier.
When police moved in to make arrests they made finds that suggested about 500 grams of cocaine, worth £30,000, were being shipped each time.
The listening device picked up Bolton and Jackson discussing delivery routes and changing mobile telephones.
And Jackson was followed to Liverpool.
Mr Rouch said Operation Pigeon soon became intertwined with another drugs operation that involved Idris supplying cocaine from Liverpool to the Stoke on Trent area.
Bolton, the court heard, had been convicted in 2010 of possessing cocaine with intent to supply.
Mr Rouch said a Proceeds of Crime investigation was now underway to identify drugs profits that could be confiscated.
Officers from the Dyfed-Powys Police Serious and Organised Crime Team welcome the sentences handed down today by Judge Paul Thomas in respect to the ten individuals convicted for their part in a conspiracy to supply Class A controlled drugs, namely cocaine, into the Pembrokeshire area. The operation had been named, “Operation Pigeon”.
The operation centred on the illegal drug dealing activities of two Organised Crime Groups (OCG’s) within Pembrokeshire. The first headed by James Frederick Bolton operating within the Johnston / Haverfordwest area and the second headed by Leigh John Salter operating within the Milford Haven area. Mr Bolton and Mr Salter had sourced significant quantities of cocaine from a Liverpool OCG headed by Adam John Idris and had arranged its onward distribution at Pembrokeshire via a criminal network of associates. Later in the investigation it was identified that Leigh John Salter also sourced cocaine from a Swansea based individual.
The operation captured evidence between a significant period: from October 2012 to April 2015.
Police intercepted two seizures of cocaine during the course of the investigation totalling 1.2Kg.
Officers evidenced the movement of in the region of £60,000 between Pembrokeshire and the Liverpool based crime group during the conspiracy period. Furthermore, in the region of £7,000 cash was also recovered by police.
Detective Chief Inspector Huw Davies, the Senior Investigating officer, told The Herald: “Today’s sentences are pleasing and reflect the hard work and tenacity of the investigating team during a complex enquiry.
“The investigation evidences a commitment by Dyfed Powys police to provide appropriate resources to investigate and reduce the risk of drug related harm within our communities.
“The investigation disclosed that this crime group were responsible for the trafficking of cocaine into the Pembrokeshire area.
These were significant amounts of cocaine to be available within the small communities of Pembrokeshire and the investigation and enforcement is likely to have had a significant impact.
“The level of this investigation and sentencing should send a clear message to those intent on committing serious crime within our policing area that you will ultimately be frustrated and held responsible for your actions”
News
Police ask motorists to avoid A44 trunk road due to heavy snowfall
DYFED-POWYS POLICE have issued an appeal to motorists to avoid a 25 mile section of the A44 trunk road between Aberystwyth and Llangurig due to it being impassable due to heavy snowfall.
In a warning issued at 4am on their social media accounts the police said: “Please avoid the area and find alternative routes for your journey.”
Meanwhile, last night The Nags Head in Lampeter uploaded pictures of the snowy scenes in the area, and were encouraging customers to come in and sit next to their ‘nice warm fire’.
News
Egg and farm shop to open at award-winning west Wales farm
A SCHEME for a self-serve egg and farm shop at an award-winning 32,000-chicken Ceredigion farm, to allow it to receive a UK Shared Prosperity fund grant, has been approved by county planners.
Ben Edkins, of Edkins Eggs, Coed Farm, Cilcennin sought permission to site a self-serve farm shop on an existing yard area at the site.
A supporting letter submitted through agent Morgan & Flynn Architectural Services described it as “a more advanced version of an egg stand, with honesty box, which has been a staple for people producing eggs for centuries”.
It added: “This method of selling eggs has already proven to be a hit with communities in Ceredigion, given the success of the already established egg dispenser located in Aberystwyth town centre.”
Family-owned Edkins Eggs, which supplies multiple businesses across the area with eggs, including Aberaeron’s Y Seler, Hive, Harbourmaster, and Costcutters, has been awarded a grant to cover the cost of part of the proposal, on the condition that planning approval is granted, the statement added.
“The grant, which is a UK shared prosperity fund for the Mid Wales region as part of the ‘Cynnal Y Cardi Fund’ provided by Ceredigion County Council was granted in December 2023.
“For this grant to be claimed, it is required that planning permission is granted, the construction is completed and also the egg dispensers are implemented by December 2024. This gives the applicants a 12-month window from the point of the grant awarded to completion of proposal.”
The building itself will include a solar panel array providing the power for the egg dispensing unit and lighting, and it is hoped to create one extra job at 227-acre Coed Farm, home to 32,000 chickens producing free range eggs, 90 beef cattle and 200 sheep.
A green infrastructure statement by the agent added: “The creation of this building to house the self-serve farm shop to enhance the established family-owned business ‘Edkins Eggs’, which also has provisions to allow for other local companies producing items such as vegetables and honey to sell their products, will provide a facility for the local community to purchase locally produced goods directly from the supplier.
“This will not only provide an enhanced shopping experience in terms of being able to purchase directly from the farm, which could act as an educational benefit especially for children, but also provide the additional facility of a small-scale shop to the local area, whereas currently the community would either have to travel to the service centres of either Aberaeron or Felinfach.”
The application was conditionally approved under delegated powers.
Entertainment
John Singer Sargent’s ‘Fashion & Swagger’ to light up the Torch
IN an unparalleled celebration of one of the late 19th century’s most revered portrait artists, the Torch Theatre is set to host “John Singer Sargent – Fashion & Swagger” on Tuesday, 16 April, at 7:30 pm. This innovative exhibition, brought to life by Exhibition on Screen, delves into the remarkable artistry of John Singer Sargent, whose portraits are celebrated for their intricate depiction of his subjects’ persona, attire, and the subtleties of their presentation.
The event promises an insightful exploration of Sargent’s influence on modern art, culture, and fashion, featuring interviews with a diverse group of curators, contemporary fashion icons, and style influencers. Filmed at prestigious venues like the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston and Tate Britain in London, the exhibition unveils Sargent’s extraordinary ability to capture the essence of his subjects’ identities, social standings, and the complexities of gender through his art during a pivotal time of cultural transformation.
Phil Grabsky, one of the producers behind this compelling film, shared his enthusiasm for spotlighting Sargent’s genius, stating, “As filmmakers, both director David Bickerstaff and I have been thrilled to make this film about Sargent, someone I consider a truly astounding artist.” Grabsky further reflected on the curious case of Sargent’s fading recognition despite his once-celebrated status and affirmed Exhibition on Screen’s commitment to revitalizing interest in artists who deserve renewed attention.
The exhibition promises a fascinating juxtaposition of over 50 of Sargent’s paintings with authentic items of clothing and accessories donned by his subjects, offering audiences a unique passage into the artist’s creative realm. It underscores how Sargent’s subjects, often hailing from affluent backgrounds, entrusted him with their public images — a theme that resonates with the ongoing dialogue around the construction of identity in the public eye.
Tickets for “John Singer Sargent – Fashion & Swagger” are available for £13. Those interested can secure their spots by visiting www.torchtheatre.co.uk or contacting the Box Office at 01646 695267.
For further details and imagery, or to arrange press inquiries, please reach out to Anwen Francis (Marketing, Press & Communications) via email at [email protected] or phone at 07854 772640.
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