Crime

Luxury-spending drug dealers ordered to repay £7,000

Published

2 years ago

August 6, 2024

A DRUG-DEALING couple from Pembrokeshire known for their extravagant spending on luxury watches and diamond jewellery have been ordered to repay just over £7,000 of their illicit earnings.

Daniel Davies and Rhian Warlow were apprehended on the A477 near Milford Haven on December 29. During the stop, authorities discovered a half-kilo block of cocaine, with an estimated street value of £60,000, hidden under a panel in their car boot.

Following their arrest, a subsequent search of Warlow’s residence uncovered 1kg of cannabis, valued at over £10,000. The couple admitted to charges of possession with intent to supply both cocaine and cannabis, and being involved in the supply of the drugs.

During their initial sentencing in March, Davies, residing at Hawthorn Path in Milford Haven, received a three-year prison sentence. Warlow, from Gelliswick Road in Hakin, was handed a two-year suspended sentence, along with an order to complete 200 hours of unpaid work and 30 rehabilitation activity requirement days.

At a Proceeds of Crime Act hearing at Swansea Crown Court, Prosecutor Brian Simpson revealed that Davies had profited £158,030.00 from his illegal activities, while Warlow had gained £87,824.00. However, only £4,883.00 of Davies’ assets and £2,375.00 of Warlow’s were available for seizure. Consequently, Judge Catherine Richards issued confiscation orders for these amounts.

The court heard that Davies initially began dealing cannabis before switching to cocaine in pursuit of higher profits. Text messages recovered from his phone indicated that he regularly dealt in ounces and occasionally kilograms of drugs.

The couple’s arrests followed a tip-off that their vehicle was linked to drug supply. Upon being stopped, they claimed they had been shopping at B&Q in Carmarthen. However, the cocaine was soon discovered, leading to their immediate arrest. Warlow’s 10-year-old daughter was found asleep at home, where the police also detected the strong odour of cannabis and discovered the four bags of the drug.

Warlow, 31, had used her illicit gains to purchase several high-end items, including Rolex and Royal Oak watches, a BMW key ring adorned with a diamond, and other diamond jewellery. This lavish lifestyle starkly contrasted with their criminal activities.

Dan Griffiths, representing 35-year-old Davies, explained that his client initially sold cannabis to support his own use but soon recognised the potential for significant profit, leading to his involvement in dealing cocaine.

This case highlights the stark reality of drug-related crime and its consequences, while also showcasing the judicial system’s efforts to reclaim ill-gotten gains from criminal activities.

Crime

Dock woman given mental health treatment order after supermarket thefts

Published

6 hours ago

June 24, 2026

Sarah Jane Absalom

A PEMBROKE DOCK woman has been placed on a mental health treatment requirement after repeatedly stealing meat, cheese and other grocery items from local supermarkets.

Lisa Stewart, 45, admitted three theft offences when she appeared before Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court this week.

The first offence took place on March 11, when Stewart stole Vanish, Lenor and three packs of Persil capsules from Home Bargains in Pembroke Dock, with a total value of £58.41.

The following month, she stole four small beef joints, four steaks and three blocks of cheese from Asda in Pembroke Dock, worth £55.68.

Seven days later, she stole four legs of lamb from Farmfoods in Pembroke Dock, valued at £99.96.

Stewart, of Truscott House, London Road, Pembroke Dock, also pleaded guilty to failing to surrender to police bail on or around May 26.

She was represented in court by solicitor Alaw Harries, who told magistrates the thefts involved items of relatively low value and were not the result of “sophisticated offending”.

“The defendant has had an exceptionally difficult time, as last year she lost her partner to cancer and has struggled profoundly to process that grief,” said Ms Harries.

“Instead, she has attempted to cope by taking more of her prescribed medication than she should. And this is what has led her to be here today.”

Ms Harries said Stewart is now motivated to address her issues.

Magistrates sentenced Stewart to an 18-month community order. She must complete 15 rehabilitation activity requirement days, a 12-month mental health treatment requirement and a 12-month drug rehabilitation requirement.

The order will include monthly reviews in court.

Stewart must also pay £214.05 compensation to the supermarkets, together with a £114 surcharge and £85 costs.

Crime

Grandmother banned after cocaine drug-drive offence

Published

6 hours ago

June 24, 2026

Sarah Jane Absalom

A GRANDMOTHER has been banned from the roads after being caught behind the wheel with 800 mcg of a cocaine metabolite in her system.

Eleri Phillips, 57, was stopped by police in the early hours of December 18 as she drove her Audi Q5 along Derwent Avenue, Steynton.

A roadside drugs swipe proved positive, and further blood tests carried out at the police station showed she had 45 mcg of cocaine in her system and 800 mcg of benzoylecgonine, a cocaine metabolite.

The legal limits are 10 mcg and 50 mcg respectively.

Phillips, of Brook Close, Steynton, Milford Haven, pleaded guilty to two drug-driving charges when she appeared before Haverfordwest magistrates. She was legally represented by solicitor Michael Kelleher.

“She is absolutely ashamed of what has happened,” Mr Kelleher told the court.

“She had been out with friends that evening and someone offered her cocaine. Very foolishly, she took it.

“As a result, she is now going to be disqualified from driving, which is going to cause problems not only for her but for her family, as she regularly helps look after her grandchildren with general pick-ups from school.”

Phillips was disqualified from driving for 12 months and fined £120. She must also pay £85 court costs and a £48 surcharge.

Crime

Milford Haven builder banned for second drug-driving offence

Published

7 hours ago

June 24, 2026

Sarah Jane Absalom

Court hears cannabis reading was five times the legal limit

A SELF-EMPLOYED builder has been banned from the road after committing his second drug-driving offence in ten years.

Robert Duncan, 44, was stopped by police at around 6:00pm on January 31 as he drove a Ford Focus along Steynton Road, Milford Haven.

Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court heard this week that officers had been observing the vehicle before requesting it to stop.

Duncan provided a positive roadside drugs wipe, and later blood tests showed he had 10mcg of Delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol in his system. The legal limit is 2mcg.

Crown Prosecutor Sian Vaughan told magistrates that this was Duncan’s second drug-driving offence within ten years.

Duncan, of Meyler Crescent, Milford Haven, pleaded guilty to drug-driving.

He was represented by solicitor Michael Kelleher, who said Duncan had believed the drug would have left his system by the time he got behind the wheel.

“He believed the drug would have been out of his system when he was driving, but it can take a considerable length of time to go,” said Mr Kelleher.

“In fact, this is the drug that takes the longest amount of time.”

Mr Kelleher said Duncan worked as a self-employed builder, but was currently unable to work large amounts of time because of family commitments.

Magistrates disqualified Duncan from driving for three years. He was also fined £80 and ordered to pay £85 court costs and a £32 surcharge.