A MAN who allowed members of an organised crime group to set up a large-scale cannabis factory at his rural property has been jailed.

Martin Evans, 37, appeared at Swansea Crown Court where he claimed to be unaware of the extent of the illegal operation. However, the court heard that by renting out part of his home near Kidwelly, Evans had become a “facilitator” for the criminal enterprise.

During a warrant executed in February under Operation Scotney, police discovered nearly 200 cannabis plants—worth up to £264,100—being cultivated at the property.

Further investigation of Evans’s mobile phone revealed incriminating messages referencing police drones and discussions about increasing heat and humidity to accelerate plant growth, confirming his knowledge and involvement.

Evans was sentenced to 18 months in prison. Another man, Fatjon Xafa, who was actively cultivating the plants, received a 29-week prison sentence.

Detective Chief Inspector Rich Lewis said: “I am in no doubt that Evans knew exactly what was going on at his home. He clearly hoped the rurality of the location would allow the operation to go undetected, and he would have allowed it to continue had we not intervened.”

Police said the bust was part of ongoing efforts to dismantle organised drug networks operating in west Wales.

A STEYNTON woman has been sentenced after launching a foul-mouthed, xenophobic rant at her neighbour, telling her to “f*** off back to England”.

Linda McCann, 70, said she was left distressed by the language used by Lisa Thomas during the incident, which took place at around 2:00pm on August 2, 2024.

“Hearing the foul language that she used towards me – language that everyone in the street could hear – was very distressing,” Mrs McCann told Haverfordwest magistrates during Thomas’s trial.

“Lisa told me to f*** off back to England. And that’s not nice.”

The confrontation occurred after Mrs McCann and her husband returned from shopping in Iceland, Milford Haven, and began unloading frozen food into a garden shed freezer at their property on Honeyhill Grove, Lamphey.

“I came outside to find out what it was and thought my neighbour had possibly thrown a glass bottle or something at my shed,” said Mrs McCann. “But then I could see that it was shingle that had been thrown from Lisa’s landing window. Lisa then opened the window and shouted stuff out at me.”

CCTV footage captured by Mrs McCann’s motion-sensor camera was played in court, in which Thomas could be heard shouting:
“You want to stick your fingers up at my 11-year-old daughter, you stupid old c***? You stupid little nonce. F*** off back to Birmingham and f*** off back to England.”

Thomas, who has since moved to Plas Peregrine, Steynton, was found guilty of using threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress.

She was sentenced to a two-year conditional discharge and ordered to pay £300 in prosecution costs and a £26 victim surcharge.

In addition, a two-year restraining order was imposed, prohibiting Thomas from contacting Mrs McCann, referencing her on social media, or entering the Honeyhill Grove estate in Lamphey.

A LORRY driver who made the “life-changing” decision to drive away from a domestic dispute while almost three times over the legal alcohol limit has been banned from the road.

John Roberts, 51, was stopped by police on Pembroke Road, Haverfordwest, on the evening of August 24 after officers spotted his Audi A3 being driven erratically. A roadside breath test proved positive, and a further test at the police station showed he had 94 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath. The legal limit is 35.

Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court heard this week that Roberts, of Fountain Row, Haverfordwest, had been visiting Pembrokeshire with his partner. At the time of the offence, he was living in Barry and working as a lorry driver.

Probation officer Julie Norman told the court: “As a result of a domestic incident at the property, the defendant made the decision to leave in the Audi. Shortly afterwards, he was stopped and breathalysed.”

The court heard that Roberts had voluntarily surrendered his driving licence to the DVLA following his arrest.

Crown prosecutor Sian Vaughan told District Judge Mark Layton that this was Roberts’ third conviction for drink-driving, with previous offences in 2000 and 2007.

“This shows you have a disregard for other road users,” Judge Layton told Roberts.

Roberts was disqualified from driving for 28 months and handed a 12-month community order. As part of the order, he must complete ten rehabilitation activity requirement days and 120 hours of unpaid work. He was also ordered to pay a £114 court surcharge and £85 in costs.