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.

James Frederick Bolton

His then partner, Siobhan Jackson, 39, also of Kiln Road, was jailed for five years and four months.

Siobhan Jackson

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.

Leigh John Salter

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.

Andrew John Davies

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.

Adam John Idris

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.

Adam Mark Woodhouse

Idris’ cousin, bank worker John Foster, 34, of Tiverton Road, Liverpool, admitted money laundering and was jailed for two years and six months.

John Paul Foster

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.