News

Operation Phobos: More drug dealers sentenced at Swansea Crown Court

Published

9 years ago

September 27, 2016

Top row, left to right: Allen Herron, Andrew Curphey, Bradley Carroll and Dane Bush. Bottom row, left to right: Donna Kellaway, Emma Roberts, Ian Edwards and Michael Sillitoe.

A JUDGE sentencing cocaine suppliers after the biggest drugs operations ever carried out by Dyfed Powys Police has today handed down prison terms totalling 47 years to go with the 36 years passed yesterday.

The hearings at Swansea Crown Court are still only half way through and will not conclude until Friday.

By then 20 people will have been sentenced after Dyfed Powys Police carried out Operation Phobos, which led to a second operation and then a third as detectives discovered the true extent of the drugs dealing.

A Liverpool gang ran £18.5m worth of cocaine into the south Wales valleys, £67,520 of cocaine into Milford Haven and £286,000 of cocaine and cannabis into Scotland

Today, Dane Bush, aged 29, said to be the head of a crime gang in Milford Haven, was jailed for 11 and a half years. Salter was jailed in June.

Andrew Jones, prosecuting, told the court how Bush “spun off” his own conspiracy to spread the cocaine into Pembrokeshire while the rest of the gang concentrated on Swansea and the south Wales valleys.

Judge Paul Thomas told Bush he had been aware of the misery and death that cocaine inflicted on users but had shown no remorse for supplying Salter to enable him to sell the drug around the county.

Michael Sillitoe, aged 29, of Glebe Road, Loughor, was jailed for 11 years, and Donna Kellaway, 36, of Prescelli Road, Penlan, Swansea, received seven years.

Two others at the Liverpool end of the conspiracy were also jailed—Allen Heron, 38, for 10 years and Bradley Carroll, 31, for seven and a half years.

All had admitted or been found guilty after trials of conspiring to supply cocaine between November, 2014, and November, 2015.

Judge Thomas told them they had gone into the scheme “with your eyes wide open” about the vast amounts of money that might be made but also the consequences of being caught.

“You gambled the money you might make against the time you might serve,” he added.

Judge Thomas said all the criminals were at a “far higher level” than just street dealers.

The first four defendants were yesterday jailed for a total of 36 years.

At least four police officers are expected to be commended on Friday for “very impressive, intelligent, carefully directed work.”

Crime

Broad Haven man remanded in custody over sexual harm prevention order breach

Published

18 hours ago

March 20, 2026

Court Reporter

Defendant admitted using Xbox without informing police as required under court order

ANTHONY COOMBES, aged 26, of Sand Banks, Broad Haven, appeared before Llanelli Magistrates’ Court on Thursday (Mar 20) charged with breaching a sexual harm prevention order.

The court heard that between February 26 and March 19, 2026, at Haverfordwest, Coombes repeatedly breached the order by using an Xbox device without informing police within three days, as required.

The offences relate to a sexual harm prevention order imposed at Swansea Crown Court on October 20, 2021.

Coombes indicated guilty pleas to the offences at the first hearing.

Magistrates committed the case to Swansea Crown Court for sentence.

He was remanded in custody ahead of the next hearing, which is due to take place at 9:00am on Friday, April 3, at Swansea Crown Court.

The court refused bail on the grounds that he was likely to offend, citing the nature and seriousness of the offences and his previous record and character.

A pre-sentence report was ordered.

News

Man arrested after suspected drugs-related death in Haverfordwest

Published

18 hours ago

March 20, 2026

Tom Sinclair

Police say death not suspicious as 46-year-old arrested over alleged Class A drug supply

A MAN has died following a medical emergency at a property in Haverfordwest, police have confirmed.

Emergency services were called at 3:18pm on Wednesday (March 18) after a report of a medical incident.

A man was pronounced dead at the scene.

Dyfed-Powys Police said the man’s next of kin have been informed and are being supported by officers.

The death is not being treated as suspicious at this time.

However, police confirmed that a man, aged 46, was arrested on suspicion of being concerned in the supply of Class A drugs.

He has since been released under investigation while enquiries continue.

No further details about the deceased have been formally released.

Crime

Illegal dog breeders ordered to pay over £129,000 after council probe

Published

19 hours ago

March 20, 2026

Tom Sinclair

FOUR people from Mynyddygarreg, Kidwelly, have been ordered to pay more than £129,000 following a successful prosecution for illegal dog breeding.

At Swansea Crown Court on Tuesday (Mar 10), before His Honour Judge Thomas KC, Stacey May June Edwards, Peter John Edwards, Sian Eleri Thomas and David Malcolm James Thomas, all of Sea Breeze, Mynyddygarreg, pleaded guilty to offences under the Breeding of Dogs (Wales) Regulations 2014.

The court imposed confiscation orders totalling £129,873.41 under the Proceeds of Crime Act across the four defendants. They were also ordered to pay £8,000 in costs, while each defendant received a £2,000 fine.

The investigation began in April 2021 after Carmarthenshire County Council’s Animal Health team received an enquiry from Peter Edwards about obtaining a dog breeding licence. Although licensing guidance was provided and a partial application was submitted in February 2022, this was later withdrawn.

In March 2024, the council received a complaint that puppies were being advertised for sale without the required licence. Officers subsequently contacted online advertising platforms and issued data requests to assess the scale of activity.

Analysis of records from Pets4Homes, Freeads and Gumtree revealed multiple litters being advertised by members of the same household.

Correspondence under the Police and Criminal Evidence Act confirmed that up to 25 dogs were kept at the property, including between 16 and 19 breeding females.

While some defendants claimed joint ownership of the dogs, others attempted to minimise their involvement.

The Herald understands that numerous puppy advertisements were posted between July 2020 and April 2025, demonstrating a sustained pattern of unlicensed breeding.

Carmarthenshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Climate Change, Decarbonisation and Sustainability, Cllr Aled Vaughan Owen, said: “This case demonstrates the council’s firm stance against unlicensed and illegal dog breeding.

“These regulations are in place to protect animal welfare and ensure that breeding activities are subject to proper oversight. The scale of activity uncovered at this property was entirely unacceptable, and we welcome the court’s decision to issue significant confiscation orders under POCA.”

He added: “We urge anyone with concerns about illegal dog breeding to report it. Our Animal Health officers will continue to investigate thoroughly and take action against those who disregard the law.”

Residents are reminded that anyone breeding and selling dogs must comply with licensing regulations designed to protect both animal welfare and consumers.