Connect with us
Advertisement
Advertisement

Crime

More cocaine found on west Wales shoreline following police search operation

Published

on

FOLLOWING the discovery of £90m worth of cocaine on a west Wales beach last weekend, police have deployed significant resources to searches.

This was following intelligence being received that more of the class A substance was out there waiting to be found.

Not wanting this to fall into the wrong hands, specialist police teams ensured that a significant area of land and sea has been searched.

Police said searches were carried out by land, sea and air resulting in “the discovery of a number of packages of what we suspect to be cocaine”.

The cocaine is marked with a DIOR logo by the manufacturing cartel (Image: Police)

A spokesperson for Dyfed-Powys Police said: “We’ve been supported by neighbouring forces, the NCA and NPAS after packages of class A drugs were recovered from a beach in Ceredigion on Saturday (October 1).

“There have since been finds in a number of places along the coast, all of which have been seized by officers for analysis.

“Initial tests suggest the substance recovered is cocaine, however the packages will undergo further examination, which could take a number of weeks.”

A force spokesman told The Herald: “This has been a significant operation so far, which has involved a large amount of resources both from Dyfed-Powys, neighbouring forces and partner agencies.

“Since the discovery of a number of packages of what we suspect to be cocaine, ground, aerial and marine crews have all been dispatched to monitor the area in case there were further items at sea.

“We are aware that the public have seen a higher presence of police in the area than usual, and we would like to thank them for their vigilance, patience and support.

“The police presence will continue over the coming days, and we repeat our message that anyone who finds a package – or knows someone who has – should contact us immediately.

“The contents shouldn’t be touched, and partner agencies have been briefed on the risks associated with the possession of this find.”
Work is ongoing to establish how the bundles came to land ashore here and who they may belong to

On October 1, an unnamed project manager was walking along Tan-y-Bwlch beach, near Aberystwyth, when he came across the 30 black packages.

The packages were tied to empty jerry cans with rope to keep the Class A drugs afloat at sea.

The walker told The Ceredigion Herald: “I was out for my early morning walk when I saw something on the beach.

“I was intrigued and walked up to it and knew what it was almost straight away. An old lady called the police and they came around half an hour later.

“They cut open a bag and it looked like pure cocaine. They dragged it off the beach and took it away.”

A spokeswoman for Dyfed-Powys Police said last week: “We are investigating the discovery of a significant quantity of what is thought to be cocaine, spotted along the coast this weekend.”

“Enquiries are being undertaken to establish how such an unusually large amount of the controlled drug came to wash up on the Welsh shore, following recent storms.

“The precise quantity is still being established and at this time no-one has been arrested in relation to this matter.

“Officers have thanked those who found the packages and their sensible actions in reporting the matter immediately.”

The news comes after last month, over a dozen bricks emblazoned with a ‘Dior’ label washed ashore in the town of Biloxi, which sits on the Gulf of Mexico.

Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics Director Steven Maxwell said of that haul: “There was likely to be a large amount of drugs that either fell off a vessel or they were intentionally dropped off to be picked up by someone else or another group of individuals.”

One man was arrested for allegedly trying to remove one of the packages.

Continue Reading

Crime

Homeless man sentenced for crimes fuelled by crack cocaine 

Published

on

A 30-YEAR-OLD man who has found himself homeless as a result of an addiction to crack cocaine was this week brought before magistrates after admitting causing criminal damage to his former partner’s front door.

The relationship between Reece Bateson-Fenwich and his girlfriend Jordan Thomas was described in court as being ‘volatile’.

“Both parties were frustrated with each other,” probation officer Charmain Fox told Haverfordwest magistrates this week.

“He believes she still has personal items of his, which have a monetary and a sentimental value. 

“He’s been very honest with me about his struggles of being homeless as well as his use of crack cocaine.  At the moment, he’s either staying with people who are using substances or who invite him to stay with them when he’s in possession of a substance himself.

“Until his accommodation is secure, he’s going to continue in this homeless cycle.”

Bateson-Feneck’s court appearance was the result of his visit to Ms Thomas’ home in the Mount estate, Milford Haven on March 16.

“She heard someone storming upstairs to her flat,” said Crown Prosecutor Abigail Jackson.  “She knew it was the defendant because of his voice.  He was banging on the door really loudly and her ring doorbell showed the defendant standing outside.

“He shouted ‘I want my tv back, after all you’ve done with me.  I swear to God, when I get in there I’m going to f****** stab you.”

Ms Jackson said that Jordan Thomas believed the defendant was on crack cocaine at the time of the incident.

“I knew he was on crack cocaine as he wasn’t speaking clearly,” she said.

Bateson-Feneck pleaded guilty to causing criminal damage to the door, valued at £39.99, and an additional charge of assaulting MS Thomas by beating during a previous incident on January 13 when he pushed the victim, making contact with her neck.

For both offences, Bateson-Feneck was sentenced to a 12-month community order during which he must complete 15 rehabilitation requirement days to address his accommodation situation.  He was also ordered to pay £100 compensation to Ms Thomas and £39.99 compensation for the damage caused to the door. 

 He was fined £120 and ordered to pay a £114 surcharge and £85 costs. 

 A restraining order was imposed preventing him from making contact with Jordan Thomas, visiting her home address and entering any information concerning her on any electronic device or social media.

Continue Reading

Crime

Milford Haven man accused of assaulting his own sister

Published

on

A MILFORD HAVEN man has appeared before magistrates charged with assaulting his sister occasioning her actual bodily harm.

Jordan Lawson, 25, was arrested on June 13, 2023, following the alleged assault against his sister, Kayleigh Lawson.

“He punched his sister, he kicked her in the face and grabbed her by the throat,” Crown Prosecutor Abigail Jackson told Haverfordwest magistrates this week.

Lawson, of Marble Hall Road, Milford Haven, denies the charge.

His trial has been listed to take place before Haverfordwest magistrates on May 20.  He was released on conditional bail, the conditions being not to contact his sister, nor a neighbour who witnessed the alleged incident.

Continue Reading

Crime

Woman will quit the booze after seeing shocking drunken video in court

Published

on

A HAVERFORDWEST woman this week vowed to undertake ‘a complete alcohol abstinence’ after being shown court video footage of her screaming, drunken and often incoherent abuse towards residents in a block of flats.

Louise Wiltshire, 59, entered the flats at Fleming Crescent on the night of March 10.  The video, captured by one of the residents on her mobile phone, showed Wiltshire hammering on doors, kicking them with her feet and lunging towards one of the residents whilst shouting drunken abuse.

“The resident was frightened that she was going to be assaulted,” Crown Prosecutor Abigail Jackson told Haverfordwest magistrates this week.

Earlier that night Wiltshire had made repeated 999 calls to the emergency services.

“The first time, the call handler noted that she was very difficult to understand,” she said.  “She was slurring her words and was incoherent.

“She called 999 a second time, saying she was unhappy about an incident that the police had previously dealt with and then she called yet again, making repeated requests for police officers and an ambulance to attend an incident as she believed someone was dead.”

Police eventually discovered Wiltshire in a corridor at a block of flats in Fleming Crescent.

“She was screaming and shouting at the occupants and was verbally abusive,” continued Ms Jackson.  “Her behaviour was totally unacceptable.”

Wiltshire, of Fleming Crescent, pleaded guilty to being drunk and disorderly in a public place, of common assault on the resident who fell backwards as she attempted to close her front door on the defendant and of causing wasteful employment of police time.

She was legally represented in court by Mr David Williams.

“The lady you see before you this morning is completely different to the lady you saw in the video footage,” he said.

“The first thing she told me this morning was how bad she feels about what happened.”

Mr Williams went on to say that the defendant’s behaviour spirals out of control after she consumes large quantities of alcohol.

“For a dangerously long time, my client has had an unhealthy relationship with alcohol,” he said.  “She has previously made efforts, but the point has now arrived where she realises that controlled drinking is not the way for her.  

“As we all know, it’s very easy after a few drinks to tempt yourself into another one, but for this lady, it’s fatal.  Alcoholism is a bad illness that takes several attempts to combat.  Please give my client the opportunity to start her journey towards complete abstinence.”

Wiltshire was sentenced to a 24 month community order during which she must carry out 20 rehabilitation activity requirement days and 200 hours of unpaid work.  She was also subject to a 120-day alcohol monitoring requirement.  She must pay court costs of £85 and a £114 surcharge.

“I’d just like to say how terribly sorry I am,” Louise Wiltshire told the magistrates following her sentence.  “Hearing that video was what I needed.  It was disgusting.”

Continue Reading

Business8 hours ago

Stephen Crabb leads inquiry on retaining community bank services  

PRESELI Pembrokeshire MP, and Chair of the Welsh Affairs Select Committee Stephen Crabb is leading an inquiry in Parliament that...

News19 hours ago

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...

Crime1 day ago

Woman will quit the booze after seeing shocking drunken video in court

A HAVERFORDWEST woman this week vowed to undertake ‘a complete alcohol abstinence’ after being shown court video footage of her...

News3 days ago

Family heartbroken by loss of ‘larger than life character’ in M4 crash

THE FAMILY of the man who died in a collision on the M4 motorway say ‘he will be greatly missed...

Business3 days ago

Victory for WASPI women but the fight goes on

A LANDMARK ruling by the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman could benefit around 5,000 women in Ceredigion born in the...

Entertainment5 days ago

A night to remember: Symphonica Tywi’s ‘Film Fantastics’ was a triumph

ON SATURDAY (Mar 23), Haverfordwest High School was ablaze with the soaring melodies and dramatic scores of some of cinema’s...

News5 days ago

Memorial for all those affected by Covid-19 unveiled at County Hall

A LASTING tribute for Pembrokeshire loved ones lost during the Covid-19 pandemic and those working on the frontline has been...

Top News6 days ago

Princess of Wales announces cancer diagnosis and treatment

CATHERINE, the Princess of Wales, has shared her recent health struggles with the public, revealing a diagnosis that has sent...

Charity7 days ago

RNLI lifeguards back on patrol in Pembrokeshire for the Easter Holidays

RNLI lifeguards will be on patrol once again in Pembrokeshire ahead of the Easter holidays. This Saturday, 23 March 2024,...

Community7 days ago

Neglected Pembrokeshire poodles find their forever homes 

THIRTY poodle type dogs were in total rescued after they were found in an unsuitable environment where their owner also...

Popular This Week