Crime
Cardigan drug trafficker sentenced for carrying heroin ‘inside himself’
A DRUG trafficker has been sentenced to three years and nine months in prison after being caught traveling across South Wales with around £3,500-worth of heroin hidden inside himself.
Patrick Byrne was traveling with Daniel Meyler from Newport in Gwent back to Cardigan on October 16, 2021, when they were stopped by police on the A48 just before Cross Hands.
The pair had bought drugs in Newport with the intention of selling them back home. Officers believed that the duo had secreted the drugs in their rectums, and they were arrested and taken to Ammanford Police Station.
“[Byrne] produced a stool that contained a package that contained white powder,” said Ms. Jones, prosecuting. The 28.4 grams of powder – which was found to be diamorphine – was split into eight smaller packages and was estimated to have a street value of £3,500.
Byrne, 49, of Maes y Deri, admitted possessing a class A drug with intent to supply when he appeared at Swansea Crown Court in November. Meyler, 42, formerly of Williams Terrace in Cardigan, denied the charge, but was found guilty after a three-day trial last month.
He was jailed for four years and six months for the heroin supply, with eight months – running concurrently – for a charge of supplying cannabis which he admitted. Stuart John, in mitigation, said that Byrne had “battled with heroin addiction on and off since adolescence.”
“He was at the time a heroin user who had then engaged in the supply – as he has done in the past – predominantly to fund his own use of the drug,” he said.
Mr. John said the defendant losing his job and then losing his father just over a year later triggered a relapse into drug use. He said Byrne knew he was facing “a lengthy period in custody” and, having abstained from drugs since the offence, wanted to “utilise” his time in prison as “an opportunity to address these issues”.
Byrne has 33 previous convictions, including two for drug trafficking. Judge Catherine Richards sentenced Byrne to three years and nine months in prison.
FOUR men have been charged with conspiracy to commit burglary following a high-value break-in at an industrial estate in Aberystwyth.
The incident occurred at around 9:30pm on Saturday (Apr 12), when a large quantity of e-bikes—worth an estimated £150,000—was stolen from a property on the Glan Yr Afon Industrial Estate in Llanbadarn Fawr.
Gavin Johnson, 39, Keith Johnson, 32, Gareth Corbett, 36, and Wayne Dreisey, 40, all from the Birmingham area, have been charged with conspiracy to commit burglary.
They appeared before Swansea Magistrates’ Court on April 19 and have been remanded in custody to appear at Swansea Crown Court on May 19.
Another man, aged 33, was arrested on suspicion of burglary and has been released on bail while further enquiries continue.
A MAN who recently lost a by-election standing for the Reform UK party has been co-opted onto Haverfordwest Town Council — just two days before political graffiti appeared at Withybush Retail Park.
Scott Thorley, who stood for Reform UK in the Prendergast by-election earlier this year, was appointed to Haverfordwest Town Council during a co-option meeting on Thursday (Apr 17).
Mr Thorley came fourth in a closely fought six-way contest for a seat on Pembrokeshire County Council, securing 71 votes. The by-election, held on Tuesday, February 11, was triggered by the resignation of former Conservative councillor Andrew Edwards, who stepped down following widespread backlash over racist comments attributed to him.
Independent candidate Alun Wills ultimately won the seat with 199 votes (31.6%), ahead of Kaleb Jenkins (Welsh Liberal Democrats, 160), Mike Mathias (Welsh Conservative, 136), Scott Thorley (Reform UK, 71), Alison Tudor (Welsh Labour, 57), and James Henry Purchase (Wales Green Party, 8).
But on Saturday morning (Apr 19), just two days after Mr Thorley’s co-option, residents and shoppers were greeted with a string of large political slogans sprayed across walls and walkways at Withybush Retail Park. Messages included: “KEIR STARMER OUT, REFORM IN! GOD SAVE US” and a separate large slogan reading: “VOTE REFORM” — all daubed in white capital letters.
The incident has since been reported to Dyfed-Powys Police.
Speaking to The Pembrokeshire Herald, new town councillor Scott Thorley said: “Whoever has done this, it is vandalism plain and simple.”
Mr Thorley, who works at the retail park himself, said he did not notice the graffiti when arriving at work and was only made aware after a colleague sent him photos by phone.
He added: “The phrase ‘God Save Us’ doesn’t really sound like something a younger person would write — maybe it’s someone older. But whoever it was, this was not done by Reform. It does not help us — it’s embarrassing.”
Mr Thorley also noted the timing of the incident, saying: “It’s a bit fishy this happened less than two days after I was accepted onto the town council.”
Haverfordwest county councillor Thomas Baden Tudor told The Herald: “Damage to public or private property is completely unacceptable, and if anyone has any information on who carried out this act of vandalism, please contact Crimestoppers anonymously — online at crimestoppers-uk.org or by phone on 0800 555 111.
“They’ll ask questions about the crime but won’t ask about you.
“Antisocial behaviour is not tolerated or acceptable in Haverfordwest.”
He added: “Alternatively, anyone with information can also call Dyfed-Powys Police on 101.
The Pembrokeshire Herald contacted new county councillor Alun Wills by telephone for a comment. He said: “I have not seen the graffiti yet, I have just come back from work.” Cllr Wills said he had seen a media post about the incident, believed to be on The Herald’s Facebook page.
At the time of going to press, we are awaiting Cllr Wills to come back to us with a further comment.
The police have been contacted for a statement.
A HAVERFORDWEST man has appeared in court accused of assaulting and strangling a woman on two separate occasions.
Ali Miah, aged 33, of Bush Row, appeared before Llanelli Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday (Apr 16), facing three charges.
The court heard that Miah is accused of assault occasioning actual bodily harm and intentional strangulation during an incident in Haverfordwest on April 13. He also faces a further charge of intentional strangulation, alleged to have taken place on November 1, 2023, involving the same woman.
The case was sent to Swansea Crown Court, where Miah is due to appear to enter his pleas on May 16.
He was granted bail.
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