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.
Crime
Forces and commissioners launch national anti-corruption reporting service
POLICE forces and Police and Crime Commissioners (PCCs) have commissioned the independent charity Crimestoppers to run a service for the public to anonymously or confidentially report corruption and serious abuse by police officers, staff and volunteers.
The new service will bolster forces’ capability to take action against those who are not fit to serve, a commitment made by all police chiefs and PCCs to strengthen police standards and culture. The launch follows a year of joint working between forces, PCCs and Crimestoppers to ensure that the service is available to all communities across the UK.
The Police Anti-Corruption and Abuse Reporting Service covers reports relating to officers, staff and volunteers who:
- Provide information or influence in return for money or favours.
- Use their policing position for personal advantage – whether financial or otherwise.
- Cross professional boundaries or abuse their position for sexual purposes.
- Abuse or control their partner, or those they have a relationship with.
- Engage in racist, homophobic, misogynistic or disablist conduct, on or off duty, in person or online.
Crimestoppers will take calls from the public about individuals employed by any police force in the UK, regardless of whether the information relates to them whilst they are on or off duty, online or in person. Reports can be submitted online and telephone calls are free.
When people contact the service, they can choose to remain 100% anonymous, or can opt to leave their details if they are willing for the force investigation team to contact them directly.
Information received by Crimestoppers will be passed to the relevant force’s specialist unit, such as Professional Standards or Anti-Corruption, for assessment. It may be passed to specialist detectives to begin an investigation, take steps to safeguard someone at risk or in danger, or record the information to inform future investigations.
The service sits alongside each force’s existing complaints procedure and has been set up solely to take reports of serious corruption and abuse committed by serving police officers and staff made by the public.
Police and Crime Commissioner, Dafydd Llywelyn said: “This new anonymous reporting method provided by Crimestoppers is an additional tool that supports our aim to safeguard the integrity of police forces.
“With almost 3,000 reports already received since its inception by the Met Police in November 2022, it is evident that the public are ready to engage with it.
“In the wake of recent scandals, including deeply concerning incidents, such as the tragic murders of Sarah Everard, Bibaa Henry, and Nicole Smallman, it is imperative that we take decisive action to address any breaches of trust or abuse of power within our ranks.
“We are committed to upholding the highest standards of integrity, and we want our communities to trust that we are actively confronting any instances of misconduct and that our officers can rely on robust systems for addressing wrongdoing.
Chief Constable Gavin Stephens, Chair of the National Police Chiefs’ Council, said: “This reporting service will enable us to take action by giving the public a new, anonymous and confidential route to report corruption, criminality, or abusive behaviour within policing.
“We do not underestimate the impact recent events have had on trust and confidence in policing, including the appalling findings of the Angiolini report.
“We have made progress in strengthening procedures around misconduct and vetting, and forces are taking a proactive approach to finding and rooting out wrongdoing. However, we know there is always more to do to ensure that we meet the high standards rightly expected and deserved by the public.
“The vast majority of police officers and staff act professionally and with integrity in the fulfilment of their duties to protect the public. We must take tough action to purge policing of those responsible for wrongdoing, for now and for the future.
“This year, we checked our entire work force for unknown allegations or concerns and will begin long-term screening to ensure that there is no place for corrupt or abusive officers and staff to hide in our forces.”
Mark Hallas, Chief Executive of the independent charity Crimestoppers, said: “We all share the same aim of wanting to see dangerous and abusive police officers and staff rooted out. The public deserves a safe and transparent policing environment that they can trust.
“Crucially, the launch of this service gives people an option to make that initial report via our independent charity and not directly to the police. Those with serious allegations who have previously stayed silent will have greater confidence to come forward.”
Policing Minister Chris Philp said: “Public confidence in our police has been severely damaged. There can be no stone left unturned in our efforts to clean up the workforce and culture, and rebuild trust.
“This anonymous helpline will give people the confidence to challenge the behaviour of officers who fall below the high standards the public deserve.
“This is alongside a broad range of continuous action being taken to root out officers unfit to serve and tighten vetting processes to ensure the right people are in policing.”
Crime
Dramatic arrest of three men after man hospitalised in assault
THREE men have been arrested by armed officers, at least one with weapons drawn, following allegations of an assault on Monday morning (Mar 11) in Wavell Crescent, Pembroke Dock.
Large numbers of police officers were seen around Monday lunch time searching for suspects in the area of Milford Haven leisure centre, and in Meyler Crescent, also in Milford Haven.
At around 1.05pm on Monday police were at Precelly Place where armed officers searching for a male suspect who was believed to be in a residential property.
A witness, who asked not to be named, spoke to The Herald on Monday evening. She said: “Police had their guns drawn and were telling the occupant to come out of the house. There was a lot of shouting. The occupant was saying that there were kids in the house, and was detained for a short time in the back of a police van whilst police searched for the suspect.”
“The police said do not worry, just come out with your hands in the air and then we will make sure the children are looked after.”
“The suspect was found not to be in the address and police moved on with their search.”
Later on a man, believed to be the person the police was looking for, handed himself into custody, and was detained for several hours before being released under investigation.
Police said following the arrest of three suspects, they were not looking for anyone else in connection with the incident and that the alleged victim received hospital treatment at Withybush General Hospital.
He has now been discharged.
A spokesperson from Dyfed-Powys Police told The Pembrokeshire Herald: “Dyfed-Powys Police is investigating an allegation of assault that occurred on March 11 at approximately 11.30am at Wavell Crescent, Pembroke Dock.
“Following the alleged assault, one man was taken to hospital for medical treatment.
“A number of local officers, including armed response, were present in the local areas conducting enquiries.
“Three men have been arrested in connection with the investigation, with no further suspects outstanding.
“Enquiries into the incident are continuing.”
Crime
Local carer admits defrauding client by more than £7,000
A PEMBROKESHIRE carer has admitted defrauding a man placed in her care by over £7,000.
Paige James, 30, of Howarth Close, Milford Haven, dishonestly abused her position when she was employed as the gentleman’s carer at an undisclosed property in Milford Haven between July 2020 and January 2022.
This week James was brought before Haverfordwest magistrates court where she pleaded guilty to the charge of fraud by abuse of position.
Crown Prosecutor Abigail Jackson told magistrates that the offence was committed while James was employed as the man’s carer. Her position demanded that she safeguarded the financial interests of her client however Ms Jaackson said that James abused her position by intending to make a personal financial gain from her client that amounted to £7,094.11
“This offence is of a higher culpability, based on the amount of money involved,” said Ms Jackson.
“As a result, I ask magistrates to commit that matter to Crown Court for sentence.”
James was legally represented by Mr Anthony O’Connell who made no representations on behalf of his client.
Magistrates declined jurisdiction and the matter was adjourned until April 2, when James will appear at Swansea Crown Court for sentencing.
The Bench requested an all-options report to be prepared by the probation service in advance of her sentencing.
James was released on unconditional bail.
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