News

Suspected drugs gang on trial after cocaine and cannabis seized at Carmarthenshire farm

Published

3 years ago

May 15, 2023

FOUR defendants, Stephen Leyson, Lynne Leyson, Samson Leyson, and Andrew Jenkins, were in Swansea Crown Court on Monday, May 15, as they faced trial over their alleged involvement in a drug trafficking operation.

The charges stem from the discovery of over £60,000 worth of cocaine and £15,500 worth of cannabis at a farm in Carmarthenshire, alongside a loaded handgun and £17,000 in cash.

Denying the accusations, all four defendants have entered not guilty pleas to the charges of conspiracy to supply cannabis. However, the Leyson family members from Capel Dewi—Stephen, 55, Lynne, 52, and Samson, 23—also deny conspiracy to supply cocaine. Furthermore, Stephen and Samson Leyson face additional charges for the possession of a semi-automatic handgun, which they vehemently deny.

Stephen and Lynne Leyson are also accused of possessing criminal property, namely £17,190 in cash, which they deny.

Prior to the trial’s commencement, Samson Leyson pleaded not guilty to failing to comply with a section 49 notice. This charge arose after he refused to disclose the passcode to his iPhone, which had been seized by the police.

In his opening statement, prosecutor Jim Davies recounted that the police executed a search warrant at the Leyson’s smallholding near Capel Dewi during the early hours of October 27, 2021. Substantial quantities of drugs were discovered on and around the farm, leading to the immediate arrest of both Stephen and Lynne Leyson.

The search yielded 290 grams of cannabis in a dog shed, nearly one kilogram of cannabis in a suitcase found in a nearby field, and an additional 120 grams of cannabis in a bathroom. During a break, Police Dog Billy, who was assisting in the search, detected a scent that led to the discovery of around one kilogram of cocaine concealed in a green plastic bag hidden in a bush.

Moreover, the investigators uncovered a set of digital weighing scales with traces of white powder, and a 9mm semi-automatic handgun stowed in a canvas bag within a wall cavity of a cabin on the smallholding.

Mr. Davies revealed that these items were sent for forensic analysis, with the results pointing to the involvement of the three Leyson family members and Andrew Jenkins, 51, residing on North Hill Road in Mount Pleasant.

Following the forensic results, the authorities returned to the farm on November 29 of the same year and apprehended the Leysons, Jenkins, and another individual. Stephen Leyson disclaimed ownership of the handgun, instead attributing it to one of his sons and another individual, claiming he believed it to be a replica and intended to surrender it to the police.

He professed having no knowledge of the cocaine and contended that the cannabis was for personal use. The Leysons further claimed that the seized cash resulted from a house sale.

Lynne Leyson asserted that the weighing scales were employed to ensure that her husband received the appropriate quantity of cocaine for the price paid, as stated by Mr. Davies to the jury.

Concluding his opening statement, Mr. Davies declared, “This remote farm was being used for a drug dealing operation.”

The jury was informed that Ritchie Coleman, 33, and Emma Calver-Roberts, 32, a couple from Pembroke residing on Vetch Close, had already pleaded guilty in March to conspiracy charges related to the supply of cocaine and cannabis.

Additionally, Coleman pleaded guilty on January 5 to producing cannabis and possessing amphetamine.

The trial is ongoing.

Crime

Man charged with strangulation and assault offences after October incident

Published

12 hours ago

December 14, 2025

Court Reporter

A MAN recorded in court as having no fixed abode has appeared before magistrates charged with intentional strangulation and two further assault offences.

Michael Sudbury, 50, whose address was not read out in court, but in Herald records is Glan Hafan, Llangwm, appeared before the bench facing multiple charges.

The charges relate to an incident on 22 October 2025 and include:

Intentional strangulation, contrary to section 75A of the Serious Crime Act 2015
Common assault
Assault by beating

No further details of the alleged incident were opened in court, and no plea was entered at this stage.

Sudbury was remanded on conditional bail, with the case listed to return to magistrates later this month.

Crime

Haverfordwest man sent to Crown Court on multiple serious charges

Published

12 hours ago

December 14, 2025

Court Reporter

Defendant remanded in custody

A HAVERFORDWEST man has been sent to Swansea Crown Court to stand trial on a series of A 49-year-old Haverfordwest resident has been committed to Swansea Crown Court to face trial on multiple serious charges deemed too grave for magistrates to handle.

David Guy, of Market Street, Haverfordwest, appeared before Haverfordwest magistrates facing a series of allegations stemming from a single case. The charges, which were not detailed in open court, include:

Assault occasioning actual bodily harm (ABH)
A second count of assault
Criminal damage
An additional allegation of interpersonal violence
A public order offence

Magistrates declined jurisdiction, determining that the matters exceeded their sentencing powers, and sent the case in its entirety to Swansea Crown Court.

Guy was remanded in custody pending his next appearance. The court register notes: “Sent to Crown Court for trial in custody – next hearing at Swansea Crown Court.”

A date for the initial Crown Court hearing will be set administratively. Guy will remain in custody until then.

The Pembrokeshire Herald will provide further updates as the case progresses in the Crown Court.

Crime

Castlemartin man back before magistrates over multiple alleged assaults

Published

12 hours ago

December 14, 2025

Court Reporter

Defendant remanded on conditional bail ahead of further hearing

A CASTLEMARTIN man has appeared repeatedly before magistrates this month over a string A 40-year-old man from Castlemartin has made repeated appearances before magistrates this month in connection with a series of serious alleged offences, including assault occasioning actual bodily harm (ABH), intentional non-fatal strangulation, common assault, and criminal damage.

Anthony Alcock, of Pwll Street, Castlemartin, is facing six linked charges stemming from incidents said to have occurred earlier this year. These appear to relate to the same complainant in what is understood to be a single ongoing domestic abuse prosecution.

During recent administrative hearings at Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court, Alcock did not enter pleas while matters of bail and case management were addressed.

Charges Include:

Assault occasioning actual bodily harm (ABH)
Intentional non-fatal strangulation
Common assault on a woman
Criminal damage in a domestic context
Additional assault allegations involving the same complainant
Breach of bail conditions

Alcock was initially granted conditional bail but was subsequently brought before the court on two occasions for alleged breaches. On those instances, magistrates remanded him in custody ahead of further hearings. He was later re-granted conditional bail, subject to strict conditions such as no contact with the complainant and exclusion from specified locations.

Magistrates have now declined jurisdiction, ruling that the case—particularly the more serious charges involving non-fatal strangulation—is too grave for summary trial. It has been committed to Swansea Crown Court for plea, trial, or sentencing.

No detailed evidence has been presented in open court at this preliminary stage. Alcock remains on conditional bail pending his next appearance at the Crown Court.