Crime

Luxury-spending drug dealers ordered to repay £7,000

Published

5 months ago

August 6, 2024

A DRUG-DEALING couple from Pembrokeshire known for their extravagant spending on luxury watches and diamond jewellery have been ordered to repay just over £7,000 of their illicit earnings.

Daniel Davies and Rhian Warlow were apprehended on the A477 near Milford Haven on December 29. During the stop, authorities discovered a half-kilo block of cocaine, with an estimated street value of £60,000, hidden under a panel in their car boot.

Following their arrest, a subsequent search of Warlow’s residence uncovered 1kg of cannabis, valued at over £10,000. The couple admitted to charges of possession with intent to supply both cocaine and cannabis, and being involved in the supply of the drugs.

During their initial sentencing in March, Davies, residing at Hawthorn Path in Milford Haven, received a three-year prison sentence. Warlow, from Gelliswick Road in Hakin, was handed a two-year suspended sentence, along with an order to complete 200 hours of unpaid work and 30 rehabilitation activity requirement days.

At a Proceeds of Crime Act hearing at Swansea Crown Court, Prosecutor Brian Simpson revealed that Davies had profited £158,030.00 from his illegal activities, while Warlow had gained £87,824.00. However, only £4,883.00 of Davies’ assets and £2,375.00 of Warlow’s were available for seizure. Consequently, Judge Catherine Richards issued confiscation orders for these amounts.

The court heard that Davies initially began dealing cannabis before switching to cocaine in pursuit of higher profits. Text messages recovered from his phone indicated that he regularly dealt in ounces and occasionally kilograms of drugs.

The couple’s arrests followed a tip-off that their vehicle was linked to drug supply. Upon being stopped, they claimed they had been shopping at B&Q in Carmarthen. However, the cocaine was soon discovered, leading to their immediate arrest. Warlow’s 10-year-old daughter was found asleep at home, where the police also detected the strong odour of cannabis and discovered the four bags of the drug.

Warlow, 31, had used her illicit gains to purchase several high-end items, including Rolex and Royal Oak watches, a BMW key ring adorned with a diamond, and other diamond jewellery. This lavish lifestyle starkly contrasted with their criminal activities.

Dan Griffiths, representing 35-year-old Davies, explained that his client initially sold cannabis to support his own use but soon recognised the potential for significant profit, leading to his involvement in dealing cocaine.

This case highlights the stark reality of drug-related crime and its consequences, while also showcasing the judicial system’s efforts to reclaim ill-gotten gains from criminal activities.

Crime

Three men from London admit their guilt over illegal cannabis farm

Published

2 days ago

December 21, 2024

Tom Sinclair

THREE men admit their guilt after police discover over 700 cannabis plants during a raid on a former school building in Llandysul.

Officers from Dyfed-Powys Police executed a warrant at the former Ysgol Gynradd Llandysul on Heol Llyn Y Fran on November 15. Inside, they found 737 cannabis plants spread across multiple rooms.

Armeld Troksi, 29, and Njazi Gjana, 27, both from Empire Avenue in Edmonton, London, along with Ervin Gjana, 24, from Durham Avenue in Romford, were arrested at the scene and later charged with producing cannabis.

The three men appeared before Swansea Crown Court, where they admitted their involvement in the illegal operation. Defence solicitor Joshua Scouller requested a pre-sentence report for Ervin Gjana, which was granted by Judge Geraint Walters.

Sentencing is scheduled for January 20.

A Dyfed-Powys Police spokesperson said: “Following a warrant executed at the former school on Heol Llyn Y Fran, officers discovered a significant cannabis grow containing 737 plants.

“We are grateful to the local community for their continued support and cooperation. Officers will remain in the area while the site is secured.

“Our commitment remains firm in disrupting drug production and supply networks across our force area.

“We encourage residents to report any suspicious activity, no matter how small it may seem. Every piece of information can make a difference, and reports can easily be submitted through our website.”

Crime

Sex offender jailed for breaching court order

Published

2 days ago

December 20, 2024

Court Reporter

A SEX offender from Wolfscastle has been jailed after using fake names on WhatsApp and attempting to access a social media app, breaching his sexual harm prevention order (SHPO).

Luke Rogers, 38, was sentenced to 10 months in prison at Swansea Crown Court after pleading guilty to two breaches of the order, which was imposed following his 2020 conviction for sexual activity with a child.

Under the SHPO, Rogers was prohibited from using unregistered internet-enabled devices or creating online profiles under false names. Prosecutor Ryan Bowen told the court that police monitoring software installed on Rogers’ phone detected activity in group chats under three aliases last November.

Further investigation revealed Rogers had also searched for the MeetMe app on four occasions and admitted using it. Rogers, described by Mr. Bowen as “apologetic,” was arrested, and his phone was seized.

The court heard Rogers has a history of 17 convictions for 35 offences, including breaching court orders and failing to comply with sex offender notification requirements.

Defence barrister Olivia Rose said Rogers had cooperated fully with police and expressed a desire to change. She argued that his breaches stemmed from a misunderstanding about permitted names and emphasized his efforts to seek support.

Despite these mitigating factors, Judge Catherine Richards noted Rogers’ pattern of reoffending and stated: “The reality is I can only pass an immediate custodial sentence.”

She expressed hope that Rogers would take advantage of post-sentence supervision to break the cycle of offending.

Crime

Police renew appeal to find Darren Markes from Pembroke Dock

Published

2 days ago

December 20, 2024

Tom Sinclair

POLICE in Pembrokeshire are renewing their appeal for information to locate Darren Markes, 46, from Pembroke Dock. He is wanted in connection with a domestic assault.

Markes is believed to have links to the Portsmouth and Sussex areas.

If you have seen Darren Markes or have any information about his whereabouts, please contact the police through one of the following methods: