Crime

Parents urged to be vigilant as three locals jailed for cannabis ‘sweet’ production

Published

2 years ago

October 27, 2024

POLICE are urging parents to remain vigilant following the sentencing of three individuals involved in a large-scale operation producing cannabis-laced gummies in Haverfordwest. The scheme, which used sweets to disguise cannabis, has raised concerns over the risk such products pose to children and young people.

The operation was discovered after Merlins Bridge sorting office staff intercepted a package with a strong smell of cannabis, addressed to a home on Primrose Hill. Inside, authorities found a container filled with cannabis distillate. This led to a police raid at the address, where John Miles, his daughter Chay Miles, and her teenage boyfriend, Kyle Gadsby, were found with branded packaging, cannabis distillate, and sweets in various stages of production.

***The case was heard at Swansea Crown Court before Judge Huw Rees KC***

In total, 11.51 kilograms of sweets had already been infused with cannabis, with a further 14.11 kilograms prepared for processing. A drugs expert estimated the market value of the haul at between £11,820 and £19,666.

During questioning, Gadsby attempted to downplay the substantial stash of sweets, claiming it was to save on shop visits for children. However, evidence presented in court revealed that the edibles had been marketed on social media, with positive reviews on Instagram and Snapchat describing them as “f***ing banging” with “fast delivery.”

***Edibles: A warning has been given to parents***

John Miles, 51, Chay Miles, 28, and 19-year-old Gadsby all pleaded guilty to possession with intent to supply cannabis on June 5, 2024. They also admitted to involvement in cannabis supply from August 2023 until the June raid.

In court, Judge Huw Rees KC highlighted the serious nature of their offences, noting that disguising cannabis as sweets posed a particular danger to “the vulnerable, the uninitiated, and the naïve.” He described the operation as a “production line” with the potential to serve as an entry point to drugs for unsuspecting young individuals.

The court also heard that John Miles had only been out of prison for four months prior to the raid, having previously served time for cocaine and cannabis supply offences. His daughter Chay, a single mother of three, reportedly joined the scheme due to financial struggles. Gadsby, who had a troubled background, had been involved in the operation for just a month. He also faced charges from unrelated incidents in Northampton, including drug possession, dangerous driving, and possession of a bladed article.

Judge Rees sentenced John Miles to three years in prison, with both Chay Miles and Kyle Gadsby receiving 27 months each. He remarked that the defendants had exploited social media to market their products to an impressionable audience and stressed that, while some may view cannabis edibles as harmless, this operation represented “a serious commercial enterprise with significant public health implications.”

Following the case, local police reiterated their warning to parents about the potential for drugs to appear in unexpected forms, especially those designed to appeal to children and teens.

Crime

Local carpenter retains driving licence despite previous ban

Published

17 hours ago

May 6, 2026

Sarah Jane Absalom

A Herbrandston carpenter has been allowed to keep his driving licence despite a previous driving disqualification for using his mobile phone whilst driving.

Addressing District Judge Mark Layton at Haverfordwest Magistrates Court this week, Simon Shaw stressed the disqualification was having a major impact on his work commitment as well as his ability to support members of his family.

“If the ban continues, at least two of my five employees will have to be lost” said Shaw, who works as a self-employed carpenter operating from Herbrandston and the Milford Haven Industrial Estate.

“We travel throughout the whole of West Wales and also work at Thorne Island, where we’ve been providing logistical support for renovations for the last four years.”

Shaw, of Triplestone Close, Herbrandston, went on to say that his business has only one other driver who works as a reserve fire fighter.

“As a result, he’s not available to provide the 24 hour cover we provide to various care homes in the county,” he said.

Simon Shaw concluded by stating that his daughter is also dependent on his support having recently given birth to twins while his son-in-law and his partner’s mother are both currently undergoing serious healthcare treatments.

“I’m trying to provide as much logistical support for them as I can, but without my driving licence, this is impossible,” he said.

After listening to his comments, Judge Layton granted Shaw permission to retain his licence.

Crime

Delivery driver caught twice over legal drink-drive limit

Published

17 hours ago

May 6, 2026

Sarah Jane Absalom

A DELIVERY driver has been banned from the roads after being caught behind the wheel when he was over twice the legal drink-drive limit.

Twenty-nine year old Sam Rowe was stopped by officers just before 9.30 am on April 20 as he drove his Vauxhall Vivaro along Ferry Lane in Pembroke Dock.

“His speech was slurred and his eyes were bloodshot,” Crown Prosecutor Linda Baker told Haverfordwest Magistrates Court this week.

“There was also a strong smell of intoxicants emanating from him.”

When spoken to by the officers, Rowe stated he’d drunk a pint of alcohol approximately an hour before being stopped, however subsequent breathalyser tests showed he had no less than 75 mcg of alcohol in his system. The legal limit is 35.

Rowe, of Hazel Close, Pontypool, pleaded guilty to the offence and was represented in court by solicitor Michael Kelleher who informed the court that the defendant was holidaying in Pembrokeshire at the time of the offence.

“His daughter fell ill and he was attempting to find painkillers for her at a supermarket,” he said. “He’s very remorseful and is now going to lose his job as a delivery driver.”

Rowe, who has no previous convictions, was disqualified from driving for a total of 20 months. He was fined £120 and ordered to pay £85 court costs and a £48 surcharge.

Crime

Police tip-off leads to driving ban for Milford motorist

Published

17 hours ago

May 6, 2026

Sarah Jane Absalom

A PEMBROKESHIRE motorist has lost his licence after police received information that the 40-year-old male may have been driving under the influence of drugs.

This week Haverfordwest Magistrates court was told that at around 8.30pm on November 22 officers received a call informing them that Michael Miles was suspected of driving his Peugeot Bipper through Milford Haven after consuming drugs.

Miles was subsequently stopped on Marble Hall Road and when spoken to by the officers, he informed them that he was a drug user. A saliva sample tested positive for cocaine while further tests carried out at the police station showed that Miles had 760 mcg of the cocaine metabolite benzoylecgonine in his system, the legal limit being 50.

Miles, of Milford Road, Steynton, chose to be legally unrepresented in court and pleaded guilty to the drug-driving charge.

The probation service said he was very remorseful for the offence and has since had appointments with the Dyfed Drugs and Alcohol Service to help him deal with his drug usage. Miles was served with an interim driving disqualification however as a result of his previous non-payment of fines, his punitive sentencing was adjourned to Thursday, May 7.

“If you pay your outstanding fines before Thursday, you will be fined for this offence,” warned District Judge Mark Layton. “But if you don’t pay, you will be given a custodial sentence.”