Crime
Albanian man jailed after cannabis farm found in Pembroke
AN ALBANIAN man has been sentenced to 12 months in prison after police discovered a sophisticated cannabis farm in the former Lloyds Pharmacy on Main Street, Pembroke.
Dyfed-Powys Police officers raided the vacant property at 10:00am on Friday (Oct 18) and found 575 cannabis plants in advanced stages of growth across three rooms. The estimated yield of the plants could have produced between 15 and 45 kilograms of cannabis, valued at £170,000 to £500,000 on the street.
Inside the building, officers also discovered a makeshift living area with a bed and shower, indicating that the suspect, Amarildo Daja, had been residing there. Daja attempted to flee but retreated into the building, hiding in the ceiling when confronted by police. Officers assisted him down with a ladder before placing him under arrest.
The property’s electricity supply had been tampered with to avoid detection, and two mobile phones were found on-site—one damaged and the other wiped clean.
Daja, 27, admitted to police that he had been smuggled into the UK by a criminal gang to pay off a debt. He initially worked in London but agreed to tend the cannabis farm in Pembrokeshire three months prior to his arrest after struggling to make payments.
In court, his defense barrister, Caitlin Brazel, explained that Daja deeply regretted his actions, describing them as “out of character.” Daja, who has no fixed address, expressed a desire to serve his sentence and seek legal employment afterward.
Judge Geraint Walters noted that the case highlighted the need to target criminal organizations behind such operations. “If we want to tackle the issue of Albanian criminal gangs establishing cannabis factories, we must find the ringleaders,” he stated.
Daja will serve his sentence with the possibility of deportation upon release, subject to a Home Office decision.
(Main image: Martin Cavaney)
Crime
Court hears man exposed his flaccid manhood ‘by accident’
A 21-YEAR-OLD Pembrokeshire man has appeared before magistrates charged with intentionally exposing his genitals in a public place.
Thomas Jones is accused of carrying out the act at a property in New Moat, Clarbeston Road, on November 9, 2022.
“The defendant knocked on the door of a female and offered his gardening services,” Crown prosecutor Nia James told Haverfordwest magistrates this week.
“She accepted his offer and moved her car so that he could move his van, but when she turned around, she could see his flaccid penis was outside his trousers. When she pointed this out to him, he said he didn’t know that it was exposed.”
Jones denies the charge. He was released on unconditional bail to await his trial at Haverfordwest magistrates court on January 6.
Crime
Regular cocaine user from Milford Haven taken off the road
A MILFORD HAVEN resident who admits to being a regular cocaine user has lost his driving licence after being found behind the wheel when he was 15 times over the legal Benzoylecgonine limit.
Teifion Morse, 41, was stopped by officers just before midnight on May 1 following reports that he was driving his Vauxhall Insignia along the A477 at excessive speeds.
“The vehicle was travelling westwards towards Kilgetty, and Teifion Morse was the driver and the sole occupant, “ Crown Prosecutor Nia James told Haverfordwest magistrates this week.
A roadside drugs wipe proved positive while further blood tests carried out at the police custody suite showed that Morse had 800 mcg of benzoylecgonine in his system (the legal limit is 50), and 20 mcg of cocaine. The legal limit is 10.
Ms James said that when Morse was spoken to by officers, he told them that he knew the readings would be positive. “I’ve done stupid amounts today,” he said.
Morse, of Hawthorn Path, Milford Haven, pleaded guilty to two charges of drug driving. A probation report stated that since leaving the military five and a half years ago, Morse has suffered from mental health issues.
He’s been using cocaine as a coping mechanism,” said the probation officer. “He freely admits that he uses cocaine to help him cope, but it’s spiralled and is getting more and more out of control. He would like support to kick this habit.”
Morse chose to be legally unrepresented when he appeared before magistrates.
“It was my stupid fault and I’m trying to take the correct steps to get on the right path,” he said in mitigation.
Morse was sentenced to an 18-month community order during which he must carry out 15 rehabilitation activity requirement days and 150 hours of unpaid work. He was disqualified from driving for 15 months and must pay a £140 court surcharge and £85 costs.
Crime
Motorist manned from driving after being caught over limit
A PEMBROKE DOCK motorist has been ordered off the roads after driving through Pembroke town centre when he was over the drink-drive limit.
Just before 1am on October 31, police officers stopped a Vauxhall Zafira that was being driven along South Road by Cameron Sell, 23, who was exceeding the speed limit.
“He was acting erratically when he was speaking to the officer,” Crown Prosecutor Nia James told Haverofrdwest magistrates this week.
A roadside breath test proved positive and subsequent breath tests carried out at the police station showed Sell had 42 mcg of alcohol in his system. The legal limit is 35.
After considering the facts, magistrates fined Sell £300 and ordered him to pay a £120 court surcharge and £85 costs. He was disqualified from driving for 12 months.
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