Crime

Four jailed after Milford Haven drugs raid uncovers £20,000 haul

Published

8 months ago

July 15, 2025

Men found hiding in loft during police search

FOUR men have been jailed following a drugs raid at a house in Milford Haven, where police uncovered cocaine, cannabis, cash and weapons.

Officers attended a property on Larch Road on April 3 in search of Kai Bain and Kaleb Thomas. A man standing outside went back into the house when he saw officers approaching. After knocking for several minutes, police were met by Sam Daines, who claimed only he and Alex Brown were inside.

However, a strong smell of cannabis prompted a full search. In the loft space, officers discovered Bain and Thomas hiding, along with drugs, cash, a hammer and two knives.

Daines and Brown were initially treated as witnesses, but were arrested when inconsistencies emerged in their stories. Brown became aggressive during his arrest, saying “F*** it, let’s go,” and made a headbutt motion towards one of the officers.

In total, police recovered 180 grams of cocaine, 387 grams of cannabis, two sets of weighing scales and £2,799.40 in cash. A drugs expert estimated the cocaine could be worth up to £18,000, with the cannabis valued at just under £3,400. Drug-related messages were also found on phones linked to three of the four men.

Daines, aged 33, of Larch Road, had previous convictions but none related to drugs. The court was told he had been out of trouble since 2016 but relapsed after losing his job and experiencing a family bereavement.

His barrister said he regretted becoming involved and had since become drug-free.

Brown, 31, of Chestnut Way, had 32 convictions for 65 offences. His defence told the court he had turned to dealing due to his own struggles with addiction, and accepted prison was inevitable.

Nineteen-year-old Bain, of no fixed abode, had one previous conviction. The court heard he had become involved after failing to find employment and actively sought out drug dealers in an effort to earn money. He is now said to be drug-free and attempting to cut ties with his past.

Thomas, aged 20, also of no fixed abode, had one conviction for two offences. His barrister said he had a difficult background and was still immature, describing this as his first time in custody and an experience he does not wish to repeat.

Judge Huw Rees sentenced Daines and Brown to four years and two months in prison. Bain and Thomas were each sentenced to three years in a young offender institution.

**Back into crime: Sam Daines had stayed out of trouble since 2016 (Pic: Dyfed-Powys Police**)

***Aggressive when arrested: Alex Brown lashed out at police (Pic: Dyfed-Powys Police)***

***Turned to drugs after job struggles: Kai Bain was found hiding in the loft (Pic: Dyfed-Powys Police)***

***First time in custody: Kaleb Thomas jailed over cocaine and cannabis dealing (Pic: Dyfed-Powys Police)***

Crime

Broad Haven man remanded in custody over sexual harm prevention order breach

Published

13 hours ago

March 20, 2026

Court Reporter

Defendant admitted using Xbox without informing police as required under court order

ANTHONY COOMBES, aged 26, of Sand Banks, Broad Haven, appeared before Llanelli Magistrates’ Court on Thursday (Mar 20) charged with breaching a sexual harm prevention order.

The court heard that between February 26 and March 19, 2026, at Haverfordwest, Coombes repeatedly breached the order by using an Xbox device without informing police within three days, as required.

The offences relate to a sexual harm prevention order imposed at Swansea Crown Court on October 20, 2021.

Coombes indicated guilty pleas to the offences at the first hearing.

Magistrates committed the case to Swansea Crown Court for sentence.

He was remanded in custody ahead of the next hearing, which is due to take place at 9:00am on Friday, April 3, at Swansea Crown Court.

The court refused bail on the grounds that he was likely to offend, citing the nature and seriousness of the offences and his previous record and character.

A pre-sentence report was ordered.

Crime

Illegal dog breeders ordered to pay over £129,000 after council probe

Published

14 hours ago

March 20, 2026

Tom Sinclair

FOUR people from Mynyddygarreg, Kidwelly, have been ordered to pay more than £129,000 following a successful prosecution for illegal dog breeding.

At Swansea Crown Court on Tuesday (Mar 10), before His Honour Judge Thomas KC, Stacey May June Edwards, Peter John Edwards, Sian Eleri Thomas and David Malcolm James Thomas, all of Sea Breeze, Mynyddygarreg, pleaded guilty to offences under the Breeding of Dogs (Wales) Regulations 2014.

The court imposed confiscation orders totalling £129,873.41 under the Proceeds of Crime Act across the four defendants. They were also ordered to pay £8,000 in costs, while each defendant received a £2,000 fine.

The investigation began in April 2021 after Carmarthenshire County Council’s Animal Health team received an enquiry from Peter Edwards about obtaining a dog breeding licence. Although licensing guidance was provided and a partial application was submitted in February 2022, this was later withdrawn.

In March 2024, the council received a complaint that puppies were being advertised for sale without the required licence. Officers subsequently contacted online advertising platforms and issued data requests to assess the scale of activity.

Analysis of records from Pets4Homes, Freeads and Gumtree revealed multiple litters being advertised by members of the same household.

Correspondence under the Police and Criminal Evidence Act confirmed that up to 25 dogs were kept at the property, including between 16 and 19 breeding females.

While some defendants claimed joint ownership of the dogs, others attempted to minimise their involvement.

The Herald understands that numerous puppy advertisements were posted between July 2020 and April 2025, demonstrating a sustained pattern of unlicensed breeding.

Carmarthenshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Climate Change, Decarbonisation and Sustainability, Cllr Aled Vaughan Owen, said: “This case demonstrates the council’s firm stance against unlicensed and illegal dog breeding.

“These regulations are in place to protect animal welfare and ensure that breeding activities are subject to proper oversight. The scale of activity uncovered at this property was entirely unacceptable, and we welcome the court’s decision to issue significant confiscation orders under POCA.”

He added: “We urge anyone with concerns about illegal dog breeding to report it. Our Animal Health officers will continue to investigate thoroughly and take action against those who disregard the law.”

Residents are reminded that anyone breeding and selling dogs must comply with licensing regulations designed to protect both animal welfare and consumers.

Crime

Publican jailed for six years for supplying cocaine and cannabis

Published

14 hours ago

March 20, 2026

Rieve Nesbitt-Marr

Milford Haven man sentenced at Swansea Crown Court following drug dealing operation

A MILFORD HAVEN publican has been jailed for six years after admitting supplying cocaine and cannabis.

The defendant, who previously appeared before magistrates and was remanded in custody, was sentenced at Swansea Crown Court following an investigation into drug dealing activity linked to the town.

The court heard that he had been involved in the supply of Class A and Class B drugs, with evidence including material recovered by police and analysis of mobile phone data. Investigators said the activity had been ongoing since at least 2024.

Cocaine, a Class A drug, carries the most serious penalties under UK law, and the involvement of both cocaine and cannabis was reflected in the length of the sentence imposed.

During proceedings, the court was told that the case went beyond isolated incidents, with the defendant playing a significant role in the supply chain. The judge said the offending was serious and sustained, warranting an immediate custodial sentence.

He was sentenced to six years in prison.

The case had previously been heard at Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court, where the defendant was remanded due to the seriousness of the allegations before being sent to the Crown Court for sentencing.