Crime

County lines gang operating from Chessington to west Wales jailed

Published

2 months ago

January 23, 2026

Two men imprisoned and another given a 31-month sentence while sentencing for a fourth defendant is delayed for reports

A COUNTY lines drug operation spanning Chessington to Swansea has been brought before the courts, with a judge saying those involved were driven by drug addiction and financial motives.

The defendants first appeared before the Magistrates’ Court on Thursday, September 11, 2025. Pre-trial preparations took place in October, and sentencing was dealt with at Swansea Crown Court on Friday (Jan 23).

Judge Catherine Richards told the court the offending was fuelled by financial gain and serious substance misuse.

“Your motives were entirely financial, each driven by your considerable drug addictions,” she said.

Barrie Iylett, 58, was jailed for three years. The court heard he entered an early guilty plea and was addicted to crack cocaine and heroin at the time of the offence. He had previously worked as a plasterer but had been unable to work for six months before his arrest due to the extent of his addiction. His barrister said he had used his time in custody positively, was now drug-free, and intended to return to Clacton-on-Sea in Essex, where he planned to remain abstinent. He accepted he faced a substantial custodial sentence.

Joseph Billclough, 46, was also sentenced to three years’ imprisonment. He was described as homeless and a heavy drug user at the time of the offence, and the court heard he had been involved in the operation for around nine months in order to fund his own drug habit. His legal representative said he was realistic about the position he was in. The court was told he had no other relevant convictions and that, for the first time in nearly 30 years, he was now drug-free.

Finlay Price Smallman, described as significantly younger than his co-defendants, received a custodial sentence of 31 months. The court heard he was a vulnerable drug user and that he had been homeless from the age of 15. His solicitor told the court his life was “a tale which is unfortunately too common,” adding that Smallman was “sick of the life he has been leading.” On release, he plans to live with his father and stepmother in the Hereford countryside and hopes to set up a burger van in the future.

Sentencing for Andrew Avraam was adjourned until Friday, Feb 13, 2026. Judge Richards ordered a pre-sentence report due to his lack of previous criminal history and evidence of mental health diagnoses including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The court also heard Avraam was a victim of modern slavery, which the judge said would need to be considered before sentence is passed.

Judge Richards said the court had taken account of the personal circumstances put forward on behalf of each defendant, but stressed the serious harm caused by county lines drug supply operations.

Crime

Driver caught with three illegal drugs in system on way to MOT test

Published

16 hours ago

March 10, 2026

Sarah Jane Absalom

Tenby stop check revealed cocaine and cannabis in motorist’s blood

ATTEMPTS to take his vehicle for its annual MOT has backfired after the vehicle’s owner was found to be driving with a cocktail of illegal drugs in his system.

Bradley Bostock, 27, was stopped by officers on December 16 as he drove his Ford Fiesta along Heywood Lane, Tenby.

But further investigations by officers confirmed he had 108 mcg of benzoylecgonine in his system together with 17 mcg of cocaine and 2.4 mcg of Delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol. The legal limits are 50, 10 and 2 respectively.

“There’s no detail of the rationale behind why he was stopped, but three drugs were noted in his blood,” said Crown Prosecutor Sian Vaughan when Bostock appeared before Haverfordwest magistrates this week.

Bostock pleaded guilty to three charges of drug driving and was represented in court by Jess Hill.

“He was taking his vehicle to Tenby for an MOT that day but was stopped by officers for a stop check,” she said.

“He’s from Yorkshire and often feels isolated here as he has no family and uses drugs to help deal with his loneliness.”

Bostock, of Corston Cottages, Axton Hill, Pembroke was sentenced to a 12 month community order during which he must complete 10 rehabilitation activity requirement days and 90 hours of unpaid work.

He was disqualified from driving for 17 months and ordered to pay a £114 court surcharge and £85 costs.

Crime

Father-of-three ordered to pay for bus stop damage after drinking binge

Published

16 hours ago

March 10, 2026

Sarah Jane Absalom

Blood trail led police from damaged shelter to defendant’s home

A FATHER-OF-THREE had admitted carrying out over £500 worth of damage to a bus stop after a drinking binge in Milford town centre.

A blood trail led officers from the bus stop to Hawthorn Way, to the home of Hayden Dimond.

This week Dimond, 31, appeared before Haverfordwest magistrates where he admitted the criminal damage offence.

Crown Prosecutor Sian Vaughan informed magistrates that the damage caused to the bus stop totalled £530.60.

“The defendant accepted responsibility in his police interview and pointed them in the direction of the damaged bus stop,” Diamond’s solicitor, Jess Hill, informed the Bench.

“At the time he was highly intoxicated and acted upon impulse.

“He had problems with binge drinking but now rarely consumes alcohol, but whenever he does, it’s monitored so he remains on an acceptable level.”

“What happened that night was not intentional.”

Dimond, Hawthorn Path, Milford Haven, was ordered to pay £530 compensation to Pembrokeshire County Council and was fined £40. He must also pay £85 court costs and a £16 surcharge.

Crime

Driver banned after cocaine found in system during A40 stop check

Published

16 hours ago

March 10, 2026

Sarah Jane Absalom

Motorist told court he had taken drugs the night before socialising with friends

A DRUG DRIVER who was arrested during a routine stop check was this week ordered off the roads for 12 months.

A stop check carried out on Dean Browne as he drove his Volvo V50 along the A40 at Slebech last December prompted officers to carry out a roadside drugs swipe. When it proved positive, further blood tests were carried out at the police station which showed that Browne had 240 mcg of the cocaine metabolism benzoylecgonine in his system. The legal limit is 50.

Browne, who has no previous convictions, accepted that he’d taken cocaine the night before whilst socialising with friends.

“He is sorry for his actions and understands now that the drug can remain in the system for some time,” said his solicitor Jess Hill, after Browne pleaded guilty to the drug-driving offence when he appeared before Haverfordwest magistrates this week.

In addition to the 12-month driving ban, Browne, of Horeb Road, Mynydd y Garreg, Kidwelly, was fined £120 and ordered to pay £85 court costs and a £48 surcharge.