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Sentencing begins for cocaine gang

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cocaineSIX Pembrokeshire people are being sentenced at Swansea Crown Court today (June 23) for their roles in a huge cocaine conspiracy.

They were involved in shipping £1m worth of the class A drug into the area until they were caught by local detectives in Operation Pigeon.

Leigh Salter, aged 37, of Steynton Road, Milford Haven and James Bolton, 48, of Kiln Road, Johnson, Haverfordwest, played leading roles, said Robin Rouch, the barrister leading the prosecution.

They worked with drug suppliers from Liverpool but before he was arrested Salter had gone on to set up a quite separate conspiracy buying cocaine from Swansea.

Awaiting sentence: Leigh Salter, 37

Awaiting sentence: Leigh Salter, 37

Salter and Bolton, plus Bolton’s then partner Siobhan Jackson, 39, also of Kiln Road, and Andrew Davies, 54, of Hill Street, Haverfordwest, had admitted conspiring with others to supply cocaine between September 1, 2012, and April 22, 2015.

Richard Conroy, 48, of Cherry Tree Close, Milford Haven, admitted “laundering” £1,500 in cash knowing or believing it represented the proceeds of criminal activity.

David Parker, aged 41, of Skomer Drive, Milford Haven, admitted conspiring with Salter to take cocaine from Swansea to Pembrokeshire.

Guilty of money laundering: Richard Conroy

Guilty of money laundering: Richard Conroy

Adam Idris, 33, of Grove Dale Road, Liverpool, and Adam Woodhouse, 34, of Weaver Close, Alsager, Staffordshire, admitted the main conspiracy charge.

Dannielle Maloney, 36, of Dovedale Road, Liverpool, and John Foster, 34, of Tiverton Road, Liverpool, admitted money laundering.

Mr Rouch said during Operation Pigeon detectives installed a secret listening device inside Bolton’s Station Automotives firm in Milford Haven.

Admitted dealing: James Bolton and Siobhan Jackson

Admitted dealing: James Bolton and Siobhan Jackson

They also logged mobile telephone traffic, car movements and money transfers and in all were able to identify 43 drug runs, although after his arrest Woodhouse alone confessed to at least 60.

It became clear, said Mr Rouch, that Salter and Bolton were the “main players” locally and that Idris was the supplier and Woodhouse the main courier.

When police moved in to make arrests they made finds that suggested half a kilo of cocaine, worth £30,000, were being shipped each time.

The listening device picked up Bolton and Jackson discussing delivery routes and changing mobile telephones.

And Jackson was followed to Liverpool.

Mr Rouch said Operation Pigeon soon became intertwined with another drugs operation that involved Idris supplying cocaine from Liverpool to the Stoke-on-Trent area.

Despite being arrested in connection with that crime and granted police bail Idris continued to supply drugs to Pembrokeshire.

Bolton, the court heard, had been convicted in 2010 of possessing cocaine with intent to supply.

By the end of Thursday’s hearing the judge, Judge Paul Thomas, had listened to mitigation on behalf of most of the defendants.

Bolton, he was told, had been traumatised at the age of three when his father killed his mother and at the time of his arrest was leading such a chaotic lifestyle he was positively relieved to be caught and put into custody.

Jackson was no longer in a relationship with Bolton.

Davies made £700 by acting as a drugs courier on four occasions.

And Parker had been caught the one and only time he had agreed to collect a package from Swansea and deliver it to Salter.

Judge Thomas said he would sentence the defendants on Friday.

But he told Conroy he fell into a different category and agreed to sentence him there and then.

Conroy, who fits burglar alarms and fire alarms as a job, was made the subject of a 12 month community order and ordered to carry out 200 hours of unpaid work for the community and to pay £500 prosecution costs.

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Community

Tractor run lights up Pembrokeshire and raises funds for charity

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THE PEMBROKESHIRE ILLUMINATED TRACTOR RUN took place today (Dec 21), raising funds for two vital charities: the Catrin Vaughan Foundation and Wales Air Ambulance.

Starting at Clarbeston Road AFC at 6:00pm, the brightly lit convoy of nearly 200 tractors made its way through Withybush Hospital and Haverfordwest High Street before finishing at the Pembrokeshire County Showground.

The annual event has become a highlight of the festive calendar, drawing large crowds to witness the spectacle of tractors adorned with colourful lights and decorations.

Funds raised from the event will support the Catrin Vaughan Foundation, which provides crucial assistance to families facing hardship, and the Wales Air Ambulance, delivering life-saving emergency medical care across the region.

Organisers praised the dedication of local farmers and volunteers, whose commitment ensures the event’s continued success year after year.

(Image: Nia Marshall/Facebook)

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Business

Ferry Terminal ‘extremely busy’ due to ongoing Holyhead closure

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PEMBROKE DOCK Ferry Terminal has been experiencing significant congestion today as ferry services remain under immense pressure following the closure of Holyhead Port earlier this month.

The disruption, caused by storm damage, has rerouted ferry traffic through Pembrokeshire, leading to long queues and crowded facilities at the terminal.

The Herald can confirm that it has been very busy today with cars, lorries, and foot passengers queuing in large numbers. Staff are working tirelessly to manage the influx, directing vehicles and assisting passengers as they prepare to board the heavily booked ferries.

A spokesperson for the Port of Milford Haven said: “We are working closely with ferry operators and local authorities to ensure traffic flows as smoothly as possible, but the sheer volume of vehicles is causing unavoidable delays.”

Travelers are being urged to arrive early for their sailings and to remain patient as the terminal operates at full capacity.

Both Stena Line and Irish Ferries have increased capacity on their Pembrokeshire routes, deploying larger vessels, including the Stena Adventurer and the MV James Joyce, to handle the surge in demand.

From our position at the terminal, our photographer has captured photos showing long lines of vehicles, groups of foot passengers carrying luggage, and port staff coordinating efforts to ease congestion.

Authorities are advising non-essential travelers to consider rescheduling their journeys where possible and to monitor updates from ferry operators closely.

(Photos: Martin Cavaney/Herald)

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Community

Festive celebrations at St Davids Cathedral this weekend

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ST DAVIDS Cathedral is set to host two special events on Sunday (Dec 22), offering a blend of joyful participation and traditional carol singing to mark the Christmas season.

In the morning, families are invited to the Scratch Nativity at 11:00am. Attendees are encouraged to come dressed as wise men, angels, sheep, or shepherds and take part in an unrehearsed retelling of the Christmas story. Canon Leigh described the event as: “Complete, wonderful chaos for an hour… but with some poignant, thought-provoking moments to centre ourselves on the real meaning of Christmas.”

Later in the evening, the Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols by Candlelight will take place at 7:00pm, featuring the Cathedral Choir. The event, steeped in tradition, will see the cathedral bathed in candlelight as carols and scripture readings fill the historic space.

Doors will open at 5:45pm for those seeking unreserved seating, and a large turnout is expected for this beloved Christmas celebration.

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