Crime
Five members of drugs gang jailed for more than 30 years
MEMBERS of an organised crime group (OCG) who supplied class A and class B drugs across Gwent, South Wales and Gloucestershire have received prison sentences totalling more than 30 years.
Between February and October 2021, we carried out enforcement activities throughout the south of Monmouthshire which led to the seizure of drugs, cash and mobile phones.
The phones seized not only showed their owners’ significant involvement in the supply of drugs, it also showed all those who worked with them. Over the two-year long investigation, we carried out eight warrants and more than £50,000 worth of class A and B drugs were seized, along with over £40,000 of cash. In one warrant alone, £38,000 was found in a money safe disguised as a book.
The below people were sentenced at Cardiff Crown Court on Friday 26 January for conspiracy to supply a class A drug – cocaine and class B drugs including ketamine, cannabis and amphetamines:
- 49-year-old Andrew Harris from Cinderford received five years and seven months
- 47-year-old Helga Boehm from Cinderford received four years and ten months
- 35-year-old Matthew Nicholas from Newport received eight years and two months
- 33-year-old Ashley Bollen from Caldicot received eight years and one month
- 32-year-old Peter Wright from Chepstow received five years for the drug related offences – in addition to this – Wright received an additional six years and nine months for an assault, not connected to this case. These sentences will run consecutively, meaning, his final sentence is 11 years and ten months imprisonment.
All defendants plead guilty at an earlier hearing.
The senior investigating officer, Detective Chief Inspector Steven Thomas said: “We have successfully dismantled a major drugs gang who are now behind bars for their parts in peddling misery across South Wales and Gloucestershire. These men and women were not simply dealing drugs to feed their own addiction, they had made the decision to become involved in the supply of large quantities of harmful drugs to make money for themselves at the expense of others.
“We are committed to creating a hostile environment for serious and organised crime in Gwent. Illegal drugs have no place in society – they cause harm to those that become addicted to them and to their families, friends and the wider communities.
“These sentences send a strong reminder to those involved in drug supply in and around the Gwent area that we will leave no stone unturned when it comes to targeting those who involve themselves in these illegal activities.”
We’re encouraging members of the public to be our eyes and ears – help us disrupt serious organised crime. If something doesn’t feel right, it might not be. Don’t wait, report it.
If you or someone else is in immediate danger or it feels a situation could escalate call 999.
For general information you can call 101, or direct message us on social media.
Alternatively, Crimestoppers can be contacted – anonymously – online or via the phone, on 0800 555 111.
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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