Friday, 28 October 2016

Curlew 's Calling

'Breach of curfew caused by bath-time' - for defendant and his dog

By EvansTheCrime  |  Posted: October 27, 2016

By Jason Evans
 


A MAN'S electronic curfew tag stopped working when he jumped in the bath — to bathe himself and his dog — a court has heard.

Raphael Gardner appeared in Swansea Magistrates' Court accused of breaching his 9pm to 6am curfew when he was absent from his Cimla home for 15 minutes.

Steve Burnell, for Gardener, said his client was adamant he had not left the house but had taken a bath on the night in question — and then bathed his greyhound — and when he got downstairs he found the curfew tag box had been activated.

The court heard that when police officers called at his house later that night to check on his whereabouts he was at the property.


Magistrates took the unusual step of reading the tagging equipment's information leaflet to Gardner, which said the device had been calibrated to work in the bath — and they found the breach proved.

READ MORE: 'Stop using name Barry Eye' for ferris wheel, say owners of London Eye attraction

The court heard 52-year-old Gardner, of Glannant Court, had also breached his bail in August - on that occasion he was found by police in a garden shed.

Gardner was further admitted to bail - which includes the curfew and a prohibition on going to Dan-y-Coed in Tonmawr - ahead of a hearing next month.

Thursday, 27 October 2016

Cheeky English, Cheeky


BY CHRIS PYKE
The Danter family - who own the Barry Island attraction - say they have received a letter from the owners of the London tourist attraction
   

The owners of Barry Island's ferris wheel have been told they can no longer refer to the attraction as the "Barry Eye".


The Danter family have been sent an email by lawyers representing the owners of the London Eye, telling them to stop referring to the Barry Island ferris wheel as the "Barry Eye".

It has never actually officially been called the Barry Eye. Instead, it quickly became the unofficial name for the ride when it was first brought onto the island in July .

On the website for the Barry Island Pleasure Park the ride is referred to as 'Giant Ferris Wheel', not the Barry Eye.

But the owners of the London tourist attraction, the Merlin Entertainments Group, say the Danter family are infringing on a registered trademark if they use the name.

Kimberley Danter said: "We didn't initially call it the Barry Eye, it was just what the locals named it. It was a good name for it.

"We are no competition, we have a small park in Barry Island, we are not playing with the big boys in London.

"But this is going to cause a lot of press for it now, and all publicity is good publicity.

"I didn't realise that you could actually own the word 'Eye'."

The London Eye
Lane IP Limited, on behalf of Merlin Entertainments, contacted the Danter family on September 29 to raise their concern on the use of the term Barry Eye.

In a follow up email on October 12, Rob White a senior associate with Lane IP says that they require an agreement that the Barry Island Pleasure Park will not use or allow others to use Barry Eye or any other name confusingly similar to The Eye or London Eye for the ferris wheel attraction.

They made contact after seeing media coverage of of the Barry ride.

Despite the striking difference in size, scale and worldwide fame, they say people are bound to assume the Barry ferris wheel is in some way connected to the London version.

Merlin Entertainments Group, which also operates Alton Towers, Legoland and Madame Tussauds, would not comment on the incident.

Fireworks light up the sky over the London Eye during the New Year celebration however children in the Gwaun Valley celebrate Hen Galan, or old New Year, based on the ancient Julian calendarFireworks light up the sky over the London Eye during New Year celebrations

Guto Llewelyn, an intellectual property lawyer at Capital Law, said: "The key question here is whether the Danter family have officially named the ride, or are using the name ‘The Barry Eye’, which they say they have not. If they had, Merlin (given the wide ranging protection the London Eye enjoys under their registered trademarks) can legitimately ask them to stop using the name.

"However, it seems to me that the Barry Eye is an affectionate name given to the ride by locals and visitors, in which case the Danter family have done nothing wrong.

"Merlin cannot stop the public referring to the ride as the Barry Eye, regardless of whether the Danter family benefits from that."

Louis Ross, 32, co-founder of Barrybados, said: "Barrians have already nicknamed it the Barry Eye. It's going to be difficult to change that name now because it's been around for a while.

"But I understand the whole purpose of trademarks, they are there to protect creativity and ideas. Hopefully something can be agreed, with the TM owners. Barry has an eye now, and i can't see that name ever changing for locals. It's stuck in our heads."

A ride on the Barry Island ferris wheel costs four Barry Island Pleasure Park Tokens, or £3. Standard entry for a 30-minute rotation on the Coca-Cola London Eye starts at £21.20.

Wednesday, 26 October 2016

Skettys Bleak House

Sketty home where landlord was beaten to death with hammer is sold - but would you live there?

By SWEPnino  |  Posted: October 25, 2016



THE home where a tenant murdered his landlord has been sold at a cut-price figure at auction.

The three-storey home in Vivivan Road in Sketty was owned by former telecoms engineer Alec Warburton, who rented out rooms to lodgers, including to 40-year-old David Ellis.

Ellis was found guilty in June following a trial at Swansea Crown Court of the murder of 59-year-old Mr Warburton some time at the beginning of August 2015.


Swansea Crown Court heard how Ellis had beaten his landlord to death with a hammer at the house, and forensic examination of the property had detected efforts to clean-up blood from the walls.



Alec Warburton (left) was killed by his lodger David Ellis (right)

After killing Mr Warburton, Ellis had driven his body to north Wales where he dumped it at a disused quarry.

The property has now been sold at auction for £126,000 – far below the asking price of similar properties on the street, some of which are on offer for up to £190,000.

Mr Warburton's estate is understood to be controlled by his brother Graham, who first alerted police after growing concerned at not being able to get his sibling on the phone.

A former neighbour said: "I lived next door in 2012 and it was a nice little home back then, I think £126,000 is a steal.

"But what happened inside was a real tragedy and the memory will linger there for some time – I'm not sure I'd like to live there."

The five-bedroom property was sold as offering potential for conversion to a home of multiple occupation, or for re-establishing to a family property.

Ellis was jailed for 26 years after being found guilty of the murder by a jury.

Trial judge Mr Justice Robin Knowles, passing sentence, said: "The murder was done in the expectation of gain. It is a case of particularly high seriousness, statutory aggravating features including planning, which I find to be significant, and concealment of the body.

Monday, 24 October 2016

Mancub Drinks Cider Demands Kebab

Glynneath man's 'disgraceful' drunken assault on mother
By EvansTheCrime  |  Posted: October 24, 2016



Jamie Church's behaviour was described as 'disgraceful' when he appeared at Swansea Magistrates Court

A TEENAGER drunkenly assaulted his mum, including screaming abuse in her face and demanding money and food a court has heard.

Magistrates said Jamie Church had treated his mother "disgracefully" during the incident, which lasted a number of hours.

Sharon Anderson, prosecuting, told Swansea Magistrates Court that 19-year-old Church had been out drinking for much of the day when he returned home to the house he shared with his mother in Glynneath on a Saturday

The court heard he threw a bottle of Strongbow cider at the front door — which smashed — and then went into the house and began shouting at his mum and banging on the kitchen table.

Later that evening he began demanding money and a kebab from his mother, "shouting in her face, almost nose-to-nose" and calling her a waste of space.

The court heard she gave him money from her purse but he demanded more.

Church's mum then left the house and police were called — when officers arrived the teenager fled from a back window and escaped over the garden fence.

Police carried out a search of the area and Church was found in the early hours of the morning in a relative's house nearby, and arrested.

The court heard that as he was being led to the police car he "barged" a female officer out of the way and attempted to flee once more, but was detained.

Church, of Nant Hir, Glynnneath, broke down in tears as he pleaded guilty to common assault and to assaulting a constable when he appeared in custody.


Chris White, for Church, said his client was finding it hard to cope with a recent family bereavement, and had problems with interpersonal skills — "and was perhaps drinking more that he should".

He added that the money Church had demanded was in fact his own money that his mum was looking after for him, but that he realised his behaviour towards her had been unacceptable.

Alun Williams, chairman of the bench, told Church the way he had spoken to his mother had been "utterly disgraceful", and that he had show a disregard for the law in what he had done to the arresting constable.

Church was fined £75 and made the subject of a 12 month community order with a rehabilitation programme. He must also pay £85 costs and an £85 surcharge.

Jason Evans / jason.evans@swwmedia.co.uk / @EvansTheCrime

Sunday, 23 October 2016

Uphill Gardner and His Sticky Fingers



Christopher Gardner stole chocolate bars from a WH Smiths branch.

A MAN with 73 theft matters on his record walked into a shop and helped himself to more than 100 chocolate bars, a court has heard.

Christopher Gardner stole the sweet treats from the WH Smith's branch in Swansea's Quadrant centre on October 6, the day the centre opened its doors late for a special student shopping evening.

Swansea Magistrates Court heard that the theft came to light the following day when staff did a stock count and found 117 bars worth £110 were missing - CCTV was checked and Gardner was seen walking up and down the aisles picking up seven boxes of chocolate bars.

The 28-year-old was arrested two weeks later when he returned to the shop and stole some more chocolate bars — a member of staff recognised him and called police.

In his police interview he said he was struggling to buy food and pay for his heroin addiction.

READ MORE: Overcrowding and drugs still a problem at Swansea prison, report warns

Gardner, of Henrietta Street, Swansea city centre, pleaded guilty to two counts of theft — and to breaching a suspended sentence which had been imposed in September for other thefts — when he appeared before justices.

The court heard he has 49 previous convictions for 102 offences, some 73 of which are for theft and like matters.

Craig Harding, for Gardner, admitted his client had an "unenviable record" but said he had been engaging with the probation service in recent weeks, and was working towards getting a prescription for a heroin substitute.

Magistrates activated four weeks of Gardner's previously imposed suspended sentence, and sentenced him to a total of four weeks for the new offences, both sentences to run consecutively making a total of eight weeks.

Magistrates did not make an order for compensation or for costs, but Gardner will have to pay mandatory £115 surcharge.

Jason Evans / jason.evans@swwmedia.co.uk / @EvansTheCrime

Saturday, 22 October 2016

Oh smile so tender



A nurse brought a hospital to a standstill with a beautiful rendition of ‘Myfanwy’ in memory of the victims of the Aberfan disaster.

Olwen Morgan, a senior matron at Neath Port Talbot Hospital , sang the traditional Welsh song before staff and patients observed a minute’s silence to mark the 50th anniversary of the tragedy on Friday.

A total of 144 people, including 116 children and 28 adults, died when a waste tip slid down the mountain above Aberfan and engulfed Pantglas Junior School and nearby homes.

Neath Port Talbot Hospital placed a special display in the foyer, including many old newspaper cuttings, to inform the younger generations about the unforgettable event.

Services of remembrance are taking place in a number of local churches, as well as on the site of old school which has now been turned into a memorial garden.

Prince Charles will also visit the Aberfan Memorial Garden.

Thursday, 13 October 2016

Dew Bach, Thats 'Ellish Funny Like

19 Welsh jokes that are pretty much the best ones ever told


1.
Vanessa Porter/Flickr
Dai is at the car boot sale when an American tourist comes by. Pointing to a skull on display in Dai's car, he says: “Whose skull is that?”

“That,” says Dai profoundly, “is the skull of Owain Glyndwr. It's yours for £10.”

“Incredible,” says the American. “I'll take it.”

Some weeks later, Dai is at the car boot sale when the same American walks past and notices a much smaller skull for sale.

“Whose skull it that?” asks the American.

“That,” says Dai in a practised voice, “is the skull of Owain Glyndwr.”

“Hang on,” says the American. “You sold me the skull of Owain Glyndwr a few weeks ago.”

“Aye,” says Dai. “This is when he was a boy.”

2.

A prominent Welsh minister travelling home one night was greatly annoyed when a young man much the worse for drink came and sat next to him on the bus.

“Young man,” he declared, “do you not realise you are on the road to perdition?”

“Oh, hell,” replied the drunkard. “I could have sworn this was the bus to Llanelli.”



3.
Bev Sykes/Flickr
A Russian spy was dropped by parachute in the Welsh hills with instructions to contact a Mr Jones in the small village of Llanfair and give him the coded message: “The tulips are blooming well today.”

Arriving at the village he asked a small boy where Mr Jones lived and was directed to a small cottage.

He knocked on the door and the owner emerged: “Are you Mr Jones?”

“I am.”

“The tulips are blooming well today.”

Mr Jones stared at him in amazement then smiled: “Ah, you must have the wrong house.

“It's Jones the Spy you want.”

4.
Michele W/Flickr
A tourist sauntered into a pub in Llandrindod Wells and said: “what's the quickest way to get to Brecon from here?

Rhodri the landlord answered: “Are you walking or going by car?”

The tourist answered: “By car, of course.”

Rhodri said: “Well, that's the quickest way.”



5.

Dai was watching a Six Nations game in Cardiff.

In the packed stadium there was only one empty seat, right next to him.

“Whose is that seat?” asked a man in the row behind.

“I got the ticket for my wife,” said Dai. “But she died in an accident.”

“So you’re keeping the seat vacant as a mark of respect?”

“No,” said the fan, “I offered it to all of my friends.”

“So why didn’t they take it?”

“They’ve all gone to the funeral.”

6.

Warren Gatland and Stuart Lancaster are both killed when a lightning bolt hits the Millennium Stadium.

In heaven, they are greeted by God and Lancaster is taken to his new home, a lovely English country cottage with statues of English rugby greats and angels singing Jerusalem and Swing Low, Sweet Chariot.

He was delighted until he suddenly heard some even more beautiful singing coming from the top of the hill. He listened closer and could hear Bread of Heaven and Hen Wlad fy Nhadau.

He looked up to see a great palace with statues of Barry John and Gareth Edwards and a party in the garden had Brains SA flowing freely as the crowd watched Scott Gibbs scoring his try against England in 1999. Lancaster went to the Lord and said: “I don’t want to appear ungrateful - but why does Warren get the huge mansion?”

God said: “You’ve got it all wrong! That’s not Warren’s place - it’s mine.”

7.

I used to go out with a Welsh girl who had 36DDs. It was a ridiculously long name.

'Houston, what it is, we have a problem' What if these classic films were Welsh?

8.

Jones the farmer and his son Berwyn sign up for a sight-seeing tour in a small aircraft. As always, Jones angles for the best deal possible.

“Very well, Mr Jones,” says the pilot. “If you can go through the entire flight without making a sound, you and Berwyn can have your tickets for free.”

So the plane takes off and the pilot makes sure it’s a rough one, launching almost straight up, flying under the Severn Bridge, using every single bit of acrobatics in his repertoire and doing a loop at the end.

Jones says nothing. After they land, the pilot turns to Jones in disbelief.

“Mr Jones, I’ve been doing this for 20 years and no-one’s ever been able to hold back from screaming. Tell me, was there ever a point in the flight where you wanted to say something?”

“Aye,” Jones replies. “When Berwyn fell out.”

9.
Tambako The Jaguar/Flickr
A farmer was out tending his flock when he saw a man drinking with a cupped hand from a stream. He shouted over in Welsh: “Don't drink the water! It's disgusting! There's sheep poo in it!”

The man at the stream lifted his head and carried on drinking. Realising the man couldn't hear him, the farmer moved closer and shouted the same thing in Welsh again.

But still the man couldn't hear him.

Finally the farmer walked right up to him and repeated his warning. To which the man replied: “Dreadfully sorry, my good man, I can't understand a word you say. Can you speak English, old chap?”

“Oh I see,” said the farmer. “I was just saying if you use both hands you can get more in.”



10.
Steven Zolneczko/Flickr
An Englishman, Scotsman and Welshman walk into a bar. Each orders a pint of Brain’s but, as they’re served, a fly lands in each pint.

The Englishman immediately pushes his beer away in disgust.

The Scotsman thinks for a few seconds, shrugs, and also pushes the pint away.

The Welshman turns bright red, picks the fly out of the beer and holds it over his glass shouting: “SPIT IT OUT! SPIT IT OUT!”

11.

My wife asked me if I was having an affair with a woman from Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwyllllantysiliogogogoch.

I said: “How can you say such a thing?”

15 Welsh landmarks that are actually really rubbish

12.

A Welshman, Scot and Englishman are walking when they come across a lantern and a genie pops out and grants them one wish each.

The Scot says: “I am a sheep herder, like my dad before me. I want my country to be full of lovely sheep farms.”

Whoosh, and so it was.

The Englishman was amazed and says: “I want a wall around England to keep those damned Scots and Welsh out.”

Bang, there was a wall around England.

The Welshman says: “Tell me more about this wall.”

The genie says: “It’s 200 feet high, 100 feet thick, it goes all around England, and nothing can get in or out.”

The Welshman says: “Fill it with water.”

13.

Young Dylan comes home from school and tells his mother he’s been given a part in the school play.

“Wonderful,“ says his mam. “What part is it?”

The boy says: “I play the part of the Welsh husband.”

The mother scowls and says: “Go back and tell them you want a speaking part.”

14.

Three friends married women from different parts of the world. The first married a Greek girl and told her that she was to do the dishes and cleaning. It took a couple of days, but on the third day he came home to see a clean house.

The second man married a Thai girl and gave her the same orders, to do all the cleaning and cooking. The first day he didn’t see any results but by the third his house was clean and dinner was on the table.

The third man married a Welsh girl. He ordered her to keep the house clean, dishes washed, lawn mowed and dinner ready for 6pm.

For the first two days he didn’t see anything, but by the third day, some of the swelling had gone down and he could see a little out of his left eye.

15.
Kristin "Shoe" Shoemaker/Flickr
On a beautiful summer’s day, two English tourists were driving through Wales.

At Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwyllllantysiliogogogoch they stopped for lunch and one of the tourists asked the waitress: “Before we order, I wonder if you could settle an argument for us. Can you pronounce where we are, very, very, very slowly?”

The girl leaned over and said: “Burrr… gurrr… King.”

16.

I live in London and people often say to me: “You miss Wales?”

I say: “No, I look nothing like her. She’s got long blonde hair and wears a sash.”

17.

A Welshman is walking on the beach when he finds a brass oil lamp and a genie pops out and offers him three wishes.

The Welshman says: “I’ve no doubt what my first wish is, genie. Give me a bottle of Brain’s SA that never runs out!”

The genie hands him a bottle and the Welshman takes a long swig but it’s still full. He pours some into his hands and laps it up - and the bottle is still full. No matter how much he pours, the bottle never runs out.

“Master, you still have two more wishes,” says the genie.

“I know what I want,” says the Welshman. “Give me two more just like this.”

18.

After his election win, Dai insisted on everyone calling him Councillor Jones.

Coming back late from the pub after celebrating, he made a right noise trying to get into his house.

“Is that you Dai?” shouted his wife down the stairs.

“Certainly not,” he replied drunkenly. “It's Councillor Jones.”

“Well, come up quick then, we've only got a few minutes before Dai comes back from the pub.”

19.

Aled the farmer wanted to buy his neighbour's cow, but was shocked to learn it was £50.

“Here I am, your friend and neighbour, and you ask a price like that?” he said.

“Seeing you are my neighbour I'll give you a 20% discount,” said the neighbour.

Aled wasn't quite sure what this meant so he said: “I'll think about it.”

He was still trying to figure it out when he saw the local schoolmistress. He stopped her and said: “Miss Pugh, if I were to offer you £50, less 20% discount, what would you take off?”

Miss Pugh said: “Everything except my ear­rings.”

Wednesday, 12 October 2016

Four Local Clowns

10-year-old girl scared to go out after clown carrying 'sledgehammer' approached her in park
By South Wales Evening Post  |  Posted: October 12, 2016

By Abby Bolter


FOUR people wearing clown masks, one of them holding what was described as a sledgehammer, have left a 10-year-old afraid to leave her home.

They approached the girl and her friend in a park in Bridgend, leaving them terrified.


There have been reports across Wales of people dressed as clowns scaring people in public places.

One person was fined this week for dressing up as a clown at a school and scaring the children.


Above: A man dressed as a clown was given a criminal record for frightening children at a school

In Bridgend, Lacie Payne, 10, was playing in the park in Barnes Avenue, Cefn Glas, with her nine-year-old friend when she said four people in clown masks emerged from trees and came towards them.

Mum Kayley Payne said: "My partner got a phone call and my daughter was screaming, 'Dad, dad, dad'.

"He just slammed the phone down and ran out."

The mum-of-five, who lives just off Barnes Avenue, said the people wearing the masks had gone by the time Lacie's stepdad Peter Maton got to the park.

She said her daughter believed one of them had a sledgehammer.

"My daughter said she thought it was older boys because she could hear them saying 'Ha ha ha,'" added Kayley.

"Then as soon as they saw her pulling out her phone they ran off."


She said her daughter, a pupil at Llangewydd Junior School, was 'jumpy' now and would not got to bed without the light on.

"She doesn't want to walk to school or go to after school clubs."

She reported the incident to South Wales Police and after posting a warning on Facebook, discovered other parents in the Cefn Glas and Broadlands area of Bridgend had reported similar incidents.

Commenting on the report, a South Wales Police spokeswoman said: "At 4.35pm on Saturday, October 8, police in Bridgend responded to a report of young children being approached and screamed at by four people wearing clown masks while playing in a park near Barnes Avenue, Cefn Glas.

"We would again like to remind members of the public that dressing in costumes with the intention of frightening others is not without consequence and that those doing so could be committing an offence.

Thursday, 6 October 2016

Pisshead Cat Burglar Finds Heaven Early

Police appeal after £1k of alcohol stolen from Swansea bar

By EvansTheCrime  |  Posted: October 06, 2016

By Jason Evans



POLICE investigating the theft of bottles of spirits from a Swansea bar have release a CCTV image of a man they want to talk to.

Officers say alcohol worth more than £1,000 was taken from the Bambu Beach Bar on Wind Street in the early hours of September 24.


Detectives say that as part of their enquiries they have identified a man who might have information about the incident which could assist them.

Police are appealing for anybody who can help the investigation to come forward.

A spokesman for South Wales Police said: "If anyone has information in regards to this incident you can call police."

Wednesday, 5 October 2016

Hey Honey! What's Cooking?


Murder trial hears accused dug fire pit to dispose of body in Llanelli garden
By EvansTheCrime  |  Posted: October 04, 2016

TWO men have gone on trial accused of murdering their housemate and disposing of his body in a specially dug fire pit in the back garden.

The remains of Polish national Mariusz Majewski were found at the property in the Felinfoel area of Llanelli in November last year.

Today Phillip Hudson-Jones and Adrian Iwanowski went on trial at Swansea Crown Court accused of murdering the 31-year-old and burning his body.

Another three people - Adam Goodwin, Jason Henderson and Sophie Jones - appeared in the dock accused of assisting an offender by acting to conceal a body.

All five deny the charges.

Elwen Evans QC, prosecuting, told the court that the victim and fellow Polish national Iwanowski lived with Hudson-Jones in Husdon-Jones' house in Pleasant View in Felinfoel, and all three were friends.

However in late October last year the two Poles had a row which, it is said, led to the victim assaulting Iwanowski with a piece of wood - and Iwanowski then telling Hudson-Jones he wanted his fellow countryman killed.

Mr Majewski is said to have been killed at the Pleasant View house some time between November 4 and November 8.

The prosecutor said Hudson-Jones subsequently went to Wynnstay Country Stores in Cross Hands where he bought a "clean up kit" including rope, gaffer tape, wax proofing and a big container of bleach. He also bought a container of diesel from the Panteg service station on Felinfoel Road.

The court heard Hudson-Jones also dug a "sophisticated" fire pit in his back garden with rocks in bottom covered with a metal grill, and a ventilation system using pipes.

Miss Evans said both Hudson-Jones and Iwanoski were then both "actively involved" in burning Mr Majewski's body.

There was then an attempt to clean the house using bleach and other products, with the prosecutor describing the men as being "forensically aware".

Hudson-Jones, aged 45, of Pleasant View, Felinfoel, Llanelli, Iwanowski, aged 21, now of Station Road, Llanelli, Goodwin, aged 37, of Caeglas, Cross Hands, Henderson, aged 44, of Foelgastell near Brechfa, and 18-year-old Sophie Jones of Clos St Paul, Llanelli, all deny the charges against them.

The trial continues.

Saturday, 1 October 2016

Heist: Hell, it ain't snowing in town no more!

Police welcome 170 years in jail for £18.5m cocaine gang
By EvansTheCrime  |  Posted: September 30, 2016


POLICE have today welcomed the jailing of members of an extensive drug trafficking gang that was flooding South West Wales with high purity cocaine.

Members of the gang have received jail time totalling almost 170 years for their parts in the conspiracy which saw £18.5 million worth of the drug brought from Liverpool to the streets of Swansea, Carmarthenshire and Pembrokeshire.



The gang was dismantled following a major operation led by Dyfed-Powys Police — code named Operation Phobos — which involved tracking 34 drugs runs by members between Merseyside and Swansea, covert surveillance of key meetings, the analysis of phone records, and the bugging of one of the gang's safe houses in Clydach.

Dyfed-Powys detective chief inspector Huw Davies, the senior investigating officer in the case said: "Dyfed-Powys Police, with support from other forces and partner agencies, in particular the Crown Prosecution Service, has disrupted a significant criminal network that was operating throughout the UK.


"This is a tremendous result not only for Dyfed-Powys Police, but for the communities we serve. It is testament to the expertise and dedication of the force's serious organised crime Team.

"Any other criminal groups thinking of targeting the Dyfed-Powys area should think again — we may police a largely rural, traditional area, but we have excellent detectives all committed to making sure our communities are not adversely affected by serious criminal groups such as these."


He added: "May I also thank the members of the public who provided vital information during the course of the investigation. The role members of the public play in making their own communities safer and bringing people to justice should not be under-estimated."


From November 2014 to November 2015 members of the gang made dozens of trips between Liverpool and Swansea, transporting high purity cocaine to South West Wales.They operated from safe houses in Vera Road, Clydach, in Lon Masarn, Tycoch, Swansea, and in Y Corsydd, Machynys, Llanelli, and used dozens of disposable mobile phones and frequently switched vehicles in an attempt the throw police off their scent.

But they didn't realise detectives had cracked the trafficking operation.




Detectives found a 25kg barrel of benzocaine - used to 'cut' cocaine ready for street deals - in a garage on Brondeg in Manselton

Once police had gathered enough evidence the arrest phase of Operation Phobos began, with suspects picked up at locations around the UK from Swansea to Manchester Airport, where one of the gang was preparing to board a one-way flight to Tenerife.

Jonathan Bushell, head of CPS Cymru-Wales' complex casework unit, said: "This operation targeted an extensive and highly-organised network of criminals who were involved in the supply of very large quantities of cocaine.

"Each defendant in this case had a distinct role within the group and each therefore bears responsibility for bringing misery to the communities they supplied.

"Together they preyed on those in the grip of addiction, who often turn to other types of crime to support their habit."

At the end of the case at Swansea Crown Court, Judge Paul Thomas QC praised the "quite exceptional" investigation, which he said had been of the "absolutely highest order".

He added the public owed those involved in bringing the gang to justice a great debt.