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Seven men sentenced for trafficking drugs into Wales Judge warns of mephedrone 'epidemic' in south Wales
(about 1 hour later)
Seven men have been sentenced to a total of more than 30 years in jail for their part in two conspiracies to traffic drugs into south Wales. A judge presiding over a drugs ring trial has warned mephedrone has almost reached epidemic proportions in south Wales.
Two were prisoners who used mobile phones to organise the deliveries. Sentencing seven men involved in conspiracies to traffic drugs, Swansea judge Peter Heywood said that mephedrone has become the "drug of choice".
One prisoner and four others admitted conspiracy to supply cocaine. Another inmate and a man admitted conspiracy to supply mephedrone. Two were prison inmates who organised deliveries with mobiles.
The Swansea Crown Court judge said it "beggars belief" there was nothing to detect mobiles being used in jail. Sentences totalling more than 30 years were handed down.
"It's quite staggering that in a modern prison, there's no scanning equipment to detect whether a mobile phone's being used," said Judge Peter Heywood. "I have sat in this court regularly and mephedrone has almost reached epidemic proportions in south Wales," the judge said. "It has become the drug of choice."
The court heard Mathew Roberts, 42, from the Maesteg area, made calls from Leyhill prison in Gloucestershire and Prescoed in Monmouthshire to co-ordinate deliveries to Mathew Pugh, 27, in Port Talbot. He had been presiding over a trial at Swansea Crown Court involving Mathew Roberts, 42, from the Maesteg area, who had made calls from Leyhill prison in Gloucestershire and Prescoed in Monmouthshire to co-ordinate deliveries of cocaine to Mathew Pugh, 27, in Port Talbot.
'In control''In control'
Between October 2012 and April 2013 an estimated 1.25kg of cocaine was delivered from Bristol to Pugh by Damien Ramsey, 42, Nicholas Avery, 54, and Jamie Hunt, 33.Between October 2012 and April 2013 an estimated 1.25kg of cocaine was delivered from Bristol to Pugh by Damien Ramsey, 42, Nicholas Avery, 54, and Jamie Hunt, 33.
All five admitted conspiracy to supply cocaine at an earlier hearing.All five admitted conspiracy to supply cocaine at an earlier hearing.
Pugh also admitted possessing 3kg of amphetamine and a quantity of cannabis.Pugh also admitted possessing 3kg of amphetamine and a quantity of cannabis.
The judge told Roberts: "It is clear you were very much in control. You were clearly calling the tune and were orchestrating this conspiracy from your cell or from your work placement."The judge told Roberts: "It is clear you were very much in control. You were clearly calling the tune and were orchestrating this conspiracy from your cell or from your work placement."
During the same period, Richard Saltmarsh, 35, was in regular mobile phone contact with Roberts from Rye Hill prison in Warwickshire.During the same period, Richard Saltmarsh, 35, was in regular mobile phone contact with Roberts from Rye Hill prison in Warwickshire.
Saltmarsh arranged for Andrew Clay, 39, to organise a meeting with Roberts in Cwmbran, where he would be handed a sample of mephedrone, by another man, Colin Beck, while he was on day release from Prescoed jail.Saltmarsh arranged for Andrew Clay, 39, to organise a meeting with Roberts in Cwmbran, where he would be handed a sample of mephedrone, by another man, Colin Beck, while he was on day release from Prescoed jail.
'Bidding''Bidding'
The judge said: "When you met Beck to take a sample of mephedrone, you were in fact using a prison van to drive yourself to Cwmbran station. That shows your audacity and disregard for the sentence you were serving."The judge said: "When you met Beck to take a sample of mephedrone, you were in fact using a prison van to drive yourself to Cwmbran station. That shows your audacity and disregard for the sentence you were serving."
Both Saltmarsh and Clay pleaded guilty to conspiring to supply a class B drug - mephedrone. Both Saltmarsh and Clay pleaded guilty to conspiring to supply a class B drug - mephedrone. Beck pleaded guilty to being concerned in the supply of class B drugs.
The judge told Saltmarsh: "Whilst you were a serving prisoner, in closed conditions, you were using three mobile phones and it was clear Clay was doing your bidding.The judge told Saltmarsh: "Whilst you were a serving prisoner, in closed conditions, you were using three mobile phones and it was clear Clay was doing your bidding.
"You were in touch with Roberts and others on a regular basis."You were in touch with Roberts and others on a regular basis.
"I have sat in this court regularly and mephedrone has almost reached epidemic proportions in south Wales. It has become the drug of choice." He also said it "beggars belief" there was no scanning equipment to detect mobiles being used in jail.
The seven were sentenced as follows:The seven were sentenced as follows:
Nicola Rees, from the Crown Prosecution Service in Wales, called it a highly-organised criminal conspiracy.Nicola Rees, from the Crown Prosecution Service in Wales, called it a highly-organised criminal conspiracy.
"Drugs are a blight on our local communities, damaging lives and encouraging other types of criminality," said Ms Rees. "Those who seek to profit from the distribution these substances in Wales should be in no doubt that we will, alongside our partners in the criminal justice system, work tirelessly to ensure that they are brought to justice.""Drugs are a blight on our local communities, damaging lives and encouraging other types of criminality," said Ms Rees. "Those who seek to profit from the distribution these substances in Wales should be in no doubt that we will, alongside our partners in the criminal justice system, work tirelessly to ensure that they are brought to justice."