Cocaine dealer kept his stash hidden in child's car seat
Cocaine dealer kept his stash hidden in child's car seat
Andrew Howse initially 'threw his partner under the bus' when he was pulled over by police
Andrew Howse
(Image: Dyfed-Powys Police )
A cocaine dealer kept his stash of deals hidden in a child's car seat, a court has heard. When Andrew Howse was pulled over by police he initially "threw his partner under the bus" by telling police the car was hers and he knew nothing about the drugs.
Swansea Crown Court heard that two weeks before being caught with the drugs, Howse had been handed a suspended prison sentence for a firearms offence.
Alycia Carpanini, prosecuting, told the court that on April 23 this year police received intelligence that a VW Tiguan vehicle was involved in drug supply. She said the VW was located heading westwards on the Loughor bridge and officers intercepted and stopped it.
The court heard police searched the car and found 13 snap-bags of cocaine worth up to £650 hidden under padding on a child seat. When the defendant was searched he was found to have £1,130 in cash in his wallet. An examination of Howse's phones found messages relating to the supply of drugs.
The prosecutor said at interview the defendant gave officers a prepared statement in which he denied any knowledge of the drugs and said the car belonged to his partner and he rarely used it.
He said the money in the wallet was from the sale of his own car some two days earlier. For the latest court reports sign up to our crime newsletter
Article continues below
Andrew Howse, of Bassett Terrace, Pwll, Llanelli, had previously pleaded guilty to possession of cocaine with intent to supply when he appeared in the dock for sentencing.
He has a previous conviction for possession of an imitation firearm with intent to cause fear from March this year. The court heard he was given a suspended sentence for that matter on April 8, some 15 days before he was found with drugs.
James Hartson, for Howse, said the defendant had written a letter to the court in which he expressed his "deep shame and remorse" for what he had done, and said other letters and references before the court described him as a good father and partner and as a helpful neighbour.
He said the defendant had reached the age of 35 without troubling the courts, and he said Howse's children would "feel his absence very, very keenly" though the defendant understood that was his own doing.
Judge Paul Thomas KC said just 15 days after being given a chance with a "merciful" suspended sentence the defendant had been found with Class A drugs.
He said everyone who involves themselves in dealing such substances know they face a significant custodial sentence if caught, and he noted Howes' first instinct when arrested had been to "throw his partner under the bus" and disclaim any knowledge of the cocaine.
The judge said he had read references testifying to the defendant being a good father and partner, but he told Howse: "You really should have thought about your family and the impact on them when you took the decision to deal Class A drugs."
With a one-quarter discount for his guilty plea Howse was sentenced to three years in prison.
The judge activated the full 12 months of the previously imposed suspended firearm sentence to run consecutively with the drug sentence making a total sentence of four years in prison.
Article continues below
The defendant will serve up to half the sentence in custody before being released on licence to serve the remainder in the community.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Scottish Sun
a day ago
- Scottish Sun
I'm convinced my husband is cheating on me with woman who complimented his ‘cool camper'
I found messages between him and this woman who lives a couple of streets away DEAR DEIDRE I'm convinced my husband is cheating on me with woman who complimented his 'cool camper' Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) DEAR DEIDRE: I'M convinced my husband is cheating after having his head turned by compliments about his 'cool camper'. His VW conversion is his pride and joy and it's not unusual that people come up when we are out and about to talk about the van. We've been married for 17 years. We're both 45. A few months ago my phone ran out of charge. I borrowed my husband's phone to make a call, and found messages between him and a woman who lives a couple of streets away. I recognised her name because she often stops to talk when my husband is cleaning the van on the front drive. In these messages she said he was the 'hottest camper driver' she'd ever met, and she looked forward to bumping into him because he was so handsome. His replies were equally flirty, telling her she was really sexy. I had it out with him but he put it all down to harmless banter. I insisted he stop messaging, which he promised he would. A few weeks later, I got home late, and looked through his phone while he slept. I found fresh messages between them and they had moved onto discussing exactly how they'd like to thrill each other and I'm certain they've been sleeping in the double bed in our van. They even exchanged explicit photos and said they 'needed to meet up again'. After confronting him, I admitted I couldn't ever trust him again and he suggested we live together as friends. He doesn't want to move out. I'm in such a mess and don't know where to go from here. Dear Deidre: Cheating and can you get over it Is he trying to hold on to our relationship simply because he doesn't want to lose our home? I am one unhappy camper. What can I do? DEIDRE SAYS: Your husband has repeatedly betrayed your trust and lied to you. He continued this liaison even after you first discovered it. He has been unable to control himself, or be honest with you. If he felt there were issues in your relationship, he should have addressed them. Continuing with this affair demonstrates a complete lack of regard for you and your relationship. It might be convenient for him to live together as friends, but convenience breeds contempt. Now is the time to think very hard about what will work for you. Splitting up will impact other members of your family but don't go along with what he wants. To work out a way forward it would be helpful to talk this through with a counsellor. I'm sending you my support packs, How Counselling Can Help and Cheating – Can You Get Over It? Get in touch with Deidre Every problem gets a personal reply, usually within 24 hours weekdays. Send an email to deardeidre@ You can also send a private message on the DearDeidreOfficial Facebook page. WIFE LETS SISTER BE VILE TO ME DEAR DEIDRE: MY sister-in-law is so rude to me, but my wife just lets it go. Am I wrong to expect a wife to stand up for her husband? We've been married for three years. I'm 34, my wife is 36. Her sister is 30. The first time I met her sister was at our wedding. She seemed nice enough. But as the champagne flowed, she shot me nasty looks across the dancefloor. I thought I was imagining it. We all met up again for drinks, and the sister insulted me whenever my wife was out of earshot. She slated my job and even made fun of my clothes. When I asked what she was playing at, she called me disgusting names. I told my wife, who simply said her sister could be 'difficult'. We moved house and had a party. I didn't want the sister to be invited but my wife said I was overreacting. Lo and behold, her sister insulted me again. I told her not to talk to me that way, which she seemed to find hilarious. Instead of stepping in, my wife just shrugged it off. We didn't see the sister for ages after that, and it was lovely. But my wife and I had a row recently and she went round to stay at her sister's house. She came back even angrier at me than she had been when she left, and since then they're on the phone every day. I feel my wife has taken her sister's side over mine. There's no loyalty. I'm feeling really hurt by her attitude and I'm even wondering if we should get a divorce. DEIDRE SAYS: It is interesting that you didn't meet her sister until your wedding. Perhaps she has behaved in a similar way with your wife's previous boyfriends? I wonder if the sister is jealous of your wife and her relationships. It might not be a coincidence that every incident has involved alcohol – could she have a drinking problem, or lose control after a few glasses? Whatever the reason, it certainly sounds as if she thrives on creating conflict. You need to pick a moment to talk to your wife and explain how you feel, and that you are ready for divorce over this. Ask her to set up a coffee and chat between the three of you to get the bottom of the issues. That could help you to sort this out in a sensible – and sober – way. HOW CAN I DISCUSS DOMESTIC ABUSE? DEAR DEIDRE: HOW do I talk to my 12-year-old son about the domestic violence he witnessed growing up? I was married to his dad for five years. The physical abuse started when I was pregnant with my son and continued until I left three years later. Thankfully, he never touched my son. I tried to hide the violence, but there were times when my son walked in on us and begged his dad to stop. Now my son is old enough to understand, I want to talk to him – but don't know how. DEIDRE SAYS: It is now recognised that children who witness abuse between adults are themselves also victims of abuse. Seeing a counsellor together might help you and your son. It's an excellent idea to talk to your son about everything you both went through. For guidance on having these conversations, the NSPCC ( offers support and advice. There's also useful information on the Woman's Aid website: FAMILY FORUM DEAR DEIDRE: SINCE I opened up about my early sexual abuse, I've been cut out of my family. My parents split up when I was five. My mum soon met and married a new man. He had a son of his own, aged nine, who'd stay with us during the summer holidays. From his first visit, my stepbrother tried to have sex with me. I didn't realise what was happening at first, and assumed it was how boys acted with their friends. This continued until my mum and stepdad divorced when I was 17. I went on to have a son of my own. That was when I realised how inappropriate my stepbrother had been, and I finally told Mum. I expected support and understanding. Instead, I got shame. She told me never to tell anyone else as it would make things awkward and embarrassing for her. From that point on, Mum began to cut me out of the family. I stopped being invited to get-togethers, and I wasn't even allowed to attend my grandfather's funeral. I thought opening up to Mum would bring me some closure on the early sexual abuse, but instead I've lost everything. DEIDRE SAYS: I'm sorry this has happened to you. Children can develop sexual feelings very young, but it'd be unusual for a boy aged just nine to know about sex unless he had witnessed something at an early age. He might have seen pornography or caught his father having sex. He might even have been sexually abused himself. He wouldn't necessarily know that his actions were wrong at first, but as you both grew older, he would have realised. Instead of stopping, he took advantage of you regularly. This really was abuse. I am sending you my support pack called Abused as a Child. It has details of places you can get help. Reach out for that support: it will be therapeutic for you. For help navigating your difficult relationship with your mum, contact Family Lives ( 0808 800 2222). Its live chat will provide a safe space for you to explore your feelings and work out your next steps.
Wales Online
a day ago
- Wales Online
Cocaine dealer kept his stash hidden in child's car seat
Cocaine dealer kept his stash hidden in child's car seat Andrew Howse initially 'threw his partner under the bus' when he was pulled over by police Andrew Howse (Image: Dyfed-Powys Police ) A cocaine dealer kept his stash of deals hidden in a child's car seat, a court has heard. When Andrew Howse was pulled over by police he initially "threw his partner under the bus" by telling police the car was hers and he knew nothing about the drugs. Swansea Crown Court heard that two weeks before being caught with the drugs, Howse had been handed a suspended prison sentence for a firearms offence. Alycia Carpanini, prosecuting, told the court that on April 23 this year police received intelligence that a VW Tiguan vehicle was involved in drug supply. She said the VW was located heading westwards on the Loughor bridge and officers intercepted and stopped it. The court heard police searched the car and found 13 snap-bags of cocaine worth up to £650 hidden under padding on a child seat. When the defendant was searched he was found to have £1,130 in cash in his wallet. An examination of Howse's phones found messages relating to the supply of drugs. The prosecutor said at interview the defendant gave officers a prepared statement in which he denied any knowledge of the drugs and said the car belonged to his partner and he rarely used it. He said the money in the wallet was from the sale of his own car some two days earlier. For the latest court reports sign up to our crime newsletter Article continues below Andrew Howse, of Bassett Terrace, Pwll, Llanelli, had previously pleaded guilty to possession of cocaine with intent to supply when he appeared in the dock for sentencing. He has a previous conviction for possession of an imitation firearm with intent to cause fear from March this year. The court heard he was given a suspended sentence for that matter on April 8, some 15 days before he was found with drugs. James Hartson, for Howse, said the defendant had written a letter to the court in which he expressed his "deep shame and remorse" for what he had done, and said other letters and references before the court described him as a good father and partner and as a helpful neighbour. He said the defendant had reached the age of 35 without troubling the courts, and he said Howse's children would "feel his absence very, very keenly" though the defendant understood that was his own doing. Judge Paul Thomas KC said just 15 days after being given a chance with a "merciful" suspended sentence the defendant had been found with Class A drugs. He said everyone who involves themselves in dealing such substances know they face a significant custodial sentence if caught, and he noted Howes' first instinct when arrested had been to "throw his partner under the bus" and disclaim any knowledge of the cocaine. The judge said he had read references testifying to the defendant being a good father and partner, but he told Howse: "You really should have thought about your family and the impact on them when you took the decision to deal Class A drugs." With a one-quarter discount for his guilty plea Howse was sentenced to three years in prison. The judge activated the full 12 months of the previously imposed suspended firearm sentence to run consecutively with the drug sentence making a total sentence of four years in prison. Article continues below The defendant will serve up to half the sentence in custody before being released on licence to serve the remainder in the community.
Wales Online
a day ago
- Wales Online
Man used AI 'undressing' app to make girls at 15th birthday party appear naked
Man used AI 'undressing' app to make girls at 15th birthday party appear naked A judge described the defendant's actions as 'sleazy' and bordering on those of a paedophile Darren Richards used an AI 'undressing' app to remove clothes from pictures he found on Instagram (Image: Yui Mok / PA Wire ) A man used an "undressing" app to alter photographs of girls from Instagram, a court has heard. Darren Richards took "innocuous" images from the social media site - including one of a 15th birthday party - and used the app to remove the clothes of those present. A judge described the 45-year-old's actions as "sleazy" and bordering on those of a paedophile. He said Richards was previously a man of clean character but now his reputation had been "irretrievably damaged". Ryan Bowen, prosecuting, told Swansea Crown Court the offending came to a light after Richards lent an old phone to someone who had lost theirs. Don't miss a court report by signing up to our crime newsletter here He said that when the Huawei device was powered up, the doctored images were found in the photo gallery. The phone was handed in to Swansea Central police station. The court heard that police found Richards had downloaded an AI-based app which could digitally remove clothing from people in photographs. Article continues below The prosecutor said the pictures the defendant had put into the app were found to be screengrabs taken from Instagram accounts. Darren Richards, of Orchard Street, Swansea, had previously pleaded guilty to possession of an indecent pseudo-image of a child when he appeared in the dock for sentencing. He has no previous convictions. Giles Hayes, for Richards, said as a result of his offending his client had already lost a great deal including his job and his partner, and had felt it necessary to tell close friends in Ammanford for whom he was a god parent to their child. He said the altered images had been in the cloud and when the Huawei was turned on, the images were found. He said Richards stood in the dock "in deep shame and embarrassment". Judge Paul Thomas KC said the defendant had deliberately digitally manipulated "innocuous" pictures to make it look like the girls were naked, and described the actions as "sleazy" and bordering on those of a paedophile. He said Richards was previously a man of clean character but now his reputation had been "irretrievably damaged". With a one-third discount for his guilty plea, Richards was sentenced to 12 months in prison suspended for 24 months and was ordered to do a rehabilitation course and to complete 200 hours of unpaid work. The defendant was made the subject of a 10-year sexual harm prevention order and will be a registered sex offender for the same length of time. Article continues below
