Locked Up: The west Wales criminals jailed throughout April

South Wales Guardian

04-05-2025

The defendants were accused of offences including attempted murder, gross negligence manslaughter, dangerous driving, coercive control and harassment, growing cannabis and drug dealing.
They were jailed for a total of more than 42 years combined.
Here's a round-up of the cases.
Nerys Bethan Lloyd has been jailed for 10 years and six months after four people drowned during an excursion on the River Cleddau in Haverfordwest in October 2021.
Lloyd was the owner and sole director of Salty Dog Co Ltd, which organised a stand-up paddleboarding tour despite 'extremely hazardous conditions' and weather warnings in place.
She failed to warn the group about a weir on the route or how to navigate it, and during the excursion the participants were swept over, with some becoming trapped under the fast-moving water.
Paul O'Dwyer, 42, Andrea Powell, 41, Morgan Rogers, 24, and Nicola Wheatley, 40, all died.
The court heard Lloyd and Mr O'Dwyer, who helped as an instructor, were 'not remotely qualified' and that the stretch of river had a 'real potential for danger.'
Lloyd, 39, from Aberavon, admitted four counts of gross negligence manslaughter and one offence under the Health and Safety at Work Act in March.
Mrs Justice Dame Mary Stacey sentenced former police officer Lloyd to a 10-year and six-month sentence.
A PUPIL has been sentenced to 15 years for attempting to murder two teachers and a teenager in a knife attack at a school in Ammanford.
The girl – who cannot be identified due to her age – stabbed teachers Fiona Elias and Liz Hopkin, as well as another pupil, in an attack at Ysgol Dyffryn Aman during morning break on April 24, 2024.
Ms Hopkin was airlifted to University Hospital of Wales with stab wounds to her leg, chest, back and neck, whilst Mrs Elias and the teenager were treated at Morriston Hospital.
Prior to the attack, she was staring at Mrs Elias with 'sinister eyes', and then screamed 'I'm going to f****** kill you' as she attacked her with the fishing multi-tool blade.
In the back of a police van following the attack, she was recorded telling a police officer: 'I stabbed her…oopsies' when referring to the teenage victim, and also saying: 'I'm 90 per cent sure this will be on the news. Now even more people are going to be looking at me. That's one way to be a celebrity'.
The defendant, now aged 14, admitted three offences of wounding with intent, as well as having a bladed article on a school grounds. However, she denied three offences of attempted murder.
The jury returned unanimous guilty verdicts on all charges after just under three-and-a-half hours of deliberations.
She was sentenced to 15 years detention, of which she will serve half before being eligible for release on licence.
Dorian Williams controlled his partner and then stalked her after she left him. (Image: Dyfed-Powys Police)
MOT tester Dorian Williams isolated his partner before embarking on 'a sinister campaign' of stalking and 'emotional blackmail' after she left him.
Williams had been in a relationship with the victim between October 2020 and March last year.
The defendant, now 49, of Bryn Salem in Felinfach, stopped his partner from contacting her family and friends, wanted his partner to spend all her time with him, and took her keys and phone to further isolate her.
On the rare occasions the victim was able to go out with friends, Williams would 'constantly message her', and when the victim spent the Christmas period in 2023 separately with her family, Williams left a number of 'abusive' voicemails – including calling her 'a two-faced b****' and asking 'Who are you s******* now?'.
He also assaulted his partner during the course of their relationship, and on one occasion snatched her phone from her and threw it at her – hitting her on the chin.
After the victim left Williams, he embarked on a campaign of stalking against her.
The defendant phoned the victim 30 to 40 times a day, and after she blocked his number he continued to contact her via email and on social media. He also showed up at her workplace without reason, and would beep his horn or rev his engine outside her home.
Williams also sent her 'emotional blackmail', with messages including: 'I've not eaten for five days. This is your fault as you haven't made me food', and threatening suicide or self-harm.
Despite being arrested on November 6 and December 14, and initially appearing at Swansea Crown Court on January 20, he continued stalking his victim.
He was jailed for a total of 18 months, and his victim was granted a five-year restraining order against him.
Terrence Tennant has been jailed for dangerous driving. (Image: South Wales Police)
Career criminal Terrence Tennant crashed head-on into another car after going the wrong way on a dual carriageway, and attempted to pass the blame onto a man he was drinking with earlier that day.
Tennant, 61, of High Street in Pontardawe, was found guilty of dangerous driving following a trial.
Tennant was accused of crashing his Mercedes head-on into another car whilst on the wrong carriageway on Dyfatty Street in Swansea on March 20, 2023, before then driving off.
He denied the offence, claiming he hadn't been driving the car at the time.
Around an hour later, police spotted the defendant's car nearby, and Tennant became 'aggressive and abusive' when he was pulled over.
Giving evidence, Tennant said he had gone to the Full Moon Inn to collect money he was owed for doing work.
He initially said he had lent his car to someone else to do some errands, but in court claimed one of the men he was drinking with asked if his car was for sale and wanted to test drive it.
The court heard that the person who Tennant said was driving had since died.
The jury returned to court after an hour and 45 minutes and found Tennant guilty.
The judge described Tennant's evidence as 'a cock and bull story' and jailed him for 18 months, running consecutively to the sentence he is currently serving for witness intimidation.
Police found more than £4,000 of cocaine in the car Dylan Brown was a passenger in. (Image: Dyfed-Powys Police)
20-year-old drug dealer Dylan Brown, of Chestnut Way in Milford Haven, was caught trying to flee when his boss crashed during a high-speed pursuit with £4,000-worth of cocaine in the car.
Dylan Brown was in his co-defendant Harrison Billing's Mercedes when he became involved in a police chase at around 10.50pm on December 27 in Milford Haven.
Billing had failed to stop and drove straight over a junction at high speed, but crashed after he tried to take the turn from Hamilton Terrace onto Francis Street too quickly.
Billing and Brown fled on foot up Francis Street, but were caught and arrested.
Upon searching the car, officers found around 70 grams of high purity cocaine – worth more than £4,000 – and £925.31 in cash, along with four mobile phones.
When analysed, one of the phones was attributed to Brown and the messages on it showed his involvement in dealing cocaine and cannabis.
Brown had also received messages from Billing which showed he was working for his co-defendant. These included one message which read: 'You need to be serious about this s*** because you're losing me money'.
Brown admitted possession with intent to supply cocaine, possession of criminal property, and being involved in the supply of cocaine and cannabis. He pleaded guilty on a basis that he was acting under the direction of his co-defendant.
Billing had also pleaded guilty, but his sentencing was adjourned after he also admitted similar offences in a separate case.
Brown was sentenced to 18 months detention, and a Proceeds of Crime Act hearing will be held after Billing is sentenced.
Peter Gilmore caused a serious crash when driving dangerously after already being stopped by police that day for drug-driving. (Image: Dyfed-Powys Police)
Van driver Peter Gilmore was stopped by police for drug-driving just hours before he hopped back behind the wheel and smashed head-on into another car whilst on the wrong side of the road.
Gilmore was driving a Citroen Dispatch van on the A487 from Aberystwyth to Llanrhystud and the B4337 towards Talsarn on February 1.
Mr Jones said Dyfed-Powys Police received a number of calls at just after 5pm relating to Gilmore's driving over a distance of around 14.2 miles.
He was described as driving closely behind large vehicles, almost crashing head-on into a car whilst on the wrong side of the road, weaving 'all over the road', and narrowly avoiding a crash with a bus.
The court heard that Gilmore went to overtake a lorry in the Talsarn area, but pulled out directly into the path of a Hyundai travelling in the opposite direction – which had 'no opportunity to avoid a collision'.
The victim was taken to Bronglais Hospital and suffered a fractured sternum, two fractured ribs, and whiplash-type injuries to her neck.
Officers who arrived at the scene noticed Gilmore was slurring his words and his pupils were abnormal. The defendant passed a roadside breath test, but tested positive for cannabis. He was taken to hospital for checks, but then refused to provide a sample for analysis.
51-year-old Gilmore, of Bryn Salem in Felinfach, pleaded guilty to causing serious injury by dangerous driving and failing to provide a sample for analysis.
The court heard Gilmore was stopped by police earlier that day in Aberystwyth on suspicion of driving whilst under the influence.
Gilmore admitted drug-driving, and was disqualified for three years at Aberystwyth Magistrates' Court on March 27.
For the latest offences, Gilmore was jailed for two years and four months, and was disqualified from driving for six years and two months. He must also pass an extended re-test to regain his licence.
Drenit Matmuja and Jonis Krasniqi were caught growing cannabis at neighbouring empty homes in Ystalyfera. (Image: South Wales Police)
Drenit Matmuja and Jonis Krasniqi, both of no fixed abode, were caught growing cannabis worth up to £72,000 at neighbouring empty properties in Ystalyfera.
Police raided a derelict property on Cyfyng Road in Ystalyfera at around 9am on February 21 and found a grow room in the basement.
In total there were 83 cannabis plants in the growing stage and another 22 in the nursery stage.
Officers searching the rest of the building found 20-year-old Krasniqi attempting to flee through a back window on the ground floor.
In the basement, police found a hole in the wall leading into the neighbouring property. There, officers found 66 cannabis plants growing, and 24-year-old Matmuja was found hiding behind some building materials.
The court heard that the total estimated yield of the plants was between 'just below five kilograms and just over 14 kilograms', and this could have been worth 'between £20,000 and £72,800'.
Matmuja was jailed for 10 months and Krasniqi was sentenced to 10 months in a Young Offender Institution.
Ieuan Duffy has been jailed for dealing cocaine and cannabis. (Image: Dyfed-Powys Police)
Teenager Ieuan Duffy went back to selling cannabis and started dealing cocaine after he was released under investigation when he was first arrested at the end of 2023.
Police attended then-18-year-old Duffy's home on December 6, 2023. A search of the house uncovered a total of 151.86 grams of cannabis, £430.25 in cash, and drug dealing paraphernalia – including electronic weighing scales, zip lock bags, and two mobile phones.
A drug expert estimated the cannabis to have a street value of £1,680, and analysis of the phones showed evidence of Duffy's involvement in dealing cannabis.
The defendant was released on bail pending further investigation.
Officers returned to Duffy's address on January 27 of this year in relation to allegations of an unrelated offence.
A search of Duffy's bedroom uncovered a bag containing white powder – which was later found to be 28 grams of cocaine – as well as 427 grams of cannabis, two mobile phones, a set of electronic weighing scales, and £3,032.92 in cash.
A drug expert said the cocaine had a street value of up to £2,000 and the cannabis was valued at £4,740.
Duffy, now 19, of Hill Park in Narberth, pleaded guilty to being concerned in the supply of cocaine and cannabis, possession with intent to supply cocaine, two offences of possession with intent to supply cannabis, and two offences of possession of criminal property.
He was sentenced to three years and five months in a Young Offender Institution, and will face an application under the Proceeds of Crime Act.
Drug addict Luke Jones turned to dealing cocaine, cannabis, ketamine and amphetamines in order to fund his habit.
Jones was stopped whilst driving on the A4076 Dredgeman Hill at around 8pm on June 3 last year. His eyes 'appeared glazed' and he tested positive for cocaine and cannabis.
Inside the car, the officer found two vacuum-sealed bags – one filled with 13.9 grams of cocaine worth up to £1,700 and the other containing 41 grams of herbal cannabis worth £520.
Jones also had £337.81 in cash in envelopes on him, and was arrested. A further 54 grams of cannabis resin was found in a vacuum-sealed bag when the car was searched at the police station.
A search of his home the following day found 135 grams of amphetamine, just under one gram of cocaine, 2.26 grams of cannabis resin and just under half a gram of MDMA mixed with ketamine, as well as a number of empty snap bags and vacuum-sealed bags, and two sets of digital scales.
Jones' phone was analysed, and messages dating back to December 8, 2023, showed his involvement in dealing cocaine, cannabis and amphetamine.
Financial investigators discovered more than £12,000 in unidentified bank transfers going into his account over a 12-month period – although it was determined that he no longer had any assets.
Jones appeared at Haverfordwest Magistrates' Court on December 3 and admitted drug-driving relating to the date of his arrest. He was banned from driving for 17 months and was sentenced to a one-year community order.
He pleaded guilty to being concerned in the supply of cocaine, cannabis, amphetamine, and ketamine; possession with intent to supply cocaine, cannabis, cannabis resin, and amphetamine; and possession of MDMA and ketamine.
Jones, 33, of Maes Morfa in Newport, was jailed for a total of two years and eight months.
Daniel Popovici was found hiding in a bedroom cupboard at a house he was banned from entering. (Image: Dyfed-Powys Police)
Daniel Popovici, 40, of Treforis in Betws, breached a restraining order which had been put in place after he threatened his flatmates with a knife.
Under the terms of the order, Popovici was banned from contacting his now-ex-flatmates and attending two homes – on High Street in Ammanford and another address on Treforis.
Having previously been in court in December for breaching the order, Popovici returned to court on April 9 after he admitted a second breach.
Police attended the address on Treforis on March 17, and the occupant let them inside. Following a search of the address, the officers found Popovici hiding inside a bedroom cupboard.
This latest offence put the defendant in breach of two suspended sentence orders.
Popovici was sentenced to a total of one year in prison.
Alfie Shelley, 26, of Market Street in Pembroke Dock, has been ordered to repay thousands of pounds after defrauding a 'vulnerable' victim and stealing his bank card.
It was alleged that Shelley stole a man's bank card and £9.50 on September 2, 2023, and the same man's card and £12 on September 12.
He was also accused of defrauding the man, after it was alleged that he dishonestly made false representations to cause him financial loss.
The court heard that the victim was 'vulnerable' and the offences had a 'serious detrimental impact' on him.
Shelley pleaded guilty to fraud by false representation and two offences of theft at Haverfordwest Magistrates' Court on April 29.
He was jailed for one year, and must pay £3,502 in compensation and £85 in costs.