Cardiff Crown Court Sentencing Results

Pawel Kobis, 46, of Abertillery, was part of an organised crime group involved in a large-scale drug supply network stretching across south Wales and the south-west of England. The operation involved cocaine, crack cocaine, MDMA, methamphetamine, and ketamine with a street value of more than £3.5m. He received instructions from an upstream supplier and his role involved collecting and distributing large quantities of drugs across the UK.

Neil Espin, of Tewkesbury Walk, Newport, maintained a factory job while dealing drugs to fund his crack cocaine addiction. Officers carried out a search warrant at his home on March 7 2026 after intelligence linked him to a drugs line and Snapchat account connected to cocaine supply. His phone was seized along with a small quantity of cannabis. Messages provided clear evidence of involvement in supplying class A, B and C drugs. He admitted being concerned in the supply of cocaine, cannabis and pregabalin along with simple possession of cannabis.

Nazif Lala, 25, of Oxford, was part of an organised crime group involved in a large-scale drug supply network stretching across south Wales and the south-west of England. The operation involved cocaine, crack cocaine, MDMA, methamphetamine, and ketamine with a street value of more than £3.5m. He served as a courier, transporting drugs to the group's extensive customer base.

Robert Mark Davies, the former head of finance at homelessness charity Cyrenians Cymru, carried out a £1.3m fraud by forging invoices at the Swansea-based charity. The fraud took place between 4 June 2008 and 11 November 2014. He used the stolen funds for personal expenses including boats, airfares, and staying at The Savoy hotel in London. The charity suffered severe financial impact, going into liquidation in May 2015 owing £915,000, with most projects transferred to other charities. He pleaded guilty to fraud by deception at Cardiff Magistrates Court in February 2017.

Ross Appleby led a Newport-based drug-dealing operation involved in a conspiracy to supply class A and class B drugs. On 25 January 2024, officers raided a property in Newport and recovered 700g of cocaine and 134g of cannabis. Appleby was identified as the leader of the enterprise.

Ross Gardner conspired with Hafiz Razaq to sell a Grandpower handgun online using EncroChat. The plot was uncovered after EncroChat was taken down. He was convicted of both conspiracy to acquire a prohibited weapon and additional drug offences.

Elson Sinanaj was found with more than £16,000 worth of drugs after officers witnessed a drug deal in Cathays, Cardiff. He was working as a drug dealer in return for accommodation after becoming homeless.

Declan Carr, 27, was part of an organised crime network operating across south-east Wales supplying cocaine in Newport, Cwmbran and Pontypool using dedicated phone lines to send bulk text messages. Gwent Police executed drugs warrants at four addresses in the Bettws area of Newport in 2024 following intelligence from a seized mobile phone. Carr was detained in July 2024. He pleaded guilty and was sentenced at Cardiff Crown Court.

Declan Jones, 22, from Brynmawr, was convicted of conspiracy to supply class A drugs at Cardiff Crown Court in May 2024 and jailed for six years in June 2024. He later failed to return to HMP Prescoed, Monmouthshire, on 20 December 2024, prompting a police appeal. He and three other men were jailed for a total of 27 years.

Dean Vowles assisted in fraud by pretending to be a pension holder on the phone, enabling withdrawals from the pension fund. He was found guilty of fraud by false representation following a trial.

Daryl Bees, 33, of Kenry Street, Tonypandy, was stopped by police in Tonypandy on February 22 and found carrying 180g of cocaine with a street value exceeding £20,000. Examination of his seized mobile phone revealed messages showing he had been actively involved in supplying cocaine from November 29, 2025.

Deacon Facey was seen by surveillance officers on June 30 looking nervous while straddling a bicycle near City Road, Cardiff. Officers believed a drug transaction was taking place and detained him after he crossed the road to join two men. He was found with a Nokia handset, £55 in cash and pregabalin tablets. A manual trawl of the phone showed messages indicating it was an operational drugs line for crack cocaine and heroin. He later pleaded guilty to being concerned in the supply of crack cocaine and heroin, and to possessing a class C drug.

David Griffiths met two women on dating sites and falsely presented himself as a former Army helicopter pilot with a distinguished military background, claiming a high salary, substantial savings and a valuable home. He persuaded the women to give him money towards fake holidays and other items but spent it on himself, defrauding them of £15,000 in total. One relationship ended after relatives discovered conveyancing documents revealing his fraud; he then misled another woman with similar false claims and took money towards a fake safari holiday. He admitted fraud.

David Hall, director of Debts Reduced Limited, Linked Finance Limited and a firm in his own name, charged customers £10 per month for an additional 'Cover Plan' product without any contractual basis or documentation informing customers. The firms ceased new business in May 2014 and all monies were returned to customers. Hall was sentenced following an investigation by South Wales Police and FCA cooperation.

Corey Baldwin, of Twyn Gardens, Cefn Fforest, Blackwood, ran a cocaine supply operation in Blackwood between May 15, 2025 and August 10, 2025. Caught red-handed supplying customers outside the Moggridge Arms on High Street in Blackwood town centre at around 11.10pm on August 9, 2025. One buyer seen snorting cocaine nearby. Found with cocaine (street value £380-£640), £195 cash, small quantities of ecstasy and ketamine. Mobile phone analysis showed he coordinated drops to users and used others to sell on his behalf, with messages like 'I’ve sold those for you.'

Police investigating a suspected drug deal searched a flat in Cardiff and found a loaded firearm containing 11 live cartridges, along with one kilogram of cocaine and half a kilogram of heroin. Preece was found in the flat and arrested.

Craig Gibson provided false information to obtain motor finance between 2020 and 2022. He made four applications; two were successful for £12,500 and £39,000, and two unsuccessful applications were for £18,000 and £64,500. The fraudulent finance was used to fund his gambling habit.