Cardiff Crown Court Sentencing Results

Explore 276 verdicts at Cardiff Crown Court (Cardiff). Updated with the latest court outcomes.

Guy Simmonds

Engaging in sexual activity with a child aged 15

October 1, 2024

Sentence: 5 years and 3 months imprisonment

Guy Simmonds, 37, a horse-riding instructor, had sexual intercourse with both his partner Lauren Jarvis and a 15-year-old girl during a threesome in January 2024. He was the ringleader, self-obsessed and manipulative, and found guilty following a trial.

Branded a 'sexual predator' by Judge Lucy Crowther. Placed on the sex offenders’ register for life, subject to a restraining order and sexual harm prevention order for 15 years. Further 3 years on extended licence.

Sources: standard.co.uk

Lauren Jarvis

Engaging in sexual activity with a child aged 15

October 1, 2024

Sentence: 12-month prison sentence suspended for 1 year, 15 days rehabilitation work

Lauren Jarvis, 26, a showjumper, willingly participated in the sexual abuse of a 15-year-old girl during a threesome with her partner Guy Simmonds in January 2024, touching the victim sexually. Afterwards, the pair agreed to keep quiet about it. She was found guilty following a trial.

Willingly took part and touched the victim sexually. Placed on the sex offenders’ register for 10 years and given a restraining order for 5 years. Pre-sentence reports identified vulnerabilities to manipulation due to low intelligence.

Sources: standard.co.uk

Denis Coles

Rape

September 12, 2024

Sentence: Two years supervision order and registration on the sex offenders register

In 1977, Denis Coles, then aged 26, raped an 11-year-old girl who was walking home alone from Girl Guides in Cardiff. He approached her, initially asking for the time, before dragging her away and committing the rape. The crime remained unsolved for decades until a 2019 cold case review used DNA evidence from samples taken at the time, matching Coles with a probability of at least one billion. The victim suffered long-term trauma, as detailed in her impact statement, affecting her mental health and childhood.

Deemed mentally unfit for trial; jury found he committed the act in a trial of the facts; judge noted he would have received a substantial custodial sentence if fit to plead; had cautions for burglary in 2008 and theft in 2012.

Sources: standard.co.uk

Paul Atkinson

Fraud

September 1, 2024

Sentence: 43 months imprisonment

Paul Atkinson, operating through companies like Protecta Home Improvements and MET Construction Ltd, deceived customers by promising building work such as extensions and orangeries, but failed to complete it after receiving deposits totalling £147,500 between September 1, 2019, and July 30, 2022. He used fabricated website content, made excuses for delays, performed substandard work, ignored refund requests, and issued subtle threats to customers who posted negative reviews. Victims suffered financial hardship, emotional distress, and in some cases, considered suicide; one victim had to carry a disabled child over a dug trench in their garden.

Pleaded guilty to eight counts of being a trader knowingly or recklessly engaging in a commercial practice, 24 counts of dishonestly making false representation to make gain for himself or another or causing loss to another or exposing another to risk, and one count of carrying on a business of company with intent to defraud creditors or for other fraudulent purpose. Additionally, ordered to pay back £71,000 under Proceeds of Crime Act.

Sources: walesonline.co.uk

Zackary Williams

Dangerous Driving

August 22, 2024

Sentence: 1 year and 2 months imprisonment

On August 1, 2024, Zackary Williams was reported for driving while intoxicated in Bridgend. He was spotted by police on Cowbridge Road and initiated a dangerous pursuit, reaching speeds of 70mph in a 40mph zone, ignoring red lights, overtaking into oncoming traffic, and attempting to reverse-ram a police car. He struck one vehicle and tried to force another onto the pavement and into a wall. The vehicle had false number plates, and he was subsequently arrested.

Pleaded guilty to dangerous driving, driving without insurance, driving while disqualified, driving without a licence, and assaulting an emergency worker. A police officer noted that Williams showed complete disregard for others and caused significant damage to police vehicles.

Sources: southwalesargus.co.uk

Egle Zilinskaite

Concealment of birth

July 10, 2024

Sentence: suspended sentence

Egle Zilinskaite hid the bodies of two full-term babies inside her home in Bridgend after she delivered them alone and without medical support.

Hid the bodies of two full-term babies inside her home in Bridgend after delivering them alone and without medical support.

Sources: itv.com

Sian Price

Drink-driving

July 8, 2024

Sentence: £120 fine, £85 costs, £48 surcharge, and banned from driving for three years

Sian Price was caught drink-driving a Vauxhall Corsa on the A4106 at Bridgend on June 21, recording 70 micrograms of alcohol per 100 millilitres of breath, which is twice the legal limit.

Chad Robinson-Bishop

Speeding

July 7, 2024

Sentence: £100 fine, £40 surcharge, and 3 points on driving licence

Chad Robinson-Bishop was driving a Volkswagen Golf at 39mph on the 30mph Newport Road at Rumney Hill on October 21, 2023.

Daniel Symmons

Dangerous Driving

July 4, 2024

Sentence: 10 months imprisonment and a 23-month driving ban

Daniel Symmons engaged in a high-speed chase in Llantrisant and Tonyrefail on 28 April, where he threw a can of cider, a spanner, and a bottle of unknown liquid at a police car, pushed a fridge from his van towards the vehicle, and reverse-rammed the police car, injuring an officer. He abandoned the van and attempted to flee on foot before being apprehended with public assistance.

David Price

Supply of cocaine and cannabis

June 17, 2024

Sentence: 9 years imprisonment

David Price, 51, from Kenfig Hill, Bridgend, acted as a courier for an organised crime group distributing cocaine and cannabis across south Wales, including meetings in Port Talbot and Pyle for exchanging bags and packages. The group was uncovered during Operation Bluebell, with police seizing significant quantities of drugs and cash.

Worked as a courier for the group in Port Talbot and Pyle areas; benefited £30,000 from offending and ordered to pay back £87,340 under Proceeds of Crime Act or face additional nine months imprisonment.

Sources: walesonline.co.uk

Elon Joseph

Supply of cocaine and cannabis

June 17, 2024

Sentence: 9 years imprisonment

Elon Joseph, 35, from Waunarlwydd, Swansea, assisted Gregory Hardy in the organised crime group's operations, which involved supplying cocaine and cannabis across south Wales. He was seen at the business unit in Gorseinon and met with associates to facilitate drug distribution, as part of Operation Bluebell that uncovered large quantities of drugs and cash.

Worked for Gregory Hardy, frequently visiting the business unit in Gorseinon and meeting with other members of the group in Swansea and Cardiff.

Sources: walesonline.co.uk

Fation Bardhaj

Supply of cocaine

June 17, 2024

Sentence: 13 years and six months imprisonment

Fation Bardhaj, 40, from Penylan, Cardiff, worked with others to supply cocaine across south Wales as part of an organised crime group. The group was involved in distributing large quantities of cocaine and cannabis, with police seizing 7kg of cocaine and 18kg of cannabis during Operation Bluebell. He was part of the network that operated in Cardiff, Swansea, Port Talbot, and included a cannabis farm in Lampeter valued at over £500,000.

Facilitated the supply of cocaine in Cardiff with customer bases in Swansea and Port Talbot areas.

Sources: walesonline.co.uk

Gregory Hardy

Supply of cocaine and cannabis

June 17, 2024

Sentence: 14 years imprisonment

Gregory Hardy, 35, from Waunarlwydd, Swansea, led an organised crime group that distributed cocaine and cannabis across south Wales, including Cardiff, Swansea, and Port Talbot. He had access to a business unit in Gorseinon where drug paraphernalia, including a hydraulic press and empty cocaine wrappings, were seized. The group also set up a cannabis farm in Lampeter with a street value over £500,000.

Headed the Swansea-based organised crime group; benefited £445,564 from offending and ordered to pay back £188,730 under Proceeds of Crime Act or face additional two years and six months imprisonment.

Sources: walesonline.co.uk

Bardhok Bardhoj

Supply of cannabis

June 17, 2024

Sentence: 19 years imprisonment

Bardhok Bardhoj, 52, from Cilcennin, Ceredigion, was a key figure in an organised crime group supplying cocaine and cannabis in south Wales. He managed the cannabis production at a farm in Lampeter, which had a potential street value of over £500,000, and participated in exchanges of drugs and cash with other members during Operation Bluebell.

Responsible for the maintenance and 'gardening' of cannabis plants at the Lampeter farm, and involved in meetings for exchanging bags and packages.

Sources: walesonline.co.uk

Abdi Lekaj

Possession and supply of cocaine

June 17, 2024

Sentence: 14 years and four months imprisonment

Abdi Lekaj, 63, from Roath, Cardiff, was involved in an organised crime group's drug supply network, travelling to London to collect 2 kilograms of cocaine from Mirsad Nerguti. He was arrested en route back to south Wales, with forensic evidence linking the seizure to the group's operations during Operation Bluebell.

Travelled from Cardiff to London to meet Mirsad Nerguti and was arrested while returning to south Wales with 2 kilograms of cocaine.

Sources: walesonline.co.uk

Klodian Zefi

Supply of cocaine

June 17, 2024

Sentence: 14 years imprisonment

Klodian Zefi, 36, from Roath, Cardiff, was involved in an organised crime group that supplied large quantities of cocaine and cannabis across south Wales. Police investigations revealed the group possessed almost £600,000 worth of cocaine and £175,000 worth of cannabis, along with cash and drug paraphernalia during Operation Bluebell.

Worked with others in Cardiff to facilitate the supply of cocaine, with customer bases including Swansea and Port Talbot.

Sources: walesonline.co.uk

Jeffrey Hickson

Conspiracy to supply heroin

February 7, 2024

Sentence: 10 years and 4 months imprisonment

Jeffrey Hickson, 62, of Brewery Street, Blyth, Northumberland, was a member of an organised crime gang involved in a £7m heroin conspiracy distributing the drug for onward supply across the UK. The gang was exposed following the arrest of former police officer Steven Creasey on May 12, 2022, in Scotland, where 5kg of heroin and 1kg of adulterant were found in his vehicle. Investigations revealed other members including Christopher Brannan, 38, and Stephen Hopkins, 59, who collected wholesale heroin in Liverpool, and couriers Heaney, Creasey, Kevin Thomson, 45, and Hickson. Profits were laundered through Kirsty Murphy's bank account. Raids in Cardiff, Liverpool, Scotland, and Northumberland uncovered drugs, jewellery, and equipment.

Convicted of conspiracy to supply heroin. POCA hearing ordered to pay £8,000 within 3 months or serve additional 4 months in default. Benefited £16,706 but assets worth £8,861.

Sources: walesonline.co.uk

Christopher Heaney

Conspiracy to supply heroin

February 6, 2024

Sentence: 9 years and 5 months imprisonment

Christopher Heaney was a member of an organised crime gang involved in a £7m heroin conspiracy. The gang, based in Liverpool, supplied heroin across the UK. Heaney distributed the drugs and was part of the group brought down after the arrest of Steven Creasey in Scotland on May 12, 2022. Raids in 2022 uncovered heroin, cocaine, adulterants, opium, cannabis, and other items at properties in Cardiff, Liverpool, Scotland, and Northumberland.

Ordered to pay £42,229 under Proceeds of Crime Act within three months or face an additional 18 months imprisonment. He benefited £125,876 from the offending.

Sources: walesonline.co.uk

Toby Chadwick

Supply of cocaine

February 1, 2024

Sentence: 40 months imprisonment

Toby Chadwick was caught with £1,800 in cash, cocaine worth £560, and a mobile phone with references to drug supply while driving in Newport on July 30, 2022. He was also found slumped over the wheel of a car with 10 grams of cocaine between December 8 and 9, 2023. Police stopped his vehicle due to suspicions of drug involvement, and he had prior convictions for trafficking class A drugs.

Pleaded guilty to being concerned in the supply of cocaine. Has ADHD and OCD, and struggled with custody. The sentence was an extra 10 months added to a previous 30-month sentence.

Sources: southwalesargus.co.uk

Devon Evans

Supply of cocaine and cannabis

January 28, 2024

Sentence: 45 months imprisonment

Devon Evans, 23, of Coronation Crescent, Fochriw, Caerphilly, was involved in supplying cocaine and cannabis. On March 3, 2023, he was arrested at his property in Fochriw in relation to an unconnected matter and found in possession of £1,215 in cash, an iPhone, and 10g of herbal cannabis. Examination of the iPhone revealed evidence of cannabis supply, including a customer requesting half a kilo. In July 2023, he was seen travelling in a stolen car in Brynmawr, which was abandoned after a collision; a phone and bags containing 13.3g of cocaine and 11g of crack cocaine (value under £2,000) were seized from the car. In August 2023, a computer seized during an arrest contained messages to Luke Cable relating to drug supply. Police raids in Bargoed and Caerphilly on February 28, 2023, linked him to the operation with colleagues. A Proceeds of Crime Act hearing determined he benefited £54,487 from offending but had assets of £2,700.

Pleaded guilty to three counts of being concerned in the supply of cocaine, being concerned in the supply of cannabis, possession with intent to supply cannabis and possession of criminal property. In a separate Proceeds of Crime Act hearing, ordered to pay £2,700 within three months or serve an additional four months imprisonment in default.

Sources: walesonline.co.uk

Api Ratuniyarawa

Sexual Assault

January 9, 2024

Sentence: 2 years and 10 months imprisonment

Api Ratuniyarawa, a 37-year-old Fiji international rugby player, sexually assaulted three teenagers in the VIP area of the Revolution bar in Cardiff on three consecutive nights while intoxicated. The incidents occurred in the week leading up to a rugby match where he was scheduled to play for the Barbarians against Wales on November 4, 2023. He stopped the assaults only because others intervened, and the victims suffered physical and psychological harm.

Pleaded guilty to two charges of assault by penetration and one charge of sexual assault. Was under the influence of alcohol during the offences. No previous convictions. Placed on the sex offenders register for 10 years and given a three-year restraining order. Expressed genuine remorse and shame.

Sources: standard.co.uk

Cody Hook

Causing death by careless driving

January 1, 2024

Sentence: 8 months imprisonment suspended for 8 months

On December 15, 2023, on the A469 in Caerphilly, Cody Hook, 19, from Pontllanfraith, Blackwood, drove a white Mazda at 70mph southbound with passengers including back-seat Chaz Ralph, 20, playing loud music; Ralph not wearing seatbelt. Overtaking a black Mazda, Hook's wheel clipped the central reservation kerb, causing loss of control, multiple flips, and ejection of Ralph through a window, resulting in catastrophic head injury and death at the scene despite CPR.

10-day rehabilitation activity; 250 hours unpaid work; £300 fine and £150 costs; disqualified from driving for 12 months; pleaded guilty to causing death by careless driving and possession of cocaine.

Sources: walesonline.co.uk

Jason Bradford

Causing death by dangerous driving

January 1, 2024

Sentence: 6 years and 7 months imprisonment

On November 14, 2020, in Hengoed, Caerphilly, Jason Bradford, 34, after drinking five pints of lager at the Junction Inn, drove a silver Renault Clio at speed while disqualified, carrying passengers Callum West, 27, and Ryan Waters, 24. The car flipped, collided with a concrete fence, killing West at the scene from contusions, subarachnoid haemorrhage, fractured skull, and trauma, and seriously injuring Waters.

Drink-driving while disqualified; disqualified from driving for 7 years post-release; prior 2018 conviction for dangerous driving.

Sources: walesonline.co.uk

Stephen John Williams

Operating waste sites without environmental permits

October 3, 2019

Sentence: 21 months’ imprisonment suspended for two years, five rehabilitation activity days, and £322,500 confiscation order

Stephen John Williams organised the illegal deposit of 2,600 tonnes of contaminated textile waste at sites in Caerphilly, Cowbridge, and Dolgellau between October 2018 and October 2019. At Hengwrt in Dolgellau, 527 tonnes of waste including clothing, carpets, foam, and mattresses were found. He failed to comply with a legal notice to clear the site, posing a fire risk and leaving landowners with clean-up costs.

Suspended sentence; must repay £322,500 within three months or face 3 years and 6 months imprisonment. Pleaded guilty to environmental offenses. Benefited £470,189.41 from crimes.

Sources: northwaleschronicle.co.uk

John Warry

Rape of a child

January 1, 2017

Sentence: 12 years imprisonment

John Warry was convicted of five counts of raping a child. The offences involved the horrific sexual abuse of a toddler, including giving her a 'high-five' after the abuse. He maintained his innocence and claimed astonishment when the victim came forward, attempting to portray her as a storyteller, but the jury rejected this. The crimes occurred prior to 2017.

Initially sentenced to 9 years imprisonment with 1 year on extended licence, but increased to 12 years with 1 year extended licence by the Court of Appeal as unduly lenient. Pleaded not guilty but found guilty by jury on five counts. Judge Patrick Curran KC at initial sentencing.

Sources: walesonline.co.uk

Ian David Karslake Watkins

Attempted rape of a child under 13

December 18, 2013

Sentence: 29 years imprisonment plus 6 years extended licence

Ian Watkins, former frontman of the rock band Lostprophets, committed a series of child sex offences including the attempted rape of a baby. He admitted to conspiring to rape a child, three counts of sexual assault involving children, seven counts involving taking, making or possessing indecent images of children, and possessing an extreme image involving a sex act on an animal. The offences occurred prior to his arrest in 2012, with the sentencing reflecting the extreme depravity of the crimes influenced by his fame, drugs, and power.

Denied rape but admitted attempted rape and sexual assault of a child under 13. Admitted 13 offences including conspiring to rape a child, three counts of sexual assault involving children, seven involving taking, making or possessing indecent images of children, and one of possessing an extreme image involving a sex act on an animal. Judge described the case as breaking 'new ground' and plunging into 'new depths of depravity'. Prosecutors described him as corrupted by fame, drugs, and power, committing crimes 'beyond imagination'.

Sources: bbc.co.uk

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