Six men jailed for taking part in £200,000 drugs conspiracy

SIX men have been jailed for their role in supplying high purity cocaine into South Wales after police seized drugs worth up to £200,000.

Daniel Morgan, Kevin Cloke, Adam Jarrett, Lee Stoddart, Henson Waithe and Justin Shears each admitted their part in the conspiracy that occurred between August and October 2015.

Sentencing at Cardiff Crown Court, Judge Neil Bidder QC said: “Cocaine is a highly addictive and dangerous drug.”

The court heard South Wales Police seized more than a kilo of the Class A drug from Stoddart on October 14 last year.

Prosecutor Caroline Rees said the cocaine was of high purity at 75% with a value of between about £135,000 and £215,000.

She told the court Cloke and Waithe travelled from Kent to South Wales in a Mercedes, which was detected using automatic number plate recognition.

The vehicle was caught on camera crossing the Severn Bridge at around 8.40pm.

Meanwhile, Stoddart was seen driving a Corsa along the M4 towards Pencoed and met with the Mercedes around 9.15pm.

The court heard Stoddart was seen to place a bundle wrapped in fabric in the boot of his car and drive off towards Gilfach Goch on the A4093.

Ms Rees said the package was seized from Stoddart by police and found to contain a total of 1,005g of high purity cocaine.

The prosecutor said the Mercedes made a total of 21 trips between the South East of England and South Wales.

She added: “Each defendant has pleaded guilty to their part in the conspiracy.”

Judge Bidder described all the defendants as “greedy”.

He said: “It is clear that these offences are so serious only an immediate custodial sentence can be imposed.”

Jarrett, 47, from Calvert Drive in Kent, was said to have a “management function” in the chain and was sentenced to six years in prison.

The court heard he became involved because he wanted to be able to pay for private health care for a seriously ill family member and the offence was described as “out of character”.

Shears, 35, from Fforddy-Grug in Bridgend, was also operating at management level and was sentenced to six years for a significant role.

His barrister said he ran a car recovery business and became involved in the conspiracy because he was struggling financially.

Cloke, 58, from Salmon Road in Kent, was a courier, and was sentenced to four years.

The court heard he had four children and seven grandchildren, worked as an HGV driver and had no previous convictions.

Waithe, 43, from Eversley Avenue in Kent, was also a courier and was jailed for three years and eight months.

The court heard the father-of-three, who works as a roofing contractor, had a conviction for possession of cocaine dating back to 2006.

Morgan, 29, from John Street in Nantymoel, was responsible for receiving the drugs in South Wales and was sent to prison for two years and eight months. The father-oftwo was described by his counsel as “a hard-working and likeable young man”.

Stoddart, 39, from Greenmeadow Terrace in Tonypandy, was also responsible for receiving the drugs and was jailed for two years and four months.

The court heard he had no previous convictions and became involved to support his family.

Each defendant must pay a £120 victim surcharge and a Proceeds of Crime Act hearing will be held in the new year.