Teen and sister admit drug charges

A TEENAGER found not guilty of murdering Ryan O’Connor has pleaded guilty to dealing Class A drugs.

Ethan Strickland was found guilty last month of robbing Mr O’Connor but was acquitted of being responsible for his death.

Joseph Jeremy, 18, and Lewis Aquilina, 20, were sentenced to life imprisonment on Wednesday after being convicted of murdering Mr O’Connor, 26, who was stabbed to death in Newport last year. Kyle Raisis, 18, was convicted of manslaughter.

Strickland, 19, was found guilty of robbery with his three codefendants, after a Gucci bag was taken from Mr O’Connor before he was left for dead lying in a pool of his own blood. The teenager is yet to be sentenced.

Jeremy was jailed for life with a minimum of 24 years and Aquilina was jailed for life with a minimum of 22 years. Raisis was sentenced to 12 years’ imprisonment.

On Thursday, Strickland, of Clos Briallen, Caerau, and his sister Noreen O’Driscoll, 26, of Parker Road, Ely, appeared at Cardiff Crown Court where they both pleaded guilty to charge of being concerned in the supply of cocaine between August 30, 2020, and March 13, 2021. They also pleaded guilty to possession with cocaine with intent to supply.

Defence barrister Byron Broadstock asked for sentencing to be adjourned so Strickland could be sentenced for the robbery at the same time as the drugs charges.

Stephen Thomas, for O’Driscoll, asked for his client to sentenced at the same time.

Recorder Carl Harrison agreed to adjourn the sentencings so they could be dealt with by trial judge Mr Justice Saini.