Gwynedd courier caught with £5k of cocaine spared jail

Police stopped Reece Williams, 24, in Llangedwyn, north Powys, with nearly 28 grams of cocaine in the driver's side of the BMW he was driving after collecting the package from Birmingham in July 2023.
The Pwllheli man was jailed for 18 months, suspended for 18 months, after admitting possessing with intent to supply cocaine and being concerned in the supply of the Class A drug.
Sentencing, Williams at Caernarfon Crown Court on Thursday, June 19, Judge Nicola Jones said: "You clearly were trusted bringing almost £5,000 of cocaine into the country but I accept that you had limited financial gain from a drug to which you were addicted."
Prosecution barrister Dafydd Roberts said messages on seized mobile phones showed Williams had been involved with dealing drugs over a two-week period between June 25 and July 8, 2023.
The court was told that the street value of seized drugs was between £4,800 and £6,075.
"In fairness to the defendant, he was selling at a cost price and there is no suggestion that he was making an advantage with the amount," Mr Roberts said.
Williams had admitted to police that the drug found in his car was cocaine and that he was a regular user.
It took 19 months before Williams was charged in February this year which the prosecuting barrister said the delay was not the defendant's fault but "due to the volume of work for North Wales Police".
Williams' barrister Richard Edwards said the 24-year-old's life has changed "dramatically" since his arrest.
"He fell into the unfortunate and all familiar trap of ever-increasing addiction to drugs and debts that led to homelessness and the supply of drugs which he was addicted to and taking in some considerable amount," Mr Edwards explained.
"He says his involvement was not brought about from threats but from his sheer desperation and hopeless situation that he found himself.
"He was arrested after travelling from Birmingham with drugs which were bound for North Wales.
"The arrest was the wake up call the defendant needed. He had been homeless, sleeping on friends' sofas, mixing in an environment where drug taking was a daily routine.
"He has moved out of the area and stopped mixing with those people.
"He is now a mobile mechanic who is slowly building up a business in Birmingham and North Wales. He's trying to increase work in North Wales because that is where he hopes to settle in future.
RECOMMENDED READING
"He is taking it slowly because he is not taking these proceedings lightly. He doesn't want to let people down should the worst happen to this young man who is showing good insight and empathy for others."
Mr Edwards said he had remained abstinent from drugs, adding: "Rehabilitation has no doubt been assisted by the probation service following motoring matters in the magistrates' court.
"He complied with the order and there were no breach proceedings. He has clearly taken in the input that probation has been able to provide."
Judge Jones told Williams that she considered him an "immature individual" at the time of his offending because "men's brains do not full develop until they are 25 years old".
"You have shown to the court that you are capable of rehabilitation because in the time of the delay of this case you have not committed further offences and got yourself working and turned your life around,' the judge said.
(Image: Newsquest)
"There will be no punitive element. This is a prison sentence albeit suspended which is a sufficient punishment for you.
"This young man has taken great steps to set himself in business and I don't want that to crush him financially."
Williams, of Abererch Road, Pwllheli, was ordered to pay the court a £187 statutory victim surcharge, and must undertake 20 rehabilitation activity days.

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Learn with AIFact CheckingText to SpeechAI Summary

Related Articles

Wales Online

an hour ago

• Wales Online

Nan's life taken in 'explosive, cowardly attack of unspeakable ferocity and cruelty'

Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info The life of a much loved nan was snatched away in an "explosive and cowardly" attack of "unspeakable ferocity and cruelty'. Dean Mears, 35, smashed his way into Catherine Flynn's house on Cefndy Road in Rhyl late at night last October 24 before stamping on the defenceless 69-year-old head and neck 15 times, shattering every bone in her face. Mears, of Bodelwyddan Avenue, Kinmel Bay, was sentenced to life imprisonment at Caernarfon Crown Court today and will serve a a minimum term of 27 years before he is even considered for parole. He had admitted killing Mrs Flynn but was convicted of her murder by a jury following a nine-day trial last month. You can sign up for all the latest court stories here Judge Rhys Rowlands sentence was applauded in the public gallery by family and friends of the devoted family woman. The judge praised Mrs Flynn's loved ones for their "quite remarkable forbearance" during a harrowing trial. Sentencing Mears, the judge said the killing was not premeditated but Mears had committed it for gain and lost his temper with Mrs Flynn: "You took Mrs Flynn's life in an explosive, cowardly attack of quite unspeakable ferocity and cruelty." The judge said he was "in awe" of the dignity shown by Mrs Flynn's daughter Natasha who watched the Ring doorbell footage of Mears breaking in to Mrs Flynn home. (Image: North Wales Police) No-one present during the trial would forget a crime which he branded "savage". Mrs Flynn died from asphyxia, the day after the attack, at a trauma hospital in Stoke having drowned from her own blood. Mrs Flynn's son Michael branded Mears' actions "pure evil and unforgivable. Daughter Natasha said their mum's brain had been turned to "mush" and he left her "weeping blood". She branded Mears a "coward". But she said they would remember Mrs Flynn as the kind hearted person she was. She ended her powerful statement: "Good night and God Bless, Mum. I love you girl and justice for our Queenie." At his trial, Mears admitted killing Mrs Flynn but claimed diminished responsibility. The jury heard evidence that Mears had ketamine, cannabis and cocaine in his system, and had inflicted severe blunt force injuries to Catherine's head, face and neck which proved fatal. (Image: North Wales Police handout) The medical evidence presented by the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) described the injuries as high impact trauma, consistent with repeated forceful stamps. The jury also heard that Mears had attempted to dispose of clothing, in multiple locations, but police recovered the items. Having heard all the evidence in the case, including psychiatric evidence, the jury convicted Mears of murder. Mears' own barrister described the murder as "dreadful and brutal". He also pointed to how his client had been a victim of serious violence years ago. Speaking after sentencing, Deanne McGinty from the CPS said: 'Dean Mears inflicted a brutal attack on Catherine Flynn in her own home, a place where she should have been safe. (Image: North Wales Police) 'He then tried to cover his tracks by attempting to dispose of evidence. 'The jury rejected his claim of diminished responsibility after hearing all the evidence presented by the Crown Prosecution Service. 'Mears' actions resulted in a tragic loss of life, and that loss is deeply felt by the family and friends of Catherine. Our thoughts will remain with them.' Mears was sentenced to 27 years and 128 days, less time spent on remand in custody, before he can apply for parole. Find crime figures for your area

BBC News

17 hours ago

• BBC News

Eryri police find bodies of men missing years apart in same spot

It was a mystery that left detectives baffled after a 33-year-old doctor vanished without a trace while walking in Eryri National in August 2012 Shayne Colaco, 33, from Stoke-on-Trent, had been hiking in the Carneddau range in north Wales when he did not return to his car. He was not seen the time, the experienced hiker's disappearance sparked an extensive operation by air and on foot, with the search described by experts as a "needle in a haystack" in the Ogwen was not until 12 years later that a vital clue led to the discovery of Mr Colaco's body in May 2024, only metres away from fellow hiker David Brookfield who had disappeared months before the discovery and died while walking in the same area. Mr Brookfield, 65, from Skelmersdale, Lancashire, had been walking alone on 9 January 2024 when he went Wales Police said Mr Brookfield had sent a text to his wife from the top of Carnedd Llewelyn, but no further contact was ever received. The experienced walker had intended to complete an "amazing" 15km (nine mile) route in good weather, police said, but with forecasts that it would deteriorate throughout the is believed he entered the broad mouth of a gully during his descent from his final summit at Pen yr Ole Wen when he fell and became seriously "extensive searches in challenging winter weather conditions", Mr Brookfield could not be found."The weather worsened, snow continued to fall... after the first couple of weeks we realised there wasn't any more we could do from the ground," said Sgt Paul Terry, of North Wales Police. Four months after his disappearance, coastguard helicopter crews discovered Mr Brookfield's body after seeing a glimpse of blue while carrying out a routine training exercise through the Ogwen was during his recovery that volunteers also located a single item of clothing that led them to find the remains of Mr Colaco. Sgt Terry, who assisted the rescue of the two bodies, said the circumstances were "exceptional" as many of the volunteers working on the rescue were involved in the initial search for Mr Colaco 12 years of the winchmen who located Mr Brookfield from the helicopter was also part of RAF squadron looking for Mr Colaco."It shows the amazing willingness and determination of volunteers and the emergency services to find both these men."Sgt Terry said it was while investigating Mr Brookfield's death that a mountain rescue team member found a jacket about 5m (16ft) further down the gully. "The jacket didn't seem to fit with the picture of what we were investigating. It was an older jacket, one that seemed to have been there for some time and inside the pocket was a car key," he said. "Deep in the memory of this rescue team was Shayne Colaco, who had gone missing in the same area 12 years earlier."Sgt Terry said he was "amazed" to find the jacket was very similar to the one Mr Colaco was wearing on the day he went missing. Further investigations then confirmed the key in the pocket was the key to his car, a Fiat Seicento."Suddenly, we realised we may have a clue as to where he may have been all this time." A mountain rescue drone operator then helped find Mr Colaco's body. It is now believed his descent from the summit of Pen yr Ole Wen took the same fatal turn as Mr Brookfield's. Sharing the tragic story, Sgt Terry voiced his condolences to the men's families and friends, as well as warning of the dangers of walking in Eryri, also known as Snowdonia. He said both men ended up in very dangerous ground, "which might have seemed inviting from the summit, but as it got steeper and more broken, it became harder"."It's important to understand the scale of these hills and the impact of weather – and how quickly it can change," he said. "We want you to come and enjoy these beautiful mountains in Eryri, it is amazing, but come and be safe and enjoy it."And so, I have a very simple safety message - be prepared."

Powys County Times

a day ago

• Powys County Times

Cocaine courier found with drugs in BMW in Powys sentenced

A drug addicted cocaine courier who brought in almost £5,000 worth of drugs into Wales has been spared an immediate jail term. Police stopped Reece Williams, 24, in Llangedwyn, north Powys, with nearly 28 grams of cocaine in the driver's side of the BMW he was driving after collecting the package from Birmingham in July 2023. The Pwllheli man was jailed for 18 months, suspended for 18 months, after admitting possessing with intent to supply cocaine and being concerned in the supply of the Class A drug. Sentencing, Williams at Caernarfon Crown Court on Thursday, June 19, Judge Nicola Jones said: "You clearly were trusted bringing almost £5,000 of cocaine into the country but I accept that you had limited financial gain from a drug to which you were addicted." Prosecution barrister Dafydd Roberts said messages on seized mobile phones showed Williams had been involved with dealing drugs over a two-week period between June 25 and July 8, 2023. The court was told that the street value of seized drugs was between £4,800 and £6,075. "In fairness to the defendant, he was selling at a cost price and there is no suggestion that he was making an advantage with the amount," Mr Roberts said. Williams had admitted to police that the drug found in his car was cocaine and that he was a regular user. It took 19 months before Williams was charged in February this year which the prosecuting barrister said the delay was not the defendant's fault but "due to the volume of work for North Wales Police". 'Sheer desperation' Williams' barrister Richard Edwards said the 24-year-old's life has changed "dramatically" since his arrest. "He fell into the unfortunate and all familiar trap of ever-increasing addiction to drugs and debts that led to homelessness and the supply of drugs which he was addicted to and taking in some considerable amount," Mr Edwards explained. "He says his involvement was not brought about from threats but from his sheer desperation and hopeless situation that he found himself. "He was arrested after travelling from Birmingham with drugs which were bound for North Wales. "The arrest was the wake up call the defendant needed. He had been homeless, sleeping on friends' sofas, mixing in an environment where drug taking was a daily routine. "He has moved out of the area and stopped mixing with those people. "He is now a mobile mechanic who is slowly building up a business in Birmingham and North Wales. He's trying to increase work in North Wales because that is where he hopes to settle in future. "He is taking it slowly because he is not taking these proceedings lightly. He doesn't want to let people down should the worst happen to this young man who is showing good insight and empathy for others." Mr Edwards said he had remained abstinent from drugs, adding: "Rehabilitation has no doubt been assisted by the probation service following motoring matters in the magistrates' court. "He complied with the order and there were no breach proceedings. He has clearly taken in the input that probation has been able to provide." 'Turned your life around' Judge Jones told Williams that she considered him an "immature individual" at the time of his offending because "men's brains do not fully develop until they are 25 years old". "You have shown to the court that you are capable of rehabilitation because in the time of the delay of this case you have not committed further offences and got yourself working and turned your life around,' the judge said. "There will be no punitive element. This is a prison sentence albeit suspended which is a sufficient punishment for you. "This young man has taken great steps to set himself in business and I don't want that to crush him financially."