Jobless Pontycymmer man was 'serious drug dealer'

[TrueBlueTerrier]

http://www.glamorgan-gem.co.uk/article. ... hyear=2018" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

A jobless man ran a massive drugs dealing operation, sometimes using an internet website, from his home in Pontycymmer, Cardiff Crown Court has heard.

When police investigated the case, they discovered that 44-year-old Darren Bishop had a turnover of £150,000 in his bank account and in a unit on Brackla Industrial Estate, he had stored 90,000 Valium tablets in 90 metal containers, said prosecutor Julian Greenwood.

Bishop, of Gloucester Buildings, Pantygog, Pontycymmer, described as a ‘major operator’, was jailed for two years.

His former partner, 36-year-old kitchen assistant Leanne Williams, whose main address was in Porthcawl, was jailed for four months.

Each admitted possessing 97,346 Valium tablets worth up to £24,000 with intent to supply.


Bishop also pleaded guilty to possessing cannabis worth £14,000 with intent to supply, possessing Codeine worth £2,387 with intent to supply and possessing a derivative of LSD.

Mr Greenwood said: “This was nothing less than a major operation.”

He said that a package sent from Pontycymmer Post Office was returned from Anglesey and was found to contain 1,000 Valium tablets.

It was revealed that on the day that was sent, Bishop had posted eight similar packages.

Later, he continued, the home the couple then occupied was searched. Police discovered Valium tablets, packages, £1,000 in cash, 2,000 Euro and five mobile phones with text messages relating to drug dealings, pictures of the goods concerned and details of transactions.

It became clear the operation was also being carried out from a unit at Brackla Industrial Estate, where the police discovered 90,000 tablets.

The postmaster at Pontycymmer indicated that sometimes Bishop would send up to 60 packages a week.

Twice the trading estate premises had been increased in size and officers discovered that £150,000 had gone through Bishop’s bank account in a year.

They also discovered that he had bought a car worth £12,000 and had been advertising the drugs online.

“Bishop was the major player in all this and Williams enjoyed some of the benefits. He was the leader of the operation and she had a lesser role,” said Mr Greenwood.

Williams had no previous convictions but Bishop had convictions for producing cannabis and for possessing amphetamine.

His counsel, Ruth Smith, said his principal mitigation were his guilty pleas. She said he didn’t try to limit the size of the operation, or distance himself from it.

He was, she said, fearful of prison. He had an arterial disease and mental health problems.

In the past, she added, he had a long term involvement with drugs.

Rhodri Chudleigh, for Williams, said that last year, she spent some time in a refuge.

“She was not aware of the scale of the operation, of the warehouse unit or the amount of money involved. She won’t deny the lifestyle.”

He pointed out that the couple no longer live together.

Recorder R J Philpotts said: “This was a serious, well organised operation.”