Milford Mercury | Local News, Sport & Entertainment

Heroin gang jailed for 26 years

From the archive, first published Thursday 2nd Feb 2006.

A GANG of drug dealers who shipped heroin into Pembrokeshire have been jailed for a total of 26 years.

Five local men linked up with Gorey Blake, a professional dealer based in Bristol, and transported heroin back to Milford Haven.

Judge Keith Thomas, sentencing the men at Swansea crown court, said, "It is important that people realise that those who deal in the supply of class A drugs will go to prison."

He described Blake, a Jamaican, as a key member of the group. He was jailed for seven years.

Police kept watch as dealers turned up at his house to buy heroin.

Michael O'Donovan, 37, of Hawthorn Path, Mount Estate, Milford Haven, was jailed for seven years, Nicholas Causon, 45, of Merlin's Hill, Haverfordwest, received four years, Gavin Marchant, 32, of Westfield Close, Westhill Estate, Milford Haven, two years, Mark Howells, 41, also of Hawthorn Path, five years and Martin Kelly, 43, of Observatory Avenue, Milford Haven, 16 months.

All had admitted or been convicted after a trial of conspiring to supply class A drugs.

Mark Spackman, prosecuting, had told the court how Blake arrived in Bristol from Jamaica two years ago and quickly established himself as a major dealer.

He was so central to the supply of drugs to west Wales that police officers from Pembrokeshire joined in the raid on his home on May 19. They discovered cash, heroin and crack cocaine.

By then, said Mr Spackman, police had logged "significant" traffic between Blake and the defendants.

In addition to the sentences, Judge Thomas confiscated £2,917 and a car from Blake, £350 from Howells, £400 from Kelly, £100 from Marchant and £484 from Causon.

Judge Thomas said all the defendants, apart from Blake, had been heroin users and knew the physical and mental harm that the drug could cause. "It not only harmed individuals but could also destroy communities," he added.

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