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| Cocaine gang jailed for 50 years | Cocaine gang jailed for 50 years |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| Nine people have been sent to prison for their part in a cocaine dealing plot which involved taking the class A drug from Kent to Cardiff. | Nine people have been sent to prison for their part in a cocaine dealing plot which involved taking the class A drug from Kent to Cardiff. |
| Karl Gilleeney, 44, from Gravesend, Kent, would supply the drug to David Jeremy, 26, from Ely, Cardiff, who would sell it to users. | Karl Gilleeney, 44, from Gravesend, Kent, would supply the drug to David Jeremy, 26, from Ely, Cardiff, who would sell it to users. |
| The amount supplied was estimated to have a street value of £420,000. | The amount supplied was estimated to have a street value of £420,000. |
| They and seven others were jailed for over 50 years at Newport Crown Court. Two others had suspended sentences. | They and seven others were jailed for over 50 years at Newport Crown Court. Two others had suspended sentences. |
| The court heard that Gilleeney, who had a number of links with the criminal underworld, sold the drug to Jeremy, who was described as a powerful figure in drug trafficking in south Wales. | The court heard that Gilleeney, who had a number of links with the criminal underworld, sold the drug to Jeremy, who was described as a powerful figure in drug trafficking in south Wales. |
| COCAINE GANG GUILTY PLEAS Karl Gilleeney, 44, Kent: 13 years for supplying cocaine, conspiracy to money launder £39,000 cash, conspiracy to convert criminal propertyDavid Jeremy, 26, Cardiff: 12 years for conspiracy to supply drugs, money launderingBethan Jones, 25, Cardiff: 3 years for conspiracy to supply drugsMartin Brockway, 26, Cardiff: 4.5 years for conspiracy to supply drugs, money launderingSpencer Perks, 27, Cardiff: 4 years for conspiracy to supply drugs, money launderingMathew Cleghorn, 24, Cardiff: 2.5 years for conspiracy to supply drugsSean Meredith, 25, Cardiff: 4 years for conspiracy to supply drugsGail Gilleeney, 40, Kent: was given an eight month suspended sentence for conspiracy to convert criminal propertyLuke Gilleeney, 18, Kent: 3 years for conspiracy to supply drugsEric Donaldson, 42, Essex: 4.5 years for conspiracy to supply drugsOne defendant, Mark Tree, 46, Barry, pleaded not guilty but was convicted of conspiracy to convert criminal property. He was given a one year suspended sentence | |
| Even after they were caught they continued their drug dealing from inside Cardiff Prison with Gilleeney using his 17-year-old son Luke to buy the cocaine stock. | Even after they were caught they continued their drug dealing from inside Cardiff Prison with Gilleeney using his 17-year-old son Luke to buy the cocaine stock. |
| Ieuan Morris, prosecuting, told the court how the men both lived lavish lifestyles which could not be explained by their legitimate incomes. | Ieuan Morris, prosecuting, told the court how the men both lived lavish lifestyles which could not be explained by their legitimate incomes. |
| Jeremy was unemployed and Gilleeney told Inland Revenue officials that he and his wife Gail had a joint income of £40,000 despite living in a detached house with an outdoor swimming pool, and three sports cars. | Jeremy was unemployed and Gilleeney told Inland Revenue officials that he and his wife Gail had a joint income of £40,000 despite living in a detached house with an outdoor swimming pool, and three sports cars. |
| The court heard how police watched as the two men would meet in the Bluewater shopping centre in Kent. | The court heard how police watched as the two men would meet in the Bluewater shopping centre in Kent. |
| Gilleeney's wife Gail and 25-year-old Bethan Jones - Jeremy's partner who was also his banker and logistics officer in his drug dealing - would also go along. | Gilleeney's wife Gail and 25-year-old Bethan Jones - Jeremy's partner who was also his banker and logistics officer in his drug dealing - would also go along. |
| Their movements were tracked by the police using automatic number recognition system at the Severn Bridge between Wales and England. | Their movements were tracked by the police using automatic number recognition system at the Severn Bridge between Wales and England. |
| Detectives were able to put together a record of the visits because Jones kept all her receipts. | Detectives were able to put together a record of the visits because Jones kept all her receipts. |
| As police gathered more evidence, Gilleeney and Jeremy were arrested as they made another deal at a shopping centre near Reading. | As police gathered more evidence, Gilleeney and Jeremy were arrested as they made another deal at a shopping centre near Reading. |
| But despite being remanded to Cardiff prison, the pair continued their drug dealing with Gilleeney using his son Luke to buy cocaine to sell to Bethan Jones. | But despite being remanded to Cardiff prison, the pair continued their drug dealing with Gilleeney using his son Luke to buy cocaine to sell to Bethan Jones. |
| Cocaine was bought in bulk in Kent and sold on the streets in Cardiff | |
| The judge heard how police were aware of the continuing drug trade after they monitored telephone calls the pair made from the prison - despite signs above the phone saying calls could be recorded. | The judge heard how police were aware of the continuing drug trade after they monitored telephone calls the pair made from the prison - despite signs above the phone saying calls could be recorded. |
| Police monitored the calls and despite the pair trying to use codes, officers were able to work out what they were planning. | Police monitored the calls and despite the pair trying to use codes, officers were able to work out what they were planning. |
| The court heard how Gilleeney expressed surprise after his son was arrested and claimed he knew nothing about what was going on. | The court heard how Gilleeney expressed surprise after his son was arrested and claimed he knew nothing about what was going on. |
| The police also heard phone calls from Gail Gilleeney and Bethan Jones to the men while they were in jail in which they both expressed dislike at the effect their imprisonment was having on their lavish lifestyles. | The police also heard phone calls from Gail Gilleeney and Bethan Jones to the men while they were in jail in which they both expressed dislike at the effect their imprisonment was having on their lavish lifestyles. |
| Nine of the defendants were sentenced for conspiracy to supply drugs. | Nine of the defendants were sentenced for conspiracy to supply drugs. |
| Gilleeny, Jeremy and two others were also convicted of money laundering. | Gilleeny, Jeremy and two others were also convicted of money laundering. |
| Gilleeney faced a further charge of conspiracy to convert criminal property along with his wife Gail and long-time friend, Cardiff car dealer Mark Tree, 46. | Gilleeney faced a further charge of conspiracy to convert criminal property along with his wife Gail and long-time friend, Cardiff car dealer Mark Tree, 46. |
| It related to the sale of a speedboat which Tree, from Barry, Vale of Glamorgan, sold for the couple despite a court order banning them from disposing of their assets. | It related to the sale of a speedboat which Tree, from Barry, Vale of Glamorgan, sold for the couple despite a court order banning them from disposing of their assets. |
| Detective Superintendent Ken Issac from South Wales Police said; "The defendants thought they could bring poison into our communities but they were caught. | |
| "David Jeremy and Karl Gilleeney were determined and purposeful criminals. | |
| "Karl Gilleeney was in Kent providing wholesale amounts of Class A drugs while David Jeremy, based in Cardiff, was distributing them and using the money to buy more and establish his position as a seller of pure cocaine. | |
| "They had a cavalier attitude to our communities and thought they could peddle their drugs here," he added. |