### Cannabis Dealer Caught Twice Following Police Raids in Bridgend
A Bridgend resident has been handed a suspended prison sentence after officers seized more than £10,000 worth of cannabis from his property, followed by the discovery of further controlled substances just months later. The case, heard at Newport Crown Court, drew sharp criticism from the presiding judge, who labelled the defendant’s repeated actions as “absolute idiocy.”
Liam Donnelly, aged 47, first came to the attention of South Wales Police during a search operation at his home in Tremgarth, Wildmill on 15 October 2023. The search yielded a substantial haul, including 1,073 grams of cannabis with an estimated street value of £10,730, as well as a range of tablets hidden in various containers. Among the pills identified were 189 tablets of bromazolam and five tablets of oxandrolone, with a combined potential value reaching up to £120.
According to evidence presented in court, investigators also recovered a handwritten notebook implicating Donnelly further in drug supply activities. The notebook, described as a “tick list,” contained names and notes indicating he was owed over £2,000, which prosecutors argued was clear evidence of an active supply operation. His mobile phone revealed further incriminating messages directly referencing the distribution of cannabis.
After his initial arrest, Donnelly was granted bail while awaiting further proceedings. However, police later executed a second raid at his property on 24 January 2024, resulting in another cannabis find — this time 178 grams, valued at £1,775. Officers also seized a small quantity of cocaine, several vials of cannabis oil, drug paraphernalia, £549 in cash and a second mobile phone again suggestive of ongoing dealing.
Donnelly pleaded guilty at Newport Crown Court to two counts of possession with intent to supply class B substances, one count of possession with intent to supply a class C drug, supplying a class B drug, and additional charges of possession relating to class A and B substances. The court noted his extensive prior record, including a drugs supply conviction in 1998 and a 2004 drugs possession offence, as well as a conviction for malicious communications in 2019.
Defence counsel, Christopher Evans, stated that Donnelly’s offences were motivated by a need to sustain his own long-standing addiction to cannabis and alcohol, describing the supply operation as “social.” Mr Evans highlighted difficult personal circumstances, including family trauma resultant from a serious car accident, and relayed Donnelly’s apparent desire to break free from substance abuse. “If I didn’t stop using alcohol I would be dead,” Donnelly reportedly told his barrister.
When passing sentence, Judge Eugene Egan did not conceal his frustration, branding Donnelly an “absolute idiot” for persisting with drug-related activities even after police had carried out the first raid and he had been released on bail. The judge nonetheless opted for a suspended custodial sentence, taking into account Donnelly’s mitigation arguments and expressions of remorse.
Donnelly received a 14-month prison sentence, suspended for 21 months. Additionally, he has been ordered to undertake 20 days of rehabilitation activity and will observe a curfew from 7pm to 6am for six months as part of his sentence conditions.
Cases like Donnelly’s continue to highlight the persistent issue of drug supply in Welsh communities, and the repeated intervention of law enforcement in curbing such activity. The court’s decision to suspend the custodial sentence, imposing stringent rehabilitation and curfew conditions instead, reflects a growing judicial emphasis on addressing the roots of offending, particularly addiction mental health and personal trauma.
For those in similar circumstances, the outcome also serves as a warning: recidivism and disregard for bail conditions are rarely treated lightly by the courts, even where mitigating circumstances exist. As South Wales Police continue efforts to root out local supply networks, the balance between punishment and rehabilitation remains at the centre of discussions on drug-related sentencing and crime prevention strategies in the region.