A Cardiff man has narrowly avoided jail after a dramatic arrest in the reception of a boutique city centre hotel, where he was caught dealing Class A drugs. The incident, which unfolded at the upmarket Hotel Indigo, saw plain-clothes officers apprehend Connor Griffiths in December 2022 following a tip-off about illegal activity on the premises.
According to evidence heard at Newport Crown Court, police suspected Griffiths, then 21, was using the hotel as a base for distributing cocaine and crack cocaine. On the day of his arrest, officers discreetly entered the hotel and moved to detain him as he entered the lobby. Griffiths responded violently, resisting arrest and making an attempt to flee the scene, but officers managed to subdue and handcuff him on the spot.
Subsequent investigation led police to room 501—leased in Griffiths’ name—where they uncovered a stash of illegal drugs. Analysis of his mobile phone, seized during the arrest, revealed evidence of drug dealing and communication with an individual identified only as “Roger”, raising questions about larger networks at play within the city’s underground narcotics scene.
Initially, Griffiths denied any involvement, telling officers that he was simply on his way to a party in the hotel. However, as legal proceedings progressed, he eventually admitted his role in the supply of both crack cocaine and cocaine during the days leading up to his arrest. It emerged during the hearing that Griffiths had long struggled with addiction and was himself a “heavy user,” which had led him into the world of drug distribution.
His barrister, Emma Harris, told the court that Griffiths’ dependency on drugs stemmed from adolescence and was part of a broader pattern of personal challenges. Notably, she explained that Griffiths had since taken significant steps to transform his life. The court heard that he was free of drugs, employed in stable work, and dedicated to being a better father to his two young children, aged six and one.
The delay in bringing charges—spanning some eighteen months—was highlighted by the defence as a period during which Griffiths made efforts to stabilise his circumstances and rehabilitate his life. Ms Harris emphasised to Recorder Andrew Hammond that Griffiths had endured a difficult upbringing, including time in care and previous prison sentences, but now enjoyed the support of his family and employer.
Recorder Hammond issued Griffiths a stern warning as he handed down a custodial sentence of 21 months, suspended for two years. “This is your last chance,” the judge cautioned, urging Griffiths not to repeat mistakes of his past or those of his own father—who also had a conviction for drug offences. The court outlined a strict set of requirements attached to the suspended sentence: Griffiths must complete 26 hours of an accredited rehabilitation programme, participate in 15 days of rehabilitation activities, and undertake 120 days of unpaid work.
Additionally, Griffiths was ordered to pay £500 towards prosecution costs and a victim surcharge of £187. His mobile phone, a key piece of evidence in the case, will be permanently confiscated and destroyed.
In closing, Recorder Hammond addressed Griffiths directly, acknowledging his efforts to change while issuing a final warning that any breach of the court’s orders or further criminal behaviour within the next two years would see him brought back before the court and sent to prison. The case serves as both a cautionary tale and a potential story of redemption, depending on whether Griffiths can hold firm to the commitments he made before the court.
The incident also highlights persistent challenges faced by police and the justice system in tackling the ongoing problem of drug crime in Cardiff and beyond, while balancing opportunities for rehabilitation where offenders show genuine progress.