**Teen Again Caught in Swansea Drug Dealing, Faces Four-Year Sentence**
A 19-year-old has been sentenced to four years in a young offenders institution following a pattern of repeated Class A drug offences in Swansea. Ashton Banfield, already no stranger to the criminal justice system, was apprehended once more earlier this year, marking his third conviction for similar activity in just two years.
Banfield was arrested on Swansea’s busy High Street after being shadowed by plain-clothes officers who had received intelligence regarding his involvement in the city’s drug supply network. Police observed Banfield making his way towards the railway station before choosing a moment to approach and detain him. During a search, officers discovered nearly 4g of cocaine, over 6g of cannabis, a “burner” phone, and a sum of £582 in cash—clear indications of ongoing drug dealing, the court heard.
Upon being cautioned by the officer, Banfield delivered a characteristically defiant response: “I don’t give a f***.” This brazen display of indifference was cited by Judge Geraint Walters as symptomatic of Banfield’s persistent disregard for both the law and the consequences of his choices.
Analysis of Banfield’s seized mobile revealed further damning evidence. Officers identified multiple text messages directly connected to the sale and distribution of illegal substances. A bulk text, sent to numerous contacts on the day of his arrest, painted a stark picture of the extent and organisation of his activities.
The court was told Banfield, previously of Rheidol Court in Clase and more recently of Pomeroy Street in Cardiff, pleaded guilty to several charges: possession of cocaine with intent to supply, possession of criminal property, and simple possession of cannabis. These fresh offences add to a growing list of previous sentences. In February 2023, Banfield received a referral order for being concerned in the supply of cocaine and was subsequently given further youth referral orders, with escalating conditions as previous interventions failed to deter him.
In August 2024, Banfield was sentenced to 30 months’ detention after being caught with a significant quantity of crack cocaine—nearly £2,900 worth—and cash, again in Swansea. That episode, like the current case, reflected what Judge Walters described as Banfield’s “old habit”.
During mitigation, Banfield’s defence advocate, Dan Griffiths, provided insight into the young man’s troubled circumstances following his release from custody earlier this year. Upon release, Banfield was rehoused in Cardiff, living alongside individuals much older than him and, crucially, actively abusing Class A drugs. Griffiths told the court that Banfield’s appeals for a change in placement went unheeded. Lacking stable family support or legitimate means of income, Banfield broke his licence conditions by returning to Swansea, resorting to familiar but illicit means of survival.
Judge Walters, in his sentencing remarks, expressed concern about the systemic failures in Banfield’s upbringing and supervision, stating, “It seems you have grown up with no moral compass or useful life skills,” and questioned how someone nurtured in an ordinary Welsh village could end up so directionless. The judge added, “I dare say you thought you were Mr Big again,” underlining the serious consequences such behaviour wreaks upon communities, noting, “This kind of offending kills people.”
In closing, Banfield, who received a reduced sentence in light of his guilty plea, was told emphatically that future supervision structures must better address his complex needs if society is to be spared further recurrences. The judge implored that upon his eventual release, those in charge of his care and rehabilitation take a more considered approach.
The case typifies ongoing challenges faced by authorities in supporting vulnerable youths entangled in the world of drugs, and raises broader questions about the effectiveness and resilience of current intervention strategies. As Banfield begins his sentence, Swansea and communities across Wales will watch closely for lessons that might prevent another young life from becoming entwined in the cycle of addiction, crime, and custody.