Nine individuals have been handed substantial prison terms totalling more than four decades after law enforcement dismantled their criminal enterprise.

The organised network was distributing both cocaine and cannabis across multiple locations including Newport, Caldicot, Abertillery, Swansea, Merthyr Tydfil and the wider West Country region.

Gloucestershire resident Danny Tomlin headed the operation, operating his illicit business under the guise of Kitts Green Nursery, a garden centre.

Louis Maxwell from Newport served as his trusted associate, prosecutor Roger Griffiths informed Cardiff Crown Court.

Tomlin managed two cannabis cultivation facilities located in Pontllanfraith, Blackwood and Porth, Rhondda Cynon Taf, which authorities shut down during the previous summer.

Certain members of the group participated in distributing both class A and class B substances between January and June 2025.

The court heard that officers had placed surveillance equipment inside vehicles driven by Tomlin. Conversations were recorded in which he discussed the raids conducted in Pontllanfraith and Porth, along with his intentions to expand cannabis production and references to outstanding debts.

The convictions and penalties were as follows:

Louis Maxwell, aged 39, from Newport received a six-year sentence after pleading guilty to two conspiracy charges involving cocaine and cannabis supply.

Ryan Battersby, aged 36, residing at Buttermere Way, Newport was sentenced to six years having been found guilty of conspiracy to supply cocaine and conspiracy to supply cannabis.

Danny Tomlin, aged 40, from Valley Road, Wotton-under-Edge was ordered to serve ten years and ten months after admitting conspiracy to supply cocaine, conspiracy to supply cannabis and cannabis cultivation offences.

Ashley Coughlan, aged 42, of Caerleon Road, Newport was handed a term of three years and nine months following his conviction for conspiracy to supply cocaine.

Bradley Williams, aged 38, formerly of Abertillery and now at Llanrhidian Holiday Park, Swansea was sentenced to five years and nine months after admitting conspiracy to supply cannabis, offering to supply cocaine, offering to supply ketamine and possessing criminal property.

Jack Griffin, aged 21, from Westfield Way, Newport was given a six-month term for pleading guilty to conspiracy to supply cannabis. He will be freed immediately having already served sufficient time on remand.

Christopher Preston, aged 68, of Lawnside, Forest Green, Nailsworth in Gloucestershire received a five-year sentence after admitting conspiracy to supply cocaine and conspiracy to supply cannabis.

David Gorman, aged 41, from Manor Lane, Charfield in South Gloucestershire was ordered to serve four years and four months following guilty pleas to conspiracy to supply cocaine.

Kory Preece, aged 25, from Mabey Drive, Chepstow was given a fifteen-month sentence suspended for two years after being convicted of conspiracy to supply cannabis. He must also complete one hundred and eighty hours of unpaid work and fulfil a ten-day rehabilitation activity requirement.

Four of those convicted were found to have significant criminal histories.

Battersby received a twelve-year prison term in 2014 following his conviction for conspiracy to murder in Newport.

Maxwell had accumulated twenty previous convictions for sixty-four offences and served thirty-two months in custody during summer 2022 for conspiracy to supply cocaine.

Tomlin was imprisoned for eight years in 2023 for conspiracy to supply cocaine.

Williams was sentenced to six years in 2018, also for conspiracy to supply cocaine.

Preston and Gorman had prior convictions but these were deemed not relevant to the current case.

Coughlan, Griffin and Preece were described as having no previous criminal record.

The court was told in mitigation for Battersby that there existed a realistic possibility of reform. He was described as a committed father of three children.

Representing Preece, Hashim Salmman requested the court consider his client’s youth at the time of the offences.

Abigail Jackson, acting for Coughlan, stated that her client had only a minor role in the conspiracy beneath someone of higher standing.

Sentencing was imposed by Judge Carl Harrison.

A hearing regarding proceeds of crime is scheduled to take place later this year on November 6.