Danny Tomlin, 40, was the leader of the drugs enterprise, involving the sale of cocaine and cannabis in south Wales and south-west England.
19:22, 25 Mar 2026Updated 19:42, 25 Mar 2026
(Top left to right) Danny Tomlin, Christopher Preston, Ashley Coughlan. (Bottom left to right) Bradley Williams, Ryan Battersby, David Gorman.(Image: Gwent Police)
A major cocaine and cannabis drugs enterprise operated out of a garden centre. Members of an organised crime group made trips across south Wales and into England in order to make deliveries.
Danny Tomlin, 40, was the leader of the organised crime group (OCG) which was based at Kitts Green Nursery in Gloucestershire. Most of the group’s activity took place between Newport and Swansea, with frequent deliveries made on almost a daily basis during the enterprise.
A sentencing hearing at Cardiff Crown Court on Tuesday heard Tomlin was the leading member of this group who directed the supply of cannabis and cocaine and the operation of cannabis factories in Pontllanfraith, near Blackwood, and Trebanog, near Porth. Don’t miss a court report by signing up to our crime newsletter here.
Tomlin’s mother-in-law was the owner of Kitts Green Nursery where the operation was based.
Danny Tomlin, 40, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply cocaine and cannabis and conspiracy to produce cannabis. (Image: Gwent Police)
Louis Maxwell, 39, was a close associate of Tomlin, and was involved in the supply of cocaine and cannabis.
Christopher Preston, 68, played a significant part in the enterprise by carrying out frequent deliveries of drugs.
Ashley Coughlan, 42, served as the driver for Maxwell on two occasions, while Ryan Battersby, 36, was also involved in the delivery of cocaine and cannabis.
Christopher Preston, 68, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply cocaine and cannabis.(Image: Gwent Police)
Bradley Williams, 38, was involved in the distribution of drugs on behalf of the group, as was David Gorman, 41.
Kory Preece, 25, was a significant distributor of cannabis for the group, and was aware of the scale of the operation.
Jack Griffin, 21, was also involved in the conspiracy, after Preston drove to his address to collect a laundry bag containing drugs.
Detailing specific dates of the conspiracy, prosecutor Roger Griffiths said Maxwell, who was driven by Coughlan on two occasions, made trips to the nursery before making trips to Bridgewater, Swansea, Caldicot, Abertillery and Dowlais.
Ashley Coughlan, 42, was convicted of conspiracy to supply cocaine.(Image: Gwent Police)
On March 6, Maxwell was arrested on the M4 near Caldicot, and in his vehicle were two boxes containing half a kilo of cocaine each and a separate parcel containing a kilo of cannabis.
Members of the group were seen driving to Preece’s address in Caldicot where deliveries of cannabis were made.
Preston carried out a number of journeys on behalf of the group, making collections from the nursery in Gloucestershire to Dowlais to meet Griffin, to Swansea, to Abertillery, Blackwood, Newport, Caldicot.
On June 5, Bradley Williams met with Preston in Abertillery and was seen to take a laundry bag into a lane, which he placed between two bins. He was arrested towards the rear of the lane.
Bradley Williams, 38, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply cannabis.(Image: Gwent Police)
On June 18, police searched Preston’s home, where a quantity of herbal cannabis was found and notebooks showing tick lists.
Battersby made trips to the nursery to make collections and made trips to Swansea, as well as meeting up with Preston in Newport.
Gorman was seen attending the nursery and was also seen by police travelling to Newport and Swansea with Tomlin.
The defendant’s house was raided by police and 1.8kg of cocaine was recovered from his bedroom.
Ryan Battersby, 36, was convicted of conspiracy to supply cocaine and cannabis. (Image: Gwent Police)
Griffin was visited by Preston at his home in Newport, where he was seen to hand over a laundry bag to his co-conspirator.
In the middle of June onwards, police had a listening device in Tomlin’s vehicle.
They heard discussion about police raiding the cannabis factory in Pontllanfraith and gardening. He talked about the arrests of Williams and Maxwell and spoke about someone in Swansea owing him a “large bill”.
Tomlin was later heard speaking about Preston’s arrest, plans to grow more cannabis and the debts he was owed.
David Gorman, 41, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply cocaine.(Image: Gwent Police)
The cannabis factories in Pontllanfraith and Trebanog were later raided by police. They were found to contain almost 400 plants with a combined potential yield between 10kg and 31kg.
Tomlin, of Valley Road, Wotton-under-Edge, Gloucestershire, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply cocaine and cannabis and conspiracy to produce cannabis. He has a previous conviction for conspiracy to supply cocaine and received a jail sentence of eight years.
The defendant was sentenced to 10 years and 10 months imprisonment.
Maxwell, of HMP Parc, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply cocaine and cannabis. He has 20 previous convictions, including an offence of conspiracy to supply cocaine and received a jail sentence of 32 months.
Jack Griffin, 21, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply cannabis.(Image: Gwent Police)
He was sentenced to six years imprisonment.
Coughlan, of Caerleon Road, Newport, was convicted of conspiracy to supply cocaine. He has no previous convictions.
The defendant was sentenced to three years and nine months imprisonment.
Preece, of Mabey Drive, Chepstow, was convicted of conspiracy to supply cannabis. He has no previous convictions.
He was sentenced to 15 months imprisonment, suspended for two years. He was ordered to carry out 10 rehabilitation activity requirement days and 180 hours unpaid work
Battersby, of Buttermere Way, Newport, was convicted of conspiracy to supply cocaine and cannabis. He has previous convictions for conspiracy to murder, possession with intent to supply cannabis, battery, and harassment.
He was sentenced to six years imprisonment.
Preston, of Lawnside, Forest Green, Nailsworth, Gloucestershire, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply cocaine and cannabis. He has no relevant previous convictions.
He was sentenced to five years imprisonment.
Gorman, of Manor Lane, Charfield, South Gloucestershire, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply cocaine. He has one unrelated conviction.
He was sentenced to four years and four months imprisonment.
Griffin, of Westfield Way, Newport, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply cannabis. He has no previous convictions.
He was sentenced to eight months imprisonment, which result in him being released from custody.
Williams, of Higher Meadow, Llanrhidian, Swansea, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply cannabis. He has previous convictions for assault, breach of orders and conspiracy to supply cocaine, for which he received a six year jail sentence.
He was sentenced to five years and nine months imprisonment.
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