Grandmother among 14 people jailed in Bridgend Parc Prison drugs investigation

A grandmother is among 14 people who have been arrested from Llanelli to the West Midlands as part of a two-year investigation.

The investigation began with the routine search of a woman while she was visiting her son at Bridgend’s Parc Prison.

On 24th December, 2015, prison officers discovered Susan Hynes was trying to pass Subutex tablets to her son Nathan Hynes during a prison visit.

South Wales Police arrested the 56 year-old woman from Merthyr Tydfil.

Police have since seized drugs, cash, sports cars and expensive watches.

Police discovered Hynes was texting a number of other people including Craig Hynes – her son, Emma Whatmore, and Jodie Powell, about supplying drugs.

From looking into bank statements and phones, officers discovered Debbie Cullen and Carly Stead, from Swansea, and Nicholas Bradbeer and Jamie Fewtrell, both from Merthyr Tydfil - were all receiving payments from inmates at Parc Prison.

They have now all been arrested.

Police discovered links to Tara Gaskin in Birmingham.

Officers uncovered credits worth more than £100,000 over four years being made into three bank accounts held by her.

Her son, John Blakeney, and his partner Christina Sperin were also involved.

Following the arrest of Blakeney, a search found 242 grams cocaine with a street value of £32,000, digital scales, and a drugs ‘tick list’.

Despite being unemployed, Sperin owned expensive watches and a BMW X6 sports car.

This was seized by officers under the Proceeds of Crime Act.

Gluyas was serving a prison sentence in Parc Prison for conspiracy to supply drugs.

Police said he orchestrated drugs deals into and out of prison, making large amounts of money from drugs including Spice and Subutex.

Following a search of his cell a drugs ‘tick list’ was found which revealed he was involved in the supply of steroids, Subutex and mobile phones into prison.

Additionally, Swansea man Christian Nicholas was convicted in February, 2016, of throwing a bottle containing Spice into the grounds of Parc Prison.