THE final member of a drugs gang which flooded Powys with hundreds of thousands of pounds worth of heroin, cocaine and cannabis has been jailed for five years.

Kane Glyn Bastable, 24, was a courier who regularly transported drugs and cash to from the Wolverhampton area between Welshpool. Mold Crown Court heard today (May 9) that he was charged with doing so on 24 occasions between August 2020 and June 2021.

The county lines drug operation involved drugs being brought from Wolverhampton in large quantities to a Mid Wales drugs gang based in Leighton Arches, Welshpool, for distribution into various parts of Powys, including Newtown, Knighton and other towns over a number of months.

During the execution of a warrant at the Leighton Arches travellers’ site on June 21, 2021, a major Dyfed Powys Police operation involving 80 officers uncovered drugs with a street value in the region of £25,721, as well as £45,000 of cash and assets.

Prosecutor Ryan Rothwell said Bastable, of Clarence Road, Wolverhampton, was arrested on February 27, 2021, while on a run to Welshpool. A large amount of cocaine was found in the car he was driving, as well as £1,450 cash. A further £2,400 in cash was recovered from his bedroom at his home.

“The defendant is the last of the 13 to be sentenced,” said Mr Rothwell.

“He played a significant role; he was one of three West Midlands couriers and the prosecution says the significance of his role falls somewhere between that of co-conspirators Kuldeep Sohota and Joshua Large.”

Large, 23, was jailed for four years and 10 months at an earlier sentencing hearing while 35-year-old Kuldeep Sahota, described as the “most prolific” of the couriers, was jailed for five years and four months. Gavin Andrew Tony Warley, 29, who was said to have overseen the operation, was jailed for eight years and three months.

Referring to Bastable, Mr Rothwell added: “He made 24 runs between the West Midlands and Leighton Arches, he contacted Joshua Large on six occasions asking if he wanted to go on a run to Welshpool. He initiated six of Joshua Large’s solo journeys.

“When he was arrested he was accompanied by Joshua Large who was in the passenger seat. A large amount of cocaine was recovered from the vehicle, 50 grams.”

Mr Rothwell said Bastable was of previous good character.

Paul Spreadborough, representing Bastable, said his client was a young man led into the criminal lifestyle by his addiction to cocaine and described him as someone who “deserves the mercy of the court”.

“He has always accepted he was involved in running drugs, he has not tried to mislead this court,” said Mr Spreadborough.

“He is a man of positive good character. There are six letters sent in from family and friends supportive of him, which show the defendant is a caring, helpful and supportive young man who goes out of his way to assist those around him.

“His offending was precipitated from his own drug use, his criminal relationship with Mr Warley exists due to his own drug use and his criminal offending exists solely because of his drug use.

“He is 25 on June 6, he will mark his 25th birthday in jail. He is a young man who has never previously been near the criminal justice system before this.

“There was some instability in his youth, his mother and father split up and there were some disturbing scenes and circumstances that he witnessed. He was in a long relationship from 13-19, and it was on the breakdown of that relationship that he started to use drugs more heavily.

“He is not a recidivist criminal, he is never likely to trouble the court system again. He is a young man who deserves the mercy of the court.

“He is a young man with a bright future as soon as he can put this lapse behind him.”

Judge Niclas Parry told Bastable: “You played a significant role in this conspiracy.

“The distribution of the commodity relies on the involvement of people such as you. That involvement was prolific. You crossed county lines from the Midlands to Mid Wales.

“Your involvement went further, you were of assistance to those above you and arranged for a substitute to step in when you were unable to carry out the vital work.

“There is exceptional mitigation in your case, underlined by six letters of references from family and friends who speak so highly of you. You are very fortunate to have them and it shows you do have another side to your character.”