A police operation carried out in Milford Haven last year, led to three defendants from Pembrokeshire appearing in court this week charged with drugs possession.

Thirty-one-year-old Ian Richard Hopkins, of Hawthorn Rise, Haverfordwest, 26-year-old Luc Grice, of College Park, Neyland, and 35-year-old Matthew Scourfield, of Laburrnam Grove, all appeared at Haverfordwest magistrates court, on Tuesday, for separate hearings.

Prosecutor Abdul Hussain told magistrates that Mr. Hopkins was arrested on November 6, 2015, after police officers were carrying out observations on a property in Milford Haven, connected with a number of drugs matters.

“Police noted Mr. Hopkins’s vehicle registration at the address and after it had driven away, it was passed onto other officers who stopped the defendant between Steynton and Johnston.

“Mr. Hopkins’s eyes were glazed and his pupils were dilated when officers spoke to him. A black plastic wrapping was recovered from the vehicle containing 480 milligrams of cocaine.

“After being arrested, when interviewed at the police station, Mr. Hopkins told officers that he thought that one of his mates had left the drugs in his car, but that he was taking responsibility for it,” continued Mr. Hussain.

In the case of Mr. Grice, Mr. Hussain told magistrates that police stopped his vehicle on the same date, after it too had been observed leaving the premises in Milford Haven which was under observation.

“Mr. Grice’s partner was also in the vehicle when it was stopped. Nothing was found inside, but an area search was carried out by officers and a black wrap containing 1.22 grams of cocaine was found which had been thrown out of the car,” he said.

Mr. Hussain told magistrates how the case of Mr. Scourfield’s arrest on October 30, 2015, was under similar circumstances to the the previous two defendants.

“Mr. Scourfield was stopped in his vehicle after being monitored and police officers recovered a black plastic bag from the glove compartment containing 498 milligrams of cocaine,” he added.

Magistrates fined Mr. Hopkins £300 for the offence, and ordered him to pay costs of £85 and a £30 victim surcharge.

Mr. Grice was ordered to pay fines and costs totalling £343.50; whilst Mr. Scourfield was ordered to pay a total of £290 in fines and costs.