On 2 June 2026, police officers on patrol in the Adamsdown area of Cardiff stopped and searched homeless man Darren Davis after seeing a group of known drug users following him, and found six bags of synthetic cannabinoid ‘spice’ worth up to £750 and £1,587 in cash.[1] A search of Davis’ room at the Wallich hostel where he was living found a further 24 bags of spice, ‘loose spice’, almost £3,000 in cash, weighing scales, phones and 22g of cannabis.[1]
On 2 July 2026, officers executed a warrant at a Pink Storage facility and found in Unit 11 another £10,000 worth of spice and £400 in cash.[1] The investigation also led officers to the home of Davis’ partner Catherine Evans in Splott, where they found 50g of spice, about £4,420 in cash in a safe, a Nokia burner phone and an electric bike.[1]
Darren Davis, 39, of no fixed abode, pleaded guilty to two counts of possession of spice with intent to supply, possession of cannabis with intent to supply and possession of criminal property (cash).[1] Catherine Evans, 36, of Aberystwyth Street, Splott, pleaded guilty to possession of spice with intent to supply, being concerned in the supply of spice and possession of criminal property (cash); she has no previous convictions.[1]
With a one-third discount for his guilty pleas, Davis was sentenced to 16 months in prison, to serve one-third in custody before release on licence to serve the remainder in the community.[1] With a one-quarter discount for her pleas, Evans was sentenced to six months in prison suspended for 18 months, and was ordered to complete a rehabilitation course and a mental health treatment requirement.[1] Recorder Greg Bull KC said it was clear Davis had been operating as a street dealer in the Adamsdown area and was satisfied that Evans would not have become involved in the enterprise were it not for her partner.[1]
