MEMBERS of a Pontypool and Cwmbran cocaine gang led by a cage fighter were sentenced today with some jailed for over ten years.

Gang leader, Ashley Beaumont, 25, of Hillside Drive in Pontypool, got his school friends as well as his girlfriend involved in the gang, Cardiff Crown Court heard.

Dean McCann, 24, of The Turnstiles, Newport; Nathan White, 30, of Oaklands Road, Pontypool; Christopher Evans, 31, of Park Close, Henllys; Adam Barker, 24, of The Woods, Pontypool; Thomas Filer, 23, of Station Street, Abersychan; Darren Pinkey, 31, of Bagley Court, Thornhill; Marcus Purchase, 25, of Viaduct Court, Pontypool; Ben Rogers, 22, of Turnpath Road, Pontypool and Chelsea Barnes, 22, of Hillside Drive, Cwmfields, were also sentenced.

They received the following sentences:

• Beaumont was sentenced to 10 years and eight months imprisonment.

• Purchase was sentenced to seven years and four months imprisonment.

• Filer sentenced to five years and four months imprisonment.

• Barker was sentenced to five years and five months imprisonment.

• McCann was sentenced to 10 years imprisonment.

• Evans was sentenced to seven years and six months imprisonment.

• White was sentenced to 21 months imprisonment suspended for two years and ordered to carry out 240 hours of unpaid work in the community.

• Barnes was given a suspended sentence of 12 months, suspended for 18 months.

• Rogers was given a community order for 12 months and a default of 28 days.

• Pinkey was fined £750 and given a 28 days default.

• White was also ordered to pay £520 costs; Pinkey and Rogers ordered to pay £145 in costs.

• The remaining defendants were ordered to pay £85 in costs.

During sentencing Judge Neil Bidder called class A drugs “evil drugs” and said they were the root of many crimes in the UK.

On Monday the court heard how Beaumont slept with a stun gun under his bed, "in case he had any unwelcome visitors," his barrister David Elias said, claiming it was defensive and there was no evidence it had been used.

Ieuan Bennett, prosecuting, said many of the defendants had become involved to pay off their own drug debts.

Dean McCann was said to owe around £16,000.

The court heard Chelsea Barnes enjoyed "lavish" overseas holidays with her boyfriend Ashley Beaumont totalling £14,777 but travel agents became suspicious because they tried to pay for trips using cash.

The 22-year-old has an 11-month old baby with Ashley Beaumont but he had missed the birth because he was remanded in custody, the court heard.

All the ten defendants except Barnes, White, Pinkey and Rodgers will be sentenced for conspiracy to supply cocaine.

Nathan White admitted supplying cannabis, Barnes admitted converting criminal property and Rodgers and Pinkey admitted possession of cocaine.

In addition, Beaumont admitted possessing a prohibited weapon, McCann admitted possession of 294g mephedrone and burglary and Evans admitted fraud.

The offences took place between February 2009 and October 2013.

Mr Bennett said documents found at Beaumont and Barnes' address indicated the business could have had a possible monthly turnover of around £84,330 with at least 50 regular buyers in the area.

Detective Inspector Alun Davies of Gwent Police welcomed the sentences, saying: "This was a long and protracted enquiry into the large scale conspiracy to supply Class A drugs in the Torfaen area over a four-and-a-half-year period.

"The damage that drugs and the subsequent crime that people commit to pay for drugs could have caused to the communities of Gwent should not be underestimated. By getting these individuals off the streets, whole communities have been saved from that suffering.

"I would like the sentences given today to be a warning to others who are also engaging in this type of criminal activity that Gwent Police is determined in its pursuit of getting drugs off the streets and ensuring that those involved are put before the courts to face the consequences. We would encourage any residents who have concerns about drugs in their neighbourhoods to call 101.”