A NEWPORT man was jailed yesterday, after admitting conspiring to supply amphetamine.

Christopher O’Flaherty, 21, of Mount Bax, appeared in Newport Crown Court for sentencing with his partner, Victoria Phelps, 31, of Mount Bax, niece Sinead Winstone, 21, of Ruperra Street, and Spencer Killoran, 17, of Elgar Circle.

O’Flaherty previously pleaded guilty to conspiring to supply amphetamine between July 2009 and July 2010, converting criminal property and possessing amphetamine with intent to supply.

Phelps pleaded guilty to converting and concealing criminal property.

Winstone pleaded guilty to possessing amphetamine with intent to supply and concealing criminal property and Killoran pleaded guilty to wilfully obstructing a police officer.

Prosecutor Christian Jowett said police found a van in Schooner Way, Duffryn, on June 11, 2010, containing mixed amphetamine, believed to be worth between £16,000 and £60,000. O’Flaherty’s fingerprints were recovered from the makeshift drug factory.

O’Flaherty’s home was searched, and £21,000 and a phone containing drug-related texts was recovered. A police dog later recovered a holdall nearby, which contained amphetamines, and a further quantity of the drug.

Mr Jowett said on May 23, police forced entry to Winstone’s flat where they found a variety of quantities of am-phetamine, Edward Burgess, representing O’Flaherty, said: “His role was significant, but there was a degreeof involvementthatwent far beyond the defendant.”

Phelps’ counsel, Harry Baker said she was in a “difficult situation”.

Representing Winstone, James Tucker said she suspected her flat was being used for drug-related offences, but had no control over the supply.

Gareth Williams, Killoran’s counsel, said he was not involved in drugs and was only 17.

Calling O’Flaherty the “lynchpin”, Judge Rhys Rowlands jailed him for four years.

Phelpswas given eight months suspended for two years and Winstone was given six months suspended for two years.

Both were given two-year supervision orders and ordered to do 200 hours unpaid work.

Killoran was given a two-year youth rehabilitation order.