HERE are the names and faces of 15 men who have been sent into custody so far in 2020 for a range of offences, from drug dealing to dangerous driving and assaulting police officers to arson.
We look at their crimes and punishment.
Justin Nichols
Justin Nichols was caught with cash and cannabis in his backpack riding a motorbike the wrong way down the M4.
At Cardiff Crown Court, Judge Nicola Jones jailed for him for 28 months and disqualified him from driving for 18 months from the time of his release.
Nichols, 24, from Llanthewy Road in Newport, admitted two counts of aggravated vehicle taking, two of riding without a licence or insurance, and two of failing to stop.
He also admitted possessing cannabis with intent to supply.
Dewi Davey
Arsonist Dewi Davey set fire to his flat in a communal block because he felt sorry for himself after his pregnant girlfriend left him.
The defendant, aged 40, now of Garden Street, Llanbradach, admitted arson reckless as to whether life was endangered at Gwaun Newydd in Caerphilly.
The fire caused more than £10,000 worth of damage.
At Cardiff Crown Court, Davey was jailed for 10 months.
David Hewings
Burglar David Hewings was jailed for six years after he admitted carrying out two break-ins in the Rogerstone area of Newport.
The 37-year-old, of Dickens Avenue, Llanrumney, Cardiff also pleaded guilty to three counts of fraud.
After Hewings was sentenced at Cardiff Crown Court, Detective Constable Ceri Parker, the officer in the case, said: “We welcome the sentences handed out and hope that the victims who experienced a traumatic event in finding Hewings in their home address can now move forward with their lives knowing that justice has been served.”
Kestutis Butkus
Cannabis farmer Kestutis Butkus, who orchestrated a “professional” drugs operation in Newport, was caught after he was stopped by police using false number plates on a car.
The 35-year-old Lithuanian pleaded guilty to producing cannabis, abstracting electricity, fraud, driving without insurance and driving otherwise than in accordance with a licence.
Butkus was jailed for two years and eight months.
James Smith
Convicted drug dealer James Smith was banned from driving when he was caught at the wheel of a BMW as he was travelling through Newport.
Smith, of Thornbury Park, Rogerstone, Newport, had recently been released from jail after serving three years for conspiracy to supply heroin and crack cocaine.
He is now serving an eight-month jail sentence.
Mark Hillman
He would kick and slap his then partner and once tried to strangle her, Newport Crown Court heard.
Hillman, who was sporting a Mohican haircut, wept as he was led away to the cells.
Daniel Cross
Dangerous driver Daniel Cross risked the lives of pubgoers and pursuing police officers during a high-speed chase.
The pursuit only came to an end when he crashed into a hedge.
Cross was jailed for 14 months at Newport Crown Court.
Paul Jones
Mark White
The pair masterminded a “sophisticated and large-scale conspiracy” to supply the drug.
Jones, aged 38, of Tegfan, Trecenydd, Caerphilly, and White, aged 34, of Shingrig Road, Nelson, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to produce cannabis and conspiracy to supply cannabis.
They were each jailed for three years at Newport Crown Court.
Lewis Hanbury
Crack cocaine dealer Lewis Hanbury caught selling drugs from a scooter in Newport told police he was trafficking to help pay off a debt to an Albanian who threatened him.
The defendant, of Moorland Park, Newport, pleaded guilty to the possession of crack cocaine with intent to supply in the city.
He also admitted resisting arrest.
Hanbury was sent to a young offender institution for 28 months for the drugs offence and a consecutive 14-day term for resisting arrest.
Teejay Birkett
A dangerous driver with an “horrendous” record behind the wheel caused a power cut after he knocked over a telegraph pole following a high-speed police chase.
Scrap merchant Teejay Birkett was forced to climb out of his 4x4 through its roof after it crashed and landed on its side just before midnight on New Year’s Eve.
The defendant was jailed for a total of 14 months and banned from driving for two years and seven months.
Gareth Blanks
Gareth Blanks, aged 30, of Capel Newydd, Blaenavon, was jailed for 10 months after he admitted two counts of assaulting police officers, breaching the terms of a restraining order, public disorder, criminal damage and failing to comply with the requirements of a community order.
He must also pay £450 compensation, a £122 surcharge and £85 costs.
Nathan Baker
Nathan Baker, aged 38, of Bailey Street, Brynmawr, was sent to prison for nearly three years after he admitted causing grievous bodily harm and criminal damage.
Mahamadou Drammeh
Creeper burglar Mahamadou Drammeh terrified an elderly couple as he raided their Newport home in the evening while they were sat in their living room.
The homeless Spanish national was high on cannabis when he wandered into their house by opening the front door before he locked it behind him.
The 22-year-old defendant pleaded guilty to burglary and was jailed for 10 months.
Craig Clarke
A woman beater who breached a restraining order on the day he was handed a community sentence for attacking two women and placed on an electronically tagged curfew was jailed.
Craig Clarke, 38, of Medway Court, Bettws, Newport, defied the law and harassed one of victims just after leaving the city’s magistrates.
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