South Wales Police HQ (Image: Rhys Moores)
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A police officer who attempted to have Class A drugs shipped to his home from the Netherlands has been barred from the profession after a gross misconduct hearing found his actions “reprehensible.”
Ryan Llewellyn, 41, of Rock Street, Glynneath, had served with South Wales Police since 2008 and spent the latter part of his career working in the force’s dog section. He resigned shortly before the misconduct proceedings took place – but Chief Constable Jeremy Vaughan confirmed he would have been dismissed had he not already left.
The interception
In February 2024, Llewellyn placed an online order for psilocybin – commonly known as magic mushrooms – from a Dutch supplier. The package was stopped by a customs officer upon arrival in the UK and found to contain 24.2g of the Class A substance in the form of 18 capsules.
When South Wales Police was alerted, an officer recognised Llewellyn’s name as that of a serving colleague. A sergeant then delivered a dummy parcel to the defendant’s address in Neath Port Talbot, posing as a delivery driver. Llewellyn was arrested after accepting the package.
Phone evidence
Llewellyn maintained he believed he had been purchasing mushroom truffles rather than a controlled substance. However, analysis of his phone revealed he had previously searched online for whether importing magic mushrooms to the UK was illegal.
He denied being concerned in the importation of psilocybin but was found guilty at Newport Crown Court.
Sentencing
Judge Celia Hughes accepted that Llewellyn had been suffering from severe mental health difficulties and had considered microdosing hallucinogens as a way of managing his symptoms.
However, she told him: “You of all people should have known or been wise enough to realise, when the opportunity presented itself, microdosing hallucinogenic drugs is illegal and would have disastrous effects on your life.”
He was sentenced to a 12-month community order with 100 hours of unpaid work.
Defence arguments
His barrister Susan Ferrier told the court that Llewellyn had previously been of clean character and had undergone therapy for significant mental health issues. She said the defendant had lived a “blameless life” and worked hard in the police force. He had never taken drugs and he drank very little alcohol, she told the court.
Misconduct outcome
In his resignation letter, Llewellyn wrote that he wished to “state, for the record, that he maintains his innocence in this matter.”
Chief Constable Vaughan described the former officer’s conduct as premeditated and made clear there was no prospect of leniency.
He said: “Former PC Llewellyn’s behaviour is reprehensible and totally unacceptable. His behaviour continued after he realised, or should have realised, that it was improper.
“Former PC Llewellyn has not put forward any personal mitigation. He has not even apologised for his actions and there is a complete lack of remorse.
“Class A drugs form part of a criminal industry that preys on vulnerable people and provokes the most serious form of violence. Organised criminals need customers to operate effectively.
“You could not be a user of a Class A drug and disassociate yourself with the terrible levels of harm and violence that surround organised criminality.
“Former PC Llewellyn knew or ought to have known this. This seriously aggravates his misconduct. He has lined the pockets of those who torment our communities.”
The court heard Llewellyn has recently been working as a self-employed dog trainer.
