A cocaine gang “matriarch” was arrested after 14 months on the run carrying an NHS lanyard of a supposed “consultant lead neurologist”, scrubs and stethoscope.
Lynne Leyson, 53, maintained a respectable front as a normal rural mother on a farm in quiet Capel Dewi, Carmarthenshire, but was in fact a senior figure in a crime gang supplying cocaine and cannabis to dealers.
She skipped bail last year before she could be jailed for nine years at Swansea crown court and was believed to be using a string of aliases. Her mugshot was issued to all UK police forces along with a false name she may be using.
Dyfed Powys police arrested her last month after she was spotted back at Pibwr Farm, the family home where she had based her crime ring. On Tuesday a court heard that she had changed her name by deed poll while she went on the run.
During her arrest police discovered an NHS lanyard bearing the identity of a supposed “consultant lead neurologist” called Lynne Bailey.
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Ieuan Rees, for the prosecution, said: “In addition several stethoscopes, scrubs and a booklet with details of potential patients [were also found]. This has been provided to the NHS for an internal investigation.
“The items located in the possession of Leyson are highly concerning. Inquiries have been conducted with the health board who confirm that Lynne Bailey is not a registered member of staff with the NHS.”
• On the run, drugs matriarch who ran operation from farm in idyllic Welsh village
Leyson’s purpose for possessing the medical uniform and equipment are unknown but she told police that it was for a “fancy dress party”. The judge said that she had no evidence to dispute that.
Hywel Davies, for the defence, said that the NHS outfit had not been used to defraud health chiefs.
He said that Leyson had stayed away from the farm for 14 months but returned “to effectively say goodbye to her family and to hand herself in”.
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The court heard “extensive efforts” were made to trace Leyson who had been “at large and actively evading police and authorities for 429 days”.
Rees told the court: “There was evidence that in that period she had changed her name by deed poll to Anwen Caldicott and extensive enquiries were carried out throughout the country.”
Rees said that addresses linked to “known associates” of Leyson were searched as well as international searches carried out in Spain and Ireland.
She was eventually arrested at her farm after police became aware she was planning to return.
Leyson, who appeared via video link from Eastwood Park Prison in Gloucestershire, admitted breaching her bail conditions.
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Judge Catherine Richards jailed Leyson for a further two months which will be added on to her existing nine-year term.
Her husband Stephen Leyson and son Samson were jailed for 11 years and six years respectively in July 2023 after the farm was raided by police.
A judge said that the mother was a “dominant force” who played a “leading role” in the drug enterprise. When police raided the farm on October 27, 2021, they recovered more than £60,000 of cocaine, £15,615 of cannabis, a 9mm semi-automatic handgun and cash that was claimed to be from a “house sale”.
Swansea crown court was told that Stephen and Lynne Leyson made £77,967 from their criminal lifestyle, while Samson’s involvement resulted in a sum of £69,795, with investigators identifying assets including a Tag Heuer Formula 1 watch worth £9,550.
Lynne Leyson was convicted by a jury of conspiracy to supply cocaine, conspiracy to supply cannabis and possessing criminal property.
