Treharris man jailed for multiple driving and drugs offences

James Gapper aged 35 from Treharris was jailed following a pursuit in May 2025.

He first appeared at Merthyr Magistrates court on Tuesday May 27, 2025 where he pleaded guilty to possession with intent to supply cocaine, possession with intent to supply class B drugs, possession of an offensive weapon in a public place, possession of a knife blade in a public place, driving dangerously, failure to provide a specimen, driving whilst disqualified, driving without insurance and production of a controlled drug- cannabis.

This follows on from joint working by the roads policing unit and organised crime unit which resulted in a pursuit which took place in early hours of Monday May 26, 2025.

Road’s policing officers on the A470 followed the Volkswagen Golf, for a short while before asking Gapper to stop, he refused and continued to drive at speed avoiding officers and having several near misses, during the pursuit Gapper was throwing drugs out the car window.

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He was arrested and found to be in possession of cocaine, knuckle dusters and a large, bladed article. Following a search of his property a small cannabis grow was found in the attic, officers also found cannabis buds and zip loc bags with white powder in them.

Gapper was sentenced at Cardiff Crown Court on Monday July 1, 2025, to four years and six months in prison and disqualified from driving for a further two years.

Sergeant Jones said “James Gapper is a dangerous individual who has shown no regard for the safety of those around him, a car in the wrong hands can be a lethal weapon.

There is no place for dangerous driving or drugs in our community and I’m pleased to see this sentence handed down”