Dealer who bought Banksy with cannabis cash jailed
· BBC NewsJordan Davies
BBC News
A drug dealer who bought a Banksy with "ill-gotten gains" has been sentenced to three years in prison.
Christopher Scrivens, from Ebbw Vale, Blaenau Gwent, wanted to "flood the valleys" with Californian cannabis, Newport Crown Court heard.
He was one of eight people who appeared in court on Friday for a variety of offences including conspiracy to supply drugs and money laundering.
Gwent Police seized a Banksy piece called the Grappling Hook, along with "other items of Banksy artwork and sculpture", the court heard.
Roger Griffiths, prosecuting, said Scrivens played a lead role and his phone contained "a lengthy history of his drug dealing".
The court heard Scrivens roped his friends, employees and a neighbour into his offending.
He imported £104,880 worth of cannabis and told a co-conspirator he "intended to flood the valleys with cannabis".
Mr Griffiths said Scriven used somebody else’s bank account to buy the Banksy and that, "ill-gotten gains were part of that purchase".
Scrivens pleaded guilty to cannabis importation and conspiracy to supply cannabis.
Nigel Fryer, defending Scrivens, said his client co-operated with the police and handed over another Banksy artwor called The Cross.
Judge Vanessa Francis said he invested in "expensive art" in an effort to distance himself from his crimes.
Police also searched the home of Scrivens' partner Rebecca Mills, also from Ebbw Vale, and recovered a Banksy mosaic.
The court heard she allowed £22,000 to pass through her account. Her sentencing was adjourned to a later date.
Srivens' business partner Kyle Webber, from Ebbw Vale, supplied cannabis to street users and grew his own.
He was convicted of conspiracy to supply cannabis and producing a controlled drug and given a two-year community order with rehabilitation work and unpaid work.
Daniel Jones, 39, from Ebbw Vale - a chef at Scrivens’ business - was convicted of conspiracy to supply cannabis and given a 12-month community order with 15 days rehabilitation activity and 40 hours of unpaid work.
Cory Roe, 39, from Ebbw Vale, acted as a cannabis plant "babysitter" and was convicted of conspiracy to supply cannabis.
He was sentenced to a 12-month community order with 20 days of rehabilitation activity and 80 hours of unpaid work.
Scott Hodkinson, who had a "close connection" to Scrivens, was convicted of conspiracy to supply cannabis and possessing criminal property, which was holding cash on behalf of Scrivens.
He also received an 18-month community order with 20 days of rehabilitation activity and 150 hours of unpaid work.
Scrivens' neighbour Becky Williams, who was asked to remove £23,000 from a bag for him, was heard to have played a lesser roll and was acting under the direction of Scrivens.
She was sentenced to an 18-month community order with eight days of rehabilitation activity and 40 hours of unpaid work.