He was a ‘removal man’ but it wasn’t furniture that police found in his van

The van was intercepted by police as it was heading back to London

14:56, 20 Jun 2026

Paulo Dias was sentenced to 18 weeks in prison for being concerned in the supply of cannabis(Image: South Wales Police)

Three people travelled from London to Wales to carry out a "removal job" on a cannabis farm, a court has heard. The van full of harvested cannabis was intercepted on the eastbound motorway heading for the border after eagle-eyed locals had made a note of its number plate.

Swansea Crown Court[1] heard the occupants abandoned the van near a park and took to their heels but were chased and caught by police, with one found "jogging across a car park sweating profusely and covered in mud".

Mari Watkins, prosecuting, told the court that on September 4, 2024, police in Swansea[2] received calls from members of the public reporting suspicious activity at vape shop in Gowerton[3] involving people loading items into the back of a van.

She said when police arrived at the scene the van had gone, but witnesses were able to give officers a partial registration number. A search of the shop premises found evidence it had been used to grow cannabis though there were no plants present.

The court heard that some 90 minutes later the van was located near junction 30 of the eastbound M4 and was followed by police as it left the motorway at junction 28 and sped off along the A48 Southern Distributor Road. For the latest court stories sign up to our crime newsletter[4]

The prosecutor said the van was abandoned at Tredegar[5] Park and the three occupants - Paulo Dias, Bobby Batchelor, and a youth who cannot be named due to his age - ran away.

Batchelor and the youth were quickly caught, and Dias was found shortly afterwards "jogging across a car park sweating profusely and covered in mud".

The court heard that the van was searched and officers found 150 cannabis plants worth up to GBP90,000 along with the keys to the Gowerton shop.

An examination of Batchelor's phone revealed messages indicative of involvement in drug supply.

Paulo Dias, 26, of The Alders, Aldrington Road, Streatham, London, and 25-year-old Bobby Batchelor, of Magnolia Place, Lambeth, London, had both previously pleaded guilty to being concerned in the supply of cannabis when they appeared in the dock for sentencing.

Dias' plea was entered on the basis that he was a cannabis user living in London and a friend told him of "removal work" in Gowerton, and that he had helped to load cannabis plants into the van.

Dias has four previous convictions for 10 offences including the simple possession of cannabis; Batchelor has six previous convictions for 12 offences including dangerous driving, and possession of heroin and crack cocaine with intent to supply.

Recorder Greg Bull KC said it was clear Batchelor was involved in street dealing cannabis while Dias was a "removal man".

With a 10 per cent discount for his guilty plea - which was entered on the first day of trial - Dias was sentenced to 18 weeks in prison.

With a one-third discount for his guilt plea Batchelor was sentenced to nine months in prison suspended for two years and was ordered to complete 150 hours of unpaid work in the community and to undertake a rehabilitation course.

The court heard the youth has previously been dealt with at youth court.

References

1. ^ Swansea Crown Court (www.walesonline.co.uk)
2. ^ Swansea (www.walesonline.co.uk)
3. ^ Gowerton (www.walesonline.co.uk)
4. ^ For the latest court stories sign up to our crime newsletter (www.walesonline.co.uk)
5. ^ Tredegar (www.walesonline.co.uk)