Insight into the double life of a drug kingpin who posed as a village mother while running the cocaine empire before running away from the police
A WOMAN who posed as an ordinary mother while being the powerful matriarch behind a cocaine ring is now wanted by police.
Farmer Lynne Leyson, 52, led a double life behind the guise of being a normal country mother on the family farm deep in Wales.
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But she fled before being sentenced to nine years in prison – and her mugshot was issued to all British police forces. She may be using the name Annelyn Caldicot to impersonate herself, police added.
Neighbors thought she was just another country mother, when in reality she was the godmother of a family crime gang who supplied multi-kilo quantities of cocaine and cannabis to dealers on the remote smallholding.
Husband Stephen Leyson and his son Samson were jailed for a total of 17 years in July following a police raid on the farm.
But Lynne Leyson disappeared before she was due to appear in court. She was sentenced in her absence by her judge.
A judge said the mother was a “dominant force” who played a “leading role” in the drugs business.
The court heard officers raided Pibwr Farm, near Capel Dewi, Carmarthenshire, in the early hours of October 27, 2021.
They seized cocaine worth over £60,000, cannabis worth £15,615, a 9mm semi-automatic handgun and cash said to have come from a “house sale”.
Swansea Crown Court heard that husband and wife Stephen and Lynne Leyson denied any wrongdoing when questioned.
Lynne Leyson was found guilty by a jury of conspiracy to supply cocaine, conspiracy to supply cannabis and possession of criminal property.
After she failed to appear in court to hear the verdict, an arrest warrant was issued. In her absence she is now serving nine years in prison.
Judge Catherine Richards said: “Lynne Leyson has chosen not to attend her sentencing hearing. It appears to be a deliberate attempt to evade justice.”
She added: “She presented herself to the court as someone who controlled a number of people who worked for her in this serious crime.”
Stephen Leyson, 55, was sentenced to 11 years in prison for conspiracy to supply cocaine, possession of a firearm, conspiracy to supply cannabis and possession of criminal property.
Son Samson, 24, was sentenced to six years in prison for conspiracy to supply cocaine and conspiracy to supply cannabis.
After the fall, a neighbor said, “We just couldn’t believe it.”
“They seemed like a normal farming family, a little rough around the edges like many country folk. Lynne really seemed normal – not a cocaine dealer like her. This is all very strange.”
A Crimestoppers appeal said: “Arrest inquiries have been carried out at known addresses where Lynne is believed to be staying. These premises are located in Carmarthen and parts of Swansea. So far these have been negative investigations.”
“Previous studies have produced negative results. An application is being made to place Lynne Leyson aka Annelyn Caldicot as a wanted person on Crimestoppers.
“She is described as 5ft 7ins tall, has black hair, brown eyes, is right-handed, has a surgical scar on her left leg and has a Welsh accent.”
Anyone who sees her is asked to call anonymously on 0800 555 111.
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