Christian Mason-Jones, a convicted murderer released on life licence, was sentenced to 22 months in prison after police found more than 2.6kg of cannabis and a stash of ketamine in his Swansea flat. The 42-year-old, who was known as Christopher Jones when he was given a life sentence in 2005 for the brutal murder of mother Shirley Oliver, had been living in the community before his arrest.
Police Raid Uncovers Large Drug Stash
On December 17 last year, police executed a search warrant at Mason-Jones' home in Russell Street, Swansea city centre, after receiving intelligence that drugs were being stored and dealt from the property. Prosecutor Regan Walters told Swansea Crown Court that the defendant was initially reluctant to let officers in but eventually answered the door holding a mobile phone and a quantity of cannabis.
A search revealed several large vacuum-sealed packages of cannabis, multiple small grip-seal bags of cannabis, hundreds of empty grip-seal bags, just over 8g of ketamine, £600 in cash, and a set of weighing scales. Additional scales were found in a flower bed beneath the living room window. In total, police recovered more than 2.6kg of cannabis worth up to £18,700.
Defendant Offered to Reveal More Drugs for Immunity
While officers were seizing and logging the items, Mason-Jones offered to tell them where they could find "a lot more drugs" in return for being given "immunity." Phones seized from the defendant showed his involvement in the supply of mainly cannabis, offering customers nine different strains—the most popular being "Cali"—in deal sizes ranging from 3.5g for £35 to 28g for £260. Officers also found a message from a contact asking if he could supply cocaine, to which he replied offering ketamine instead.
In his police interview, Mason-Jones claimed he "smoked a lot of cannabis" and that the drugs were for his own use. He said the vacuum-sealed packages had been delivered to his address in error but he decided to keep them and then forgot about them. He admitted throwing weighing scales out of his window "but could not say why."
Previous Conviction for Murder
In 2005, Mason-Jones, then aged 21, and his older brother Stuart Jones were given life sentences for the "callous and cold-blooded killing" of Shirley Oliver in Cardiff. The siblings beat and strangled the 42-year-old mother before dumping her body in an alley. Mason-Jones was ordered to serve a minimum term of 13 years, and his brother 15 years. He was released on life licence after serving that term.
In 2018, Miss Oliver's daughter Stephanie Davis expressed her anguish at the prospect of Mason-Jones being granted parole. The court also heard that Mason-Jones has a conviction from 2021 for possession of a bladed article, for which he received an 18-week sentence.
Mitigation and Sentencing
Defence barrister Hywel Davies said Mason-Jones had been recalled to prison on licence following his arrest and that the length of time he must serve will be determined by the Parole Board. He said Mason-Jones began self-medicating his "poor mental health" with cannabis and ketamine, and when he could no longer fund that use, he turned to dealing. His main concern was for the welfare of his mother, who suffers from dementia and for whom he had been providing care.
Recorder Mark Powell KC described it as an "unusual sentencing exercise" given the defendant's previous conviction and life sentence. With a 10 per cent discount for his guilty pleas, Mason-Jones was sentenced to 22 months in prison. How long he spends in prison will be for the Parole Board to determine.
