The Ammanford couple handed a dirty syringe seemingly containing a heroin solution by police have slammed the officers involved for refusing to apologise.

Kelly and Matthew Evans, of Llandybie Road, were horrified when they found four-year-old daughter Demi playing with the used needle which she took from a bag given to the couple by officers at Ammanford police station.

In July, the Guardian reported how Kelly had collected the bag – which had been held as evidence at the station for three years – on behalf of her nephew, who in 2010 was arrested in connection with drugs-related offences.

Shortly after taking the bag home, the stunned couple were sickened to find little Demi playing with the syringe.

“Demi came running to me with a dirty needle in her hand,” said a furious Matthew.

The couple were outraged that the officers had handed the bag back to Kelly without checking its contents or removing the dangerous drugs paraphernalia.

“The police must have searched the bag when they took Kelly’s nephew into custody,” said Matthew.

“How can they have missed a dirty needle half-filled with drugs and blood? It says a lot about their detective skills.”

The couple demanded an explanation and, following the Guardian story, were visited by a police inspector.

“He was nice enough and admitted that the five officers involved in dealing with the evidence and returning it to me had not done their jobs,” said Kelly.

“He said he was willing to apologise on behalf of Dyfed-Powys Police, but not on behalf of the officers.

“He said they claimed they had done nothing wrong.

“What was the point of him coming to apologise when they refused? It was not the force that screwed up it was those officers,

“I am absolutely disgusted that not one of them has had the decency to admit they failed at their jobs and apologise to my family.

“All I ever wanted was an apology from those concerned; my daughter could have been hurt - or even worse.

“Those officers should be ashamed of themselves.

“It is obvious they all want it brushed under the carpet.”

Despite numerous requests from the Guardian, Dyfed-Powys Police is yet to provide a comment.