Glynneath man jailed after campaign of abuse against partner

Court hears details of assaults

Swansea Crown Court was told that 39‑year‑old Gavin Powell, of Bethania Street, Glynneath, carried out two assaults in January this year.

On New Year’s Day 2025, Powell grabbed his partner by the throat, forced her face into a pillow and bit her on the face and nose. Just over two weeks later, on January 17, he turned up at her home intoxicated and became aggressive after learning she had spoken to a former boyfriend.

The court heard Powell punched her in the face, pinned her down on a sofa and repeatedly struck her body and arms. When she tried to escape, he kicked her in the leg, dragged her back by the hair and demanded she go upstairs.

The victim later sought medical help at Neath Port Talbot Hospital and was advised to attend Morriston Hospital’s emergency department due to the extent of her injuries. In a statement read to the court, she said Powell’s behaviour had made her feel like her life was “not worth living any more” and that she had been left suffering flashbacks and fear.

Guilty plea and sentencing

Powell initially denied the charges but later pleaded guilty to assault by beating and assault occasioning actual bodily harm. He was sentenced to two years and six months in prison and ordered to pay a £228 victim surcharge.

Judge Catherine Richards described the attacks as “prolonged and persistent” and imposed a five‑year restraining order preventing Powell from contacting his victim.

Police statement

Following sentencing, PC Lee Morgan of South Wales Police said: “Gavin Powell carried out vile attacks on his partner and left her living a life of fear and misery. Nobody should ever have to put up with any form of abuse from their partner. We are pleased that with his arrest and sentencing, she will not have to put up with his abuse any longer. We hope that she can now move on with her life, free from Gavin Powell’s abuse.”

Support for survivors

South Wales Police emphasised that domestic abuse can affect anyone, regardless of age, gender, sexuality or background. Survivors are urged to report abuse online, call 101, or dial 999 in an emergency. Reports can also be made anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

#domesticAbuse #domesticViolence #Glynneath #SouthWalesPolice

Resolven man jailed after violent attack on father and son in Glynneath

A man from Resolven has been jailed after he launched an unprovoked attack on a father outside his Glynneath home, leaving him with serious facial injuries, before striking the victim’s son in front of younger children.

The incident

On the morning of August 11, the victim was upstairs while his two young children played outside. When he noticed two men walking past, one shouting and swearing, he went downstairs to check on them.

Outside, he found Robin Griffiths, aged 34, speaking to the children. Griffiths accused the father of mocking him. When the man tried to explain he had simply been gesturing to his children, Griffiths punched him in the face.

The victim fell to the ground and was repeatedly struck, leaving him with an orbital bone fracture and restricted eye movement that required surgery. Griffiths then told him: “Now you know who I am.”

Children witnessed the attack

The man’s older son came outside to help his father and told Griffiths he was calling the police. Griffiths responded by slapping the boy in the chest and repeating the same threat. The two younger children witnessed the violence and were left crying outside the property.

Court hearing

Griffiths, of Neath Road, Resolven, was arrested and initially claimed self‑defence. He later admitted grievous bodily harm without intent and assault by beating.

At Swansea Crown Court, Judge Huw Rees sentenced him to 20 months in prison and imposed a five‑year restraining order preventing contact with the main victim.

In mitigation, defence barrister Kevin Seal said Griffiths had served in the army before being medically discharged with PTSD, and that the incident happened while he was in a drug‑induced state. He added that Griffiths’ remorse was genuine.

Police statement

Detective Inspector Danielle Thorne of South Wales Police said:

“Everybody should feel safe when they are within the confines of their own home or garden. There is absolutely no place for violent people like Robin Griffiths on our streets. It is only right that he should pay for his violence with a spell in prison.”

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#assault #Glynneath #GlynneathAssault #Resolven #sentencing #SouthWalesPolice #SwanseaCrownCourt

Council’s Glynneath flood scheme wins top engineering award

Neath Port Talbot Council’s £3.6m Glynneath Flood Alleviation Scheme has won the Roy Edwards Award for Best Construction Project under £5m at the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) Cymru Awards.

The scheme, developed by the council’s drainage team with design partners Atkins Réalis and delivered by contractors Knights Brown, was praised for its innovative engineering and collaborative approach. It was funded through the Welsh Government’s Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Management Programme.

Five years in the making

Work on the project began in 2019 and was completed earlier this year. Delivered in two phases, it included the construction of a reinforced concrete intake structure at Lancaster Close, designed to withstand a one‑in‑100‑year storm and protect homes and businesses around Rock Street, Robert Street and the town centre.

Engineers also installed a pressurised 900mm culvert system with additional upstream drainage to improve surface water management at Gelliceibryn. A further 900mm pipe was laid beneath a narrow footway and carriageway, while resurfaced roads and new concrete channels were added to improve runoff. At Glynmelyn Road, a new culvert and raised walls replaced a ford crossing, strengthening the area’s flood defences.

“Significantly reduced flood risk”

Cllr Scott Jones, Neath Port Talbot Council’s cabinet member for streetscene, said the award was a proud moment for the authority.

“These works have significantly reduced flood risk for residents and businesses and improved infrastructure resilience in the area,” he said. “The award is a testament to the ambition and passion for flood risk management held by our drainage team.

“This achievement highlights the importance of collaborative working, innovative engineering, and sustained investment in flood resilience.”

Welsh Government backing

Deputy First Minister Huw Irranca‑Davies, who has responsibility for climate change, said the scheme would deliver long‑term benefits to more than 270 properties.

“Our investment in this scheme, totalling over £3.6m, is yet another example of our commitment to address the challenges we face from climate change,” he said.

“In recent years, we have invested more than £300m to protect communities across Wales from increasingly unpredictable and extreme weather, with this year’s record funding rising to £77m.”

Recognition for local resilience

The award marks the culmination of five years of work to strengthen Glynneath’s flood defences. For residents, it represents not just an engineering achievement but greater peace of mind as the community faces increasingly severe weather events.

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#AtkinsRéalis #award #civilEngineering #CllrScottJones #floodDefences #flooding #Glynneath #GlynneathFloodAlleviationScheme #HuwIrrancaDaviesMS #InstitutionOfCivilEngineers #KnightsBrown #NeathPortTalbotCouncil

Safety works to begin at Cwmgwrach coal tip to reduce landslip risk

The site, located in the Vale of Neath, was originally part of the Cwmgwrach Colliery, which opened in 1898 under Empire Collieries Ltd and produced anthracite, steam, and manufacturing coals. Mining activity in the area dates back even further to 1814, when Edward Protheroe first worked the Cwmgwrach levels. A disused sandstone quarry nearby has also caused confusion in recent years, having been mistakenly identified as a spoil tip, raising questions about its safety classification.

Contractors working on behalf of Natural Resources Wales (NRW) will begin reinforcing the site’s drainage infrastructure using blockstone and rock rolls. The operation is expected to run until October 2025, with access via Heol-y-Graig road and no road closures planned. Heavy Goods Vehicles will operate between 8am and 6pm on weekdays, with limited weekend activity.

The site is part of the Welsh Government’s coal tip safety programme, which includes regular inspections and reclassification of high-risk tips. One nearby tip, T67079, has recently been upgraded from category B to D, reflecting increased safety concerns. The programme also includes community engagement efforts, such as drop-in sessions and online events to address local concerns—particularly those raised about the proximity of the tip to a nearby primary school.

David Garth, Projects and Programme Consultant, Natural Resources Wales, said:

“We are committed to improving safety at the disused coal tip in Cwmgwrach and reducing the risk of colliery tip movement in the area. This important work will reinforce the existing drainage infrastructure.”

“We appreciate residents’ patience while this work is carried out and will do everything we can to limit the disruption caused.”

The improvements come amid a wider national focus on coal tip safety, following incidents elsewhere in Wales and the introduction of new legislation aimed at managing disused mine and quarry tips more effectively.

#coalTip #coalTipSafety #Cwmgwrach #disusedCoalTip #Glynneath #NaturalResourcesWales #NRW

Glynneath rapist jailed for horrifying series of attacks on woman

29-year-old Curtis Evans, from Glynneath, raped his victim on three occasions in June 2024. He also strangled the victim, and on another occasion bundled the victim into his car whilst telling the victim he was going to kill them.

After pleading not guilty to all charges, Evans was found guilty of three counts of rape and one count of intentional strangulation as well as one count each of kidnapping, threats to kill, ABH and stalking.

Evans has been handed a sentence of three years and six months’ imprisonment, followed by an extended sentence of 18 years comprising a custodial sentence of 15 years and a three-year extended license period.

He has been made subject of a restraining order against the victim and will be on the sex offenders register for an indefinite period.

Detective Constable Jack Stannard, of South Wales Police’s Rape Investigation Team, said: “Curtis Evans is a particularly nasty and dangerous character who made his victim’s life a living hell.

“He cared nothing for consent or for the welfare of the victim, and was surely going to commit further crimes towards the victim had it not been for the intervention of police.

“We laud the victim for their bravery in speaking up about her abuser Curtis Evans. We hope that they can finally achieve some piece knowing that Evans is going to prison for over a decade.”

Detective Inspector Sharon Gill-Lewis added: “If you are in a situation where you are a victim of any kind of sexual offence, report it to us straight away. Nobody should have to suffer in silence – any victims will be fully supported through their ordeal by our officers.”

#featured #Glynneath #kidnapping #rape #SouthWalesPolice #stalking #threatsToKill

Glynneath Miners Welfare Park officially opens following £817,860 redevelopment

Glynneath Miners Welfare Park has undergone a major transformation thanks to a £817,860 redevelopment project funded by Glynneath Town Council with support from Neath Port Talbot Council’s Project Development and Funding Team.

The project was officially opened by Glynneath-born entertainer Max Boyce MBE and Glynneath Town Mayor, Councillor Julian Bulman.

The new facilities include a children’s play park on the site of the former bowls green, complete with zip wires, trampolines, a rope course, swings, an inclusive roundabout, and a “roadway” designed for cycling and scooting.

Three tennis courts have been fully refurbished, while a fourth has been repurposed as a multi-use games area for football, hockey, and netball. The teen park now features a double zip-line, cone climber, rotator, swings, and a youth shelter.

Glynneath Town Mayor, Councillor Julian Bulman, said: “We are absolutely delighted to see the redevelopment of Glynneath Miners Welfare Park completed. This is a vital community space that has been transformed into a vibrant, inclusive area that will benefit residents of all ages for years to come. The town council is incredibly grateful to all the funders and partners who made this possible – it’s a fantastic achievement for Glynneath.”

Cllr Simon Knoyle – Project Lead for Glynneath Town Council and Neath Port Talbot Council’s Cabinet Member for Finance, Performance and Social Justice, said: “This project was my top priority when first elected in May 2017. It has taken us eight years for phase one of this ambitious project to come to fruition. I am delighted with what we have been able to achieve with the support of the fantastic community grant funding that has been provided.

“The planning for phase two is already underway and we hope to see progress of that within the next 12-18 months. We wanted to create a legacy, to make this Miners Welfare Park the hub of the community once again for everyone in Glynneath to be able to enjoy.”

The project was made possible thanks to significant financial support from the Maes Gwyn Community Benefit Fund (£395,000) and the Pen y Cymoedd ‘Vision’ Fund (£393,240.10) with additional funding coming from Glynneath Town Council (£13,518), Neath Port Talbot Council’s Community Minor Projects Grant (£10,000) and the Selar Community Benefit Fund (£6,101.90).

#Glynneath #GlynneathMinersWelfarePark #GlynneathTownCouncil #MaxBoyce #NeathPortTalbot #NeathPortTalbotCouncil #park #playground

Council takes over running of Glynneath care home

The council says that in addition to continuing to provide long-term residential care at the home, it will also introduce a new 12-bed residential reablement service for adults.

The reablement service will provide short-term support, typically lasting up to six weeks. It is designed to help individuals regain independence in their daily activities following illness or being in hospital. The Council’s Reablement Team, consisting of therapy and support staff, will work with people to support their recovery and enable them to return to their own homes as independently as possible.

As part of the changes, the Council’s Digital Enablement Team will be based at the home, showcasing how technology can assist those recovering from illness. This will include technology such as fall detectors, smart home appliance management, and lifeline response services, all aimed at helping individuals regain confidence and independence.

Trem y Glyn was previously run by social housing and care & support provider Pobl, formally known as Gwalia, who entered into a contract in 2011 with the council to to build four new homes in the areas of Neath, Port Talbot, Glynneath and Cymmer to replace the existing care homes in those areas.

Two of the Care Homes were subsequently developed; Llys y Seren in Port Talbot in 2015, and Plas Bryn Rhosyn in Neath in 2016.

The council negotiated several changes to the contract in 2016 including to cease the development of a new care home in Glynneath and to close Trem y Glyn by 31 March 2022

The council subsequently voted to extend Pobl’s contract to continue running Trem y Glyn until 31 March 2025. This new decision will secure the building and staff’s future the council have said.

Councillor Jo Hale, Neath Port Talbot Council’s Cabinet Member for Adult Social Services & Health, said: “The decision to combine long-term residential care with short-term reablement is the best way to retain a much-loved local care home in Glynneath.

“The staff working at the home will maintain their roles, and jobs will remain secure, providing continuity of care and stability for all involved.

“Plus, the introduction of a reablement service will offer much-needed support to people as they transition back to independent living, strengthening our commitment to high-quality adult social care in Neath Port Talbot.”

(Lead image: Neath Port Talbot Council)

#careHome #Glynneath #Gwalia #NeathPortTalbotCouncil #TremYGlyn