Townhill man jailed after threatening to ‘glass’ woman and confronting man with knife

Ross Milward, 39, of Gwynedd Avenue, Townhill, sent a series of abusive voice notes to a woman he had been dating for just nine days, threatening to “put a glass through your face” after she texted to say she would be late for a date. He also threatened to damage her car, attend her workplace and assault her colleagues.

Swansea Crown Court heard Milward had a history of violence towards former partners. In December last year he split from another woman but continued to contact her. By February, he was bombarding her with hundreds of calls and voicemails — including 131 calls in just two days — many of them threatening and abusive.

The court was told he threatened to stab his ex in the face and “smash up” a man he believed she was seeing, warning she would “not be safe” when he was around in Swansea.

On 17 April this year, hours after sending the threats to his new partner, Milward was seen in Gors Avenue playing fields confronting a teenager with a knife. The boy’s father intervened, and Milward made stabbing motions towards him before being punched to the ground. He fled, leaving behind the knife, his phone and one shoe. Police identified him from a bank card in the phone case and later found him hiding in a nearby property.

Milward pleaded guilty to harassment, sending threatening communications, and threatening a person with a bladed article in a public place. He also admitted earlier charges of sending a communication threatening death or serious harm, and sending an obscene or menacing message.

The court heard he has 11 previous convictions for 22 offences, including grievous bodily harm, battery and criminal damage against ex‑partners, and was already subject to a suspended sentence for battery, public disorder and criminal damage.

Judge Geraint Walters described Milward’s behaviour towards his former partner as “vile and relentless bullying” fuelled by alcohol and “no doubt some element of personality issues”, adding: “It begs the question why any woman would want anything to do with him.”

With credit for guilty pleas, Milward was sentenced to 24 months in prison, with a further two months of his suspended sentence activated, making a total of 26 months. He will serve up to half in custody before being released on licence.

Detective Constable Thomas Clarke, of South Wales Police, said:

“Ross Milward is clearly a violent man who has no problem with directing this violence towards people he does not even know. These will have been very intimidating experiences for his victims. Milward’s conduct was completely unacceptable, and people behaving like he has done have no place in society. He is deservedly starting his time in prison.”

Related Stories

• Man pleads guilty to murder of Leanne Williams in Townhill
• Motorists and residents face months of disruption as Townhill Road roadworks begin
• Townhill Primary School to get £3.25m investment
• Over £50k of cannabis found at a Townhill home

#domesticViolence #GorsAvenue #GwyneddAvenue #harassment #knifeCrime #SouthWalesPolice #threateningBehaviour #Townhill

Thousands caught speeding on Swansea and Port Talbot roads — including one driver at 111mph in a 50 zone

More than 96,000 drivers were issued Notices of Intended Prosecution (NIPs) for speeding in South Wales over the past year — and several of the worst-affected roads are in Swansea and Neath Port Talbot.

Among the most striking figures was a driver clocked at 111mph on the M4 at Junction 41 Pentyla–Seaway Parade Bridge westbound, where the speed limit is just 50mph. The offence, recorded in January 2025, was one of the five worst speeding incidents in the region.

Gors Avenue among South Wales’ top speeding hotspots

In Swansea, Gors Avenue junction Dewi Terrace in Townhill saw 4,340 speeding offences recorded in 2024/25 — placing it third on the list of South Wales’ worst roads for speeding.

The stretch is home to a fixed speed camera and has been the subject of local campaigns to raise the limit back to 30mph. While part of Gors Avenue (between Townhill Road and Carmarthen Road) has since reverted to 30mph, the section where these offences were recorded remains at 20mph.

Other Swansea locations in the top 20 include:

• B4295 Swansea Road, Waunarlwydd – 3,702 NIPs
• Llangyfelach Road (junction Parkhill Road) – 3,295 NIPs
• Mumbles Road, Blackpill (westbound) – 1,174 NIPs

Each of these locations is monitored by fixed speed cameras. Llangyfelach Road, in particular, has seen controversy — with campaigners calling for the 20mph limit to be raised and a previous incident where the speed camera was cut down by vigilantes using an angle grinder. Police later offered a £1,000 reward for information about the attack.

VIDEO: Vigilantes cutting down the Llangyfelach Road speed camera

Top 20 roads for speeding offences in South Wales

M4 Port Talbot also among worst for speeding

The M4 westbound at Port Talbot recorded 1,526 speeding offences last year, placing it in the top 20. The stretch is monitored by a fixed camera and has long been a focus for enforcement due to high traffic volumes and safety concerns.

The data, compiled by Legal Expert using South Wales Police figures, shows a 57% increase in speeding notices compared to the previous year. In 2023/24, the force issued 61,390 NIPs. That figure rose to 96,368 in 2024/25 — equating to over £9.6 million in potential fines.

The worst speeding offence overall was 121mph on the A48 at Stormy Down, Bridgend — more than double the 50mph limit.

Worst recorded speeds in South Wales

#20mph #30mph #Blackpill #GorsAvenue #Junction41 #LlangyfelachRoad #M4 #Mumbles #MumblesRoad #NeathPortTalbot #NIP #NoticeOfIntendedProsecution #PortTalbot #SpeedCamera #speeding #speedingOffences #Swansea #SwanseaRoad #Townhill #Waunarlwydd

Motorists and residents face months of disruption as Townhill Road roadworks begin

Starting Monday 4 August, contractors for National Grid Electricity Distribution will begin digging up sections of the road and pavement to install upgraded underground cables between Uplands and Townhill.

The work, expected to last several months, is part of a wider project to reinforce Swansea’s electricity infrastructure and support future demand.

Townhill Road is a key route connecting Sketty and Tycoch at Broadway with Townhill, Mayhill and Gors Avenue, meaning the upcoming works will significantly affect travel and access in the area.

Safety barriers, construction machinery, and restricted parking will be in place along the route, with access to properties maintained but some areas temporarily off-limits for parking.

National Grid says the timing was chosen to coincide with the school holidays to reduce traffic impact, but acknowledges there will be “unavoidable disruption.”

Ryan Davies, Head of Operations for Swansea, said: “We recognise there’s never an ideal time for this type of work, but these upgrades are vital to support future demand and ensure a resilient energy supply for the city.”

Residents and motorists are being thanked in advance for their patience while the works are carried out.

#Broadway #featured #GorsAvenue #motoring #NationalGrid #roadworks #Townhill #TownhillRoad

Townhill youngsters celebrate their new play area

Swansea Council say they’ve been hard at work upgrading more than 60 community play areas across the city, and even more neighbourhoods will see improvements in the coming months.

And the latest to benefit are Townhill youngsters living near Gors Avenue, where their play area has been officially opened

The council says it’s all part of its ongoing commitment to investing in free play areas, which saw the council agree to a further £1 million for them in the coming year, bringing the total investment so far to £8 million.

At Gors Avenue, there’s a whole range of great things to do, including a carousel with bars, a basket swing, a slide, a zip wire and sensory panels.

Recently completed upgrades for other play areas include those at Myrtle Road in Garden Village, and Brynmelyn Park in Waun Wen.

The council says that all that is on top of work that’s just started in SA1 on two new urban parks boasting play facilities and a pump track.

Robert Francis-Davies, Swansea Council’s Cabinet Member for Investment, Regeneration and Tourism, said: “We believe our investment in outdoor play for children and young people is the biggest investment of its kind anywhere in the UK in recent years.

“All the experts say how important it is for children to have free access to outdoor play to socialise with friends and family. The feedback we are getting from users has been fantastic and demonstrates what a difference the upgrades make in their neighbourhoods.

“It’s part of our commitment to tackling poverty, supporting families through the cost-of-living crisis, and promoting wellbeing in all our communities.”

Andrew Stevens, Cabinet Member for Environment and Infrastructure, said: “Our new generation of play areas are truly inclusive, welcoming children with disabilities to play and enjoy outside areas.

“This initiative demonstrates our commitment to ensuring communities in Swansea have access to safe and exciting spaces for outdoor fun.”

#CllrAndrewStevens #CllrRobertFrancisDavies #GorsAvenue #park #playground #Swansea #SwanseaCouncil #Townhill