DVLA FRAUD: Swansea insider jailed after doctoring car records in £1.3m scam

A DVLA worker who used his job to doctor vehicle records in an organised fraud has been jailed.

Matthew Holloway, 32, abused his position at the agency’s Swansea office to falsify car paperwork, a court heard.

His changes inflated the value of the vehicles involved by almost £1.3m, and cost the DVLA itself £117,500.

Holloway, from the Birchgrove area of Swansea, was sentenced to five years and three months at Swansea Crown Court.

He had worked in the DVLA’s special registration team — described in court as a position of trust and responsibility.

Holloway conspired with two Swansea car dealers, Ashley Harris, 44, and Joshua Sawyer, 32, who paid him to manipulate records for their businesses.

Harris, from Llansamlet, was jailed for two years and eight months. Sawyer, from Morriston, was sentenced to two years and four months.

All three had previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit fraud between January 2021 and July 2022.

The court heard Holloway ran what the prosecution called a “systematic campaign” of vehicle document tampering.

He removed registered keepers from logbooks and inserted new names, altered vehicle identification numbers, and stripped out markers showing cars had been written off.

In one instance, his alterations allowed a Ferrari that had been written off in Australia to be sold in the UK under false documentation.

In another, he doctored the records of a Mercedes-AMG so many times that the prosecutor suggested it might point to use in criminal activity.

Holloway also worked for others not before the court, in one case issuing false identity documents for a stolen Range Rover that was then sold to an innocent buyer.

Harris and Sawyer paid Holloway around £23,400 between them for circumventing the agency’s usual controls.

Judge Huw Rees told the men that “greed is at the heart of each of you defendants and your offending”.

He described the case as “organised and sophisticated criminality which has been committed for selfish gain”.

Holloway, who was in tears in the dock, was told his actions represented “a substantial fall from grace”.

Lisa McCarthy, of the Crown Prosecution Service, said Holloway had held a trusted position and exploited it for financial benefit, as had Harris and Sawyer.

She said their offending had “risked corrupting the UK’s vehicle registration system”, which the public, motor trade and law enforcement rely on for accurate information.

The DVLA said the case was a serious breach of trust by a former employee, who was dismissed once the fraud was identified.

A spokesperson said the agency had since strengthened its internal controls to help prevent similar activity.

A proceeds of crime hearing in relation to the case is due to be held in October.

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SWANSEA: Llansamlet man jailed for 25 years after being found guilty of historic rape of two girls

A 57-year-old man from Llansamlet has been jailed for 25 years after being convicted of the historic rape and sexual abuse of two girls under the age of 16 — with a judge describing him as a “typical pathetic paedophile” who isolated and manipulated his victims while convincing those around him he was a normal family man.

David Lake was found guilty at trial of one count of rape of a female under 16, four counts of indecent assault on a girl under the age of 14, one count of unlawful sexual intercourse with a girl under 13, and one count of attempting to indecently assault a girl under 16.

He was sentenced today at Swansea Crown Court to 25 years in prison. He will be placed on the sex offenders register for life and made subject to an indefinite sexual harm prevention order. He must serve two-thirds of the custodial element of his sentence before he can apply to the Parole Board for release.

The court heard that Lake subjected both girls to a catalogue of sexual offending while threatening and intimidating them into silence. The abuse took place some two decades ago but it is only in recent years that the victims have come forward.

Prosecutor Ian Wright told the court that the offending was aggravated by the violence and threats Lake used — and by the fact that he gave one of his victims a sexually transmitted disease during the course of the abuse.

South Wales Police said the investigation was long and complex, spanning years between the original offences and Lake being brought to justice. The two victims, who were girls at the time of the attacks, are now adults.

In victim impact statements read from the witness box, both women detailed the lifelong consequences of Lake’s abuse. One said she had grown up feeling “dirty and ashamed” and had spent much of her life hating herself, saying the trauma of what she went through had “shaped who I am.”

The second survivor said she had lived her life with the fear that she would not be believed. She described the three years since she spoke out as the hardest of her life. “Every day has been a battle since telling my truth,” she said. “It has felt as though the little girl inside has returned — the scared, helpless child who lived in fear.”

Judge Catherine Richards told Lake he was a “typical pathetic paedophile” who “isolates and manipulates” victims while convincing people around him that he was a family man living a normal life. She said that was why people like him were able to get away with their offending for so long, and that the harm he had caused had “life-long consequences” for the survivors.

Lake has previous convictions for burglary, three counts of assault occasioning actual bodily harm, theft, obtaining property by deception, possession of a knife, and inflicting grievous bodily harm with intent — for which he received a four-year prison sentence in 2007. His barrister told the court he had no previous convictions for like matters and had a number of health issues including angina.

According to the force, Lake’s sexual offending was only halted when he was imprisoned for a separate matter — a detail the investigating officer said underlined both the seriousness of his crimes and the importance of the sentence handed down today.

Detective Constable Sioned Davies said the courage shown by the victims in coming forward had been extraordinary. “It took an unbelievable amount of strength and courage for David Lake’s victims to confide to someone else about the crimes he carried out upon them, especially with so many years having passed in-between,” she said.

“This was a long and complex investigation which has finally resulted in David Lake being brought to justice, and the severity of his offending is reflected in the size of his sentence. David Lake’s attacks on the victims were only stopped when he went to jail for a separate matter. With this sentence, we hope that his offending has now been stopped for good.”

South Wales Police said it hoped the outcome of the case would provide reassurance to survivors of sexual abuse that coming forward would be met with dignity, respect and support throughout the judicial process.

Anyone who has been sexually abused and is not yet ready to report to police is urged not to suffer in silence. Support services and further information are available at south-wales.police.uk.

#ChildAbuse #Llansamlet #rape #SexOffender #SouthWalesPolice #Swansea

SWANSEA: ‘10km for every year we’ve been without her’ — Llansamlet woman to run 100km from London to Brighton in memory of eight-year-old friend Lexi

Lexi May Hopkin was eight years old, full of life and, by all accounts, capable of lighting up any room she walked into. She was diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumour in 2015 and died in January 2016.

Her friend Tallulah Chalstrey was 14 at the time. She made herself a promise: she would do something. Ten years on, that promise has taken Tallulah — now 24, from Llansamlet — to the start line of one of the most gruelling endurance events in the country.

This Saturday, Tallulah sets off on the London2Brighton Ultra Challenge — 100km from Richmond-upon-Thames, over the North Downs, through the South Downs, and down to the Brighton coastline. She will run and walk it continuously until she reaches the finish line.

The distance is not a coincidence. “The idea of 100km felt symbolic: 10km for every year we’ve been without her,” she said.

Tallulah Chalstrey, 24, from Llansamlet, on a training run ahead of her 100km London to Brighton challenge for The Brain Tumour Charity. (Image: The Brain Tumour Charity)

“Lexi was a ray of sunshine,” said Tallulah. “She had this incredible ability to light up every room she walked into, whether it was through her silly dance moves or infectious laughter. She was courageous, caring and super confident, with such a big personality and even bigger ambitions.”

“Losing her was devastating,” she added. “It left me struggling to understand how someone so full of life could be taken so unfairly and so young.”

Tallulah has thrown herself into fundraising since Lexi’s death — climbing the Three Peaks and running the London Marathon in support of different charities in Lexi’s name. But the 100km challenge is the biggest thing she has taken on, and training has been intense.

“Training’s been long, tiring, and at times overwhelming — but I’ve loved every step,” she said. “Running through the roads and trails of Wales has reminded me why I’m doing this, and how lucky I am to be able to.”

The fundraising effort has already been remarkable. Six weeks of quiz nights hosted by The Swigg in Swansea alone raised £600, with online raffles and donations from friends and family pushing Tallulah well towards her £5,000 target for The Brain Tumour Charity.

Brain tumours are the biggest cancer killer of people under 40 in the UK — yet survival rates have barely improved in 40 years. Every day, 36 people in the UK hear the words “you have a brain tumour.”

“Brain tumours are a devastating disease,” said Tallulah. “I’m taking on this challenge not only to honour Lexi’s memory, but to help raise awareness of the reality so many families face.”

She said she knew the challenge would test her to her limits — but was clear about what would carry her through.

“If I struggle, I’ll remind myself that any pain or exhaustion I feel is temporary,” she said. “Lexi, and so many others lost to brain tumours, never got the opportunity to take on challenges like this or continue living the lives they deserved.”

Stacey Vincent, from The Brain Tumour Charity’s community fundraising team, said Tallulah’s dedication was an inspiration. “It’s through the incredible efforts of people like Tallulah that we can change these shocking statistics in the future,” she said.

Anyone wishing to support Tallulah’s challenge can donate via her fundraising page at thebraintumourcharity.org.

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Four local restaurants face closure as Whitbread axes up to 3,800 jobs across UK estate

Four restaurants across the Swansea Bay area are among nearly 200 set to close after Premier Inn owner Whitbread announced plans to cut up to 3,800 jobs as part of a sweeping five-year overhaul of its business.

The Swansea Vale Brewers Fayre on Upper Fforest Way in Llansamlet, the Waterfront Beefeater on Langdon Road in Swansea’s SA1 maritime quarter, the Bagle Brook Beefeater on Pentwyn Baglan Road in Baglan, and The Sandpiper Brewers Fayre on Sandy Road in Llanelli are all included in the list of sites affected by the restructuring.

Whitbread confirmed the proposed changes on 30 April as part of a new five-year plan that will see it exit its remaining branded restaurant estate entirely and replace all 197 sites with a more efficient food and beverage model linked more closely to its Premier Inn hotels. Around 110 branded restaurant sites are expected to be sold as going concerns over the next 24 months, while the remainder will be converted or closed.

The company said the proposed reduction to its 30,000-strong workforce remains subject to employee consultation, and that it anticipates retaining a considerable proportion of those affected through redeployment. The firm’s previous restructuring programme in 2024 resulted in around 1,500 redundancies.

Chief executive Dominic Paul said the plan would transform the business. “We always challenge ourselves to improve and, in light of significant cost increases in the form of business rates and national insurance, as well as the implied market discount to our inherent value, we’ve looked hard at the options open to us to maximise value creation over the medium and long-term,” he said. “This plan will transform Whitbread into a higher-margin, higher-returning pure-play hotel business.”

Unite, the union representing workers across the business, said it would seek urgent discussions with Whitbread and provide support to affected members – after claiming staff first learned of the redundancies through media reports rather than from their employer. Unite general secretary Sharon Graham described the cuts as “cruel” and called on the company to enter formal consultations immediately.

Unite national officer Colenzo Jarret-Thorpe added: “It is disgraceful that Whitbread employees heard about the job cuts through the media. The company did not even have the decency to let its staff know first.”

As part of the restructuring, Whitbread plans to sell 1.5 billion pounds of freehold property to fund future growth, reducing its freehold ownership to between 30% and 40% – making it a majority leaseholder for the first time since the Premier Inn chain was founded in 1987. The company is targeting 2 billion pounds of free cash flow by its 2031 financial year, and intends to increase its total hotel room count to 96,000 by that date, up from approximately 86,600 currently.

The announcement follows Whitbread’s pre-tax profit of 298 million pounds for the year ending February 2026, representing a 19% decline on the previous year. Overall revenues remained unchanged year-on-year at 2.9 billion pounds, though UK sales climbed by 1%.

The closure of The Sandpiper is the latest blow to Llanelli’s hospitality sector, which has suffered a string of losses in recent months. The Bryngwyn and Ali Raj restaurants closed on the same day in January, prompting hundreds of tributes from customers sharing decades of memories. The Tinhouse taproom followed in February, and the four-star Stradey Park Hotel closed with immediate effect in March, leaving staff without jobs and couples fearing for their wedding deposits.

Whitbread itself has already been reducing its footprint in the area. The Pemberton Beefeater in Llanelli – which sat next to the Premier Inn at Parc Pemberton Retail Park, close to Parc y Scarlets stadium – closed in July 2024, with plans to demolish the site and revamp the wider development. The Sandpiper Brewers Fayre on Sandy Road, also in Llanelli, is now set to follow.

The closures come as rising business rates and national insurance costs continue to squeeze the hospitality sector across Wales. Welsh Government introduced 15% business rates relief for hospitality businesses in 2026, but CAMRA – the Campaign for Real Ale – has warned the measure still leaves Welsh venues at a significant disadvantage compared with England, where the relief stands at 75%.

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PRODUCT RECALL: Parents urged to stop children using Smyths Toys dig kits immediately after asbestos contamination fears

The government issued the shock recall on 1 April covering seven archaeology and excavation kits sold under the Smyths Toys own brand. The brightly-coloured sets — marketed at young children and designed to let them dig out dinosaur figures, gemstones and pirate treasure — contain a sand-like material which may include traces of the banned substance.

Asbestos is one of the most dangerous materials known to science. It was widely used in construction for decades before being banned, and its fibres — invisible to the naked eye — can become permanently lodged in the lungs, causing conditions including asbestosis, mesothelioma and lung cancer. There is no safe level of exposure.

The Office for Product Safety and Standards, which published the recall, said the toys posed “a risk to health” and did not meet the requirements of the Toys (Safety) Regulations 2011. The alert was triggered by Local Authority Trading Standards.

The seven recalled products are the Dino Dig Sensory Bin, Dig In Kit GOLD, Let’s Dig Out Dinosaur Eggs (10pc), Gem Dig Kit (12 Gem Pack), Dig It Up Pirates 13 Treasure Set, Dig In Treasure Dig and Discover Play Gold Treasure Chest, and Gem Dig Kit 8 Pack.

The seven recalled products.

Anyone who has bought any of the affected kits is being told to stop using them immediately and to keep them away from children. Smyths Toys is offering a full refund and customers can return the products to their nearest store — including the Swansea branch at the Enterprise Park in Llansamlet.

The situation is potentially more alarming for families where the kits have already been used, since the sand will have been disturbed. Parents in that position are being told not to sweep or brush the area, as doing so can generate dust and spread fibres further.

Instead, anyone who has used the kits should clean the area using wet cloths to suppress any dust, and must wear gloves and a mask during clean-up. The sand, cloths, gloves and mask should all be double-bagged together before disposal.

If the sand remains unopened in its original packaging, it should be placed inside a heavy-duty plastic bag, double taped and sealed, clearly labelled and stored safely away from children until it can be returned or disposed of.

Families who cannot get to a Smyths Toys store can dispose of the bagged sand in their general household waste, and contact Smyths Toys directly to arrange a refund without needing to travel.

The government’s full product recall notice — PSD case number 2603-0225 — can be found at gov.uk/guidance/product-recalls-and-alerts. Further guidance from Smyths Toys is available at smythstoys.com/uk/en-gb/product-information.

Parents with concerns about potential exposure are advised to contact their GP.

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Swansea’s women-led brewery toasts success on International Women’s Day

Drop Bear Beer Co., which specialises in alcohol-free craft beers, has confirmed it is leading a new generation of women in the industry as it reflects on its recent acquisition of the iconic Welsh brand, Tomos Watkin.

The company has said that while women once dominated the brewing trade as medieval ‘alewives’, they now make up only around 30 per cent of the UK’s brewery workforce, with even fewer in technical roles.

Founded by Joelle and Sarah Drummond, the business began with small-scale recipe development in their kitchen before expanding into a multi-award-winning international brand.

According to the brewery, the acquisition of Tomos Watkin in 2023 marked a significant milestone, allowing the female-led team to take ownership of one of Wales’ most historic beer names.

The Swansea firm is now recognised as the UK’s largest alcohol-free brewery and continues to operate from its production base in Llansamlet.

Drop Bear Beer Co. Head Brewer Bex oversees brewing operations and quality at scale. Credit: Drop Bear Beer Co.

Leading the production line is Head Brewer Bex, who oversees quality and operations at scale, providing what the company describes as a visible example of women in technical brewing roles.

“We’re proud to be part of a new generation of women building and brewing in this industry,” Joelle Drummond, Co-Founder of Drop Bear Beer Co., has said.

She added: “Women were central to brewing historically, and while representation today isn’t equal, it is changing.”

The brewery, which is a certified B Corp and carbon neutral, has previously secured major supermarket deals with Morrisons and Tesco.

Its range of 0.5% ABV beers includes Tropical IPA and Yuzu Pale Ale, all of which are produced at the Swansea brewery and exported internationally.

As International Women’s Day approaches, the team has said they are celebrating women across Wales who are shaping business and industry, proving that “leadership in beer is evolving.”

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Long-serving Llansamlet councillor set to become Swansea’s next Lord Mayor

The Llansamlet ward member, who has served on Swansea Council since 2007, will take over the prestigious role from the current Lord Mayor of Swansea, Cllr Cheryl Philpott, in May.

Her appointment was confirmed at a full council meeting in January.

Cllr Matthews will be joined by fellow long-serving councillor Susan Jones, who is set to become the new Deputy Lord Mayor.

Born and brought up in the city, Cllr Matthews attended Manselton Primary School and later the Swansea Secondary Technical School for Girls after passing her 11-plus exam.

Her first step into the world of work was a Saturday job on the makeup counter at the old Woolworths in Oxford Street.

She later worked for the Steel Co of Wales at Velindre before going on to manage the office at D.C. Francis Coal Merchants for four years.

Her career continued at the Goods Vehicle Centre on the Strand in Swansea, where she served as a booking clerk and a union rep.

She then moved to the Jobcentre in Morriston, where she was also a Union Representative and covered front-line interventions for people signing on for benefits.

In addition to her council work, Cllr Matthews has been a governor at Trallwn Primary School since 1995, supporting the school by sitting on committees and attending events.

Cllr Matthews said:

“I’ve had a great year so far as Deputy Lord Mayor and I’m really looking forward to my year in office in May.

“I’m really looking forward to getting out and about and meeting the people of our fantastic city, as well as representing Swansea to visitors and as an ambassador for the city as a whole, at a very exciting time for our communities.”

The new Deputy Lord Mayor, Cllr Susan Jones, is an Independent councillor who has represented the Gowerton ward on Swansea Council since 2008.

She has also been a councillor on Gowerton Community Council since 1986.

Like Cllr Matthews, she has a long history of involvement in local education, serving as a governor of both Gowerton Comprehensive School and Gowerton Primary School.

Between 2001 and 2008, Cllr Jones also served as a Director for the Swansea Council for Voluntary Service (SCVS).

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Swansea’s road repair blitz ramps up as new resurfacing crews hit the streets

The council says an additional £300,000 has been pumped into the programme, allowing teams to tackle more potholes, worn‑out stretches and weather‑damaged routes after weeks of cold, wet conditions.

Fresh resurfacing lined up across the city

A series of busy roads are now earmarked for work in the coming weeks, including key routes in Clydach, Morriston, Fforestfach, Llansamlet, Clase, Bishopston and Uplands.

Locations scheduled for repairs include:

• Ynyspenllwch Road, Clydach (Ffordd Cwmtawe to Clydach)
• Lone Road, Clydach
• Llanllienwen Road, Morriston
• A48, Morriston (J46 to Bryntywod entrance)
• Carmarthen Road, Fforestfach (Ffordd Cynore to Swansea Road)
• Nantong Way, Llansamlet (outside Royal Mail)
• Rheidol Avenue, Clase
• Bishopston Road, Bishopston
• Maes y Gwernen Road and Drive, Cwmrhydyceirw
• Uplands Crescent

The council says full resurfacing has already been completed at a number of high‑traffic spots, including the Peniel Green Road motorway junction.

‘We’re using every resource we’ve got’

Cllr Andrew Stevens, Cabinet Member for Environment and Infrastructure, said crews were working flat out to keep up with demand.

“We are using all of our resources to tackle as many of the highway repair requests as possible,” he said.

“Full resurfacing work is being completed at key traffic spots including the motorway junction at Peniel Green Road. Our small resurfacing teams are also out tackling large areas of road that have been impacted by the recent cold and wet weather.”

Part of a wider £300k pothole and resurfacing blitz

The council says the latest work forms part of the £300,000 pothole and resurfacing blitz announced earlier this winter. According to the authority’s early‑February update, teams filled around 960 potholes in January, with repairs running at “around 100 a day” during the coldest weeks. The same update confirmed that full resurfacing had recently been completed on Peniel Green Road at the M4 junction, along with sections of Frampton Road, Carmarthen Road and Ffynone Road in Uplands.

The council said an extra team had been brought in to “speed up and increase the number of repairs”, with more resurfacing schemes scheduled across the city in the coming weeks as the winter programme continues.

£37m proposed for highways and transport

The council’s proposed budget for 20206/27 is due to be discussed by the council’s cabinet on 19 February. This includes a new Economic Growth Fund which according to the council would include an extra £3m for resurfacing and potholes, taking next year’s roads budget to more than £12m within a wider £37m allocation for highways and transport.

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Travis Perkins relocates Swansea branch to larger Llansamlet site with new jobs created

The company has moved from the Cwmdu Industrial Estate on Carmarthen Road to a new three‑acre site on Upper Fforest Way in Llansamlet, opening to customers earlier this week.

Easier access for trades near the M4

The new location sits close to the M4, which the firm says will make it easier for tradespeople to reach jobs across Swansea and the wider region. The move brings all of the company’s services — including its Benchmarx Kitchens showroom and tool and equipment hire — onto one site.

Eight new jobs as part of expansion

Travis Perkins confirmed that its existing Swansea team has transferred to the new branch, with eight additional roles created as part of the relocation.

Regional Director Mackenzie Hallett said the move strengthens the company’s presence in the city.

“We have a proud history of serving our customers in and around Swansea and this latest development takes our offering to the next level.”

Larger stock range and extended facilities

The new branch carries more than 25,000 products, including timber, plasterboard, insulation, bricks, blocks, landscaping materials and decorating supplies. It offers Click & Collect, free delivery and opens from 7am to 5pm Monday to Friday, and 8am to noon on Saturdays.

£2,000 donation to Alzheimer’s Society

As part of the relocation, the company has donated £2,000 to Alzheimer’s Society, its chosen charity.

Hallett said the charity is “close to the hearts” of staff across the business.

Travis Perkins operates more than 550 branches nationwide and is the UK’s largest supplier of building materials to the construction industry.

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Concerns grow over ‘shoddy’ work as CES collapse leaves households in limbo

Nearly 300 jobs were lost when CES, which operated a major base in Llansamlet, ceased trading on 9 January following the UK Government’s decision to scrap the ECO4 funding scheme. The scheme had provided grants for home energy‑efficiency improvements, particularly for low‑income and vulnerable households.

Since the announcement, residents across Swansea and the wider region have contacted Sioned Williams MS, raising concerns about incomplete installations, unresolved faults and poor workmanship carried out by contractors working on behalf of CES.

Households left with no recourse

A BBC report cited a CES spokesperson confirming that the company would not be able to complete repairs or address existing complaints. Many of those affected are believed to be elderly or already living in fuel poverty.

Sioned Williams MS, Plaid Cymru Member of Senedd for South Wales West, said:

“The recent news that Consumer Energy Services has ceased trading has sent shockwaves around the region I represent: initially in terms of the job losses at Llansamlet and the impact on the vital work to reduce fuel poverty in Wales, but now it’s becoming apparent that many have been left suffering from shoddy work at the hands of contractors operating on behalf of CES, with little clue as to how this will be resolved.”

She said constituents had reported homes left in a worse condition than before applying for ECO4 grants, with no clear route for repairs or compensation.

Questions over oversight and funding

Ms Williams said the collapse raised wider concerns about how the ECO4 scheme was overseen and the impact of its removal on efforts to tackle fuel poverty in Wales.

She highlighted reports that CES recorded significant profits in 2024, despite growing complaints from customers about workmanship and unresolved faults.

Sioned Williams MS said:

“Wales has some of the oldest, coldest and leakiest housing stock in Europe, and it’s concerning that this funding stream, which was greater than the Welsh Government’s own Warm Homes Scheme, has been scrapped with no replacement to date.”

She added that the loss of ECO4 funding would have a direct impact on the Welsh Government’s ability to support vulnerable households, particularly during winter.

Impact on Warm Homes programme

Ms Williams has previously questioned Welsh Government ministers about the reliance on ECO‑funded work to supplement the Warm Homes programme. She said the Chancellor’s decision to end ECO4 at the end of March would remove around £150 million a year from energy‑efficiency work in Wales.

Sioned Williams MS said:

“It is imperative that Welsh Government now review the effectiveness of their own Warm Homes programme, because the real fear is that this matter is a serious blow to ensuring warmer and more efficient homes in Wales, right in the middle of a very cold winter.”

Hundreds of workers still seeking answers

CES employed around 295 people across Swansea and Treorchy. Administrators have confirmed the company has ceased trading with immediate effect and will not complete any further work for customers.

The collapse has left both workers and households facing uncertainty, with local representatives calling for urgent clarity on how outstanding issues will be resolved.

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