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GOWER: ‘My daughter could be sentenced as a terrorist for damaging drones’ — Pennard mum speaks out ahead of June sentencing

A Gower mother says she is frightened for her daughter’s future after learning she could be sentenced as a terrorist next month — despite never having been charged with a terrorism offence.

Emma Kamio, from Pennard, says her daughter Leona — known as Ellie — was convicted of criminal damage at the Filton, Bristol plant of Elbit Systems, an Israeli-owned defence technology company. Ellie Kamio, 30, is one of four people due to be sentenced at Woolwich Crown Court on 12 June.

The case has drawn significant attention after reporting restrictions, which had prevented the details from being publicly known, were lifted by a judge at Woolwich Crown Court.

The four defendants were convicted of damaging quadcopter drones inside Elbit Systems’ Bristol research and development facility. Under Section 69 of the Sentencing Act 2020, a judge can apply a “terrorist connection” as an aggravating factor at sentencing — even where defendants have not been convicted of a terrorism offence.

Supporters of the four say the jury was not told this would apply when they returned their verdicts, and that had they known, they might have reached different conclusions.

A spokesperson for campaign group Defend Our Juries said: “The public will be astonished to learn that in the British justice system a protester can now be convicted of criminal damage for disrupting an arms factory, and then be sentenced as a ‘terrorist’ without having been convicted of terror charges and with this having been kept secret from the jury.”

The practical consequences of a terrorist connection finding at sentencing could be significant. The four defendants have already spent 18 months on remand — equivalent to nearly four years under standard sentencing guidelines, the upper limit for criminal damage.

With a terrorist connection applied, they would be required to serve their full sentence and could only be released early if a parole board was satisfied they had renounced their beliefs. Upon release, they could be placed on a terrorism licence for up to 15 years, requiring them to register new devices, bank accounts, emails and relationships with police.

Anti-war activist Angie Zelter, from Knucklas in Powys, who has previously been nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize, said the case was “of the utmost importance for the general public to be aware of.”

Mr Justice Johnson, who presided over the trial, ruled that the terrorist connection provision applied because the defendants were seeking to influence the Israeli government by restricting its access to weapons. The ruling has been disputed by the defendants’ supporters, who argue that a conscientious motive would normally be considered a mitigating factor rather than an aggravating one.

The judge also restricted what defence barristers could say to the jury during the trial. Five of the six defence barristers withdrew before closing speeches following those restrictions. A court order has now lifted the reporting ban on those events.

All defences on the charge of criminal damage were ruled inadmissible before evidence was heard, meaning the defendants were not permitted to argue that their actions were legally justified. Following the guilty verdicts, the prosecution did not apply to revoke bail — but the judge did so anyway, returning the defendants to prison, where they remain.

Elbit Systems describes itself as one of Israel’s largest defence electronics companies. The Filton facility is a research and development hub. The company has been the subject of sustained protest activity in the UK in recent years. The action for which the four were convicted took place before Palestine Action — a group associated with protests at Elbit facilities — was proscribed as a terrorist organisation.

The case is not the first time the conflict in Gaza has brought legal proceedings to the UK courts with a Wales connection. An Irish man living in Burry Port was detained by the Israeli navy on his 75th birthday after a Gaza aid ship was seized in international waters, while a Swansea humanitarian was among Britons aboard a Gaza flotilla that prompted MPs including Gower’s Tonia Antoniazzi to raise safety concerns.

The sentencing is due to take place on 12 June.

Related coverage

Burry Port man detained by Israeli navy after Gaza aid ship seized in international waters
An Irish man living in West Wales was held on his 75th birthday after the vessel was intercepted.

Swansea humanitarian among Britons on Gaza flotilla as MPs raise safety concerns
A Swansea resident was aboard the aid vessel as politicians called for action.

Gower MP issues update on Swansea humanitarian detained with Gaza flotilla
Tonia Antoniazzi’s intervention after the flotilla was intercepted.

SWANSEA: She started with £20 and a mop at 18 — now Rachael Flanagan has been named Wales Director of the Year

Rachael Flanagan was 18 years old, had just failed her Business Studies A-level, and had £20 to her name. She spent it printing flyers, picked up a mop, and started cleaning houses in south Wales.

Twenty years later, she has been named Medium to Large Business Director of the Year at the IoD Wales Director of the Year Awards 2026 — one of the most prestigious business leadership prizes in Wales.

Mrs Buckét, which has its headquarters in Swansea, is now on track to achieve a projected £11.5 million turnover in 2026, employing almost 500 staff and serving 185 commercial clients across Wales and Bristol.

The name itself is a nod to the classic BBC sitcom Keeping Up Appearances — a wink at Hyacinth Bucket, who always insisted her surname was pronounced “Bouquet.” The business started as a domestic cleaning service before Rachael sold that side in 2018 and pivoted entirely to commercial cleaning, where clients now include the Wales Millennium Centre, Sony UK Technology Centre and GE Wales Aviation.

Rachael is also known for her commitment to paying at least the Real Living Wage and challenging outdated perceptions of the cleaning industry. “There is a mistaken belief that cleaners are poorly educated, poorly paid and forced to work antisocial hours,” she has previously said. “That couldn’t be further from the truth.”

The IoD judges praised her strategic focus, strong governance and people-first culture, highlighting her entrepreneurial leadership and disciplined approach to growth. Mrs Buckét achieved a 30% increase in business performance in 2025, securing 30 new clients including major education sector contracts with Bassaleg High School and the RCT Education Framework.

Last month, Rachael moved into the CEO role while Kate Ablett — herself shortlisted for the IoD Skills Development Award — was promoted to Managing Director, allowing Rachael to focus on the strategic direction of the business.

Speaking after receiving the award, Rachael said: “I am absolutely thrilled to receive this award and incredibly proud of what we have achieved as a business. This recognition reflects the hard work, commitment and passion of our entire team, who consistently go above and beyond for our clients every single day.”

The ceremony at ICC Wales in Newport on 8 May also saw Swansea Bay represented by Cherrie Bija, CEO of Faith in Families, who took the Public and Third Sector prize.

Faith in Families is a Swansea Bay charity supporting children and families facing poverty, trauma and crisis through its network of Community Cwtches and the Cwtch Mawr Multibank — Wales’s first multibank, which redistributes surplus goods from businesses to families in need. Bank of England Governor Andrew Bailey visited the project earlier this year to hear how rising costs are affecting children across the region.

The wider ceremony brought together more than 300 directors, CEOs and senior leaders from across Wales. It was hosted by broadcaster Mariclare Carey-Jones in collaboration with headline sponsor Cardiff Business School, with 38 finalists shortlisted across 10 categories.

The evening also included a Chair’s Award for Excellence in Director and Board Practice, presented to Professor Simon Gibson CBE DL for his exceptional contribution to the technology sector, entrepreneurship and public service in Wales. A co-founder and CEO of Ubiquity Software and Chief Executive of Wesley Clover Corporation, he continues to support innovation and startup growth in Wales as Chairman of the Alacrity Foundation.

This year’s chosen charity partner was The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, which is celebrating its 70th anniversary in 2026.

Richard Selby MBE DL, National Chair of IoD Wales, said the awards were an opportunity to recognise exceptional leaders driving change across the Welsh economy. “Every finalist and winner has demonstrated the impact that strong leadership can have, not only within their own organisation, but across communities, industries and the wider Welsh economy,” he said.

He added: “At a time of continued challenge and change, it is inspiring to see so many leaders committed to innovation, inclusion, sustainability and developing future talent.”

He’s 18, he’s doing his A-Levels, and his school lets him leave class to fight fires

When the alerter goes off, most teenagers are thinking about lunch.

Bobi Jones is thinking about which fire engine to jump on.

The 18-year-old is one of Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service’s youngest ever on-call firefighters – and he does it while studying A-Levels at Ysgol Bro Teifi in Llandysul.

His school has even granted him special permission to leave free periods when an emergency call comes in.

Bobi applied to become an on-call firefighter shortly before his 18th birthday – and he was accepted almost immediately, joining the crew at Newcastle Emlyn Fire Station in November 2025.

He is far from the first in his family to don the uniform.

His brother, father, uncle and grandfather have all served with the fire service – representing three generations of firefighters and more than 75 years of combined service between them.

One of his most memorable early incidents was a fire at a local gym, where he was involved in rolling out hoses and establishing safety lines – exactly the kind of work most people his age couldn’t imagine.

“There’s a good crew here at Newcastle Emlyn Station, which includes members of my family,” Bobi said. “We all support each other and there’s great camaraderie here.”

Outside the fire station, Bobi plays for Newcastle Emlyn Rugby Club and is studying A-Level Business and Sport.

He says the desire to give back to his community was the main reason he applied – and he has found it genuinely rewarding.

After finishing school, Bobi plans to start an electrician apprenticeship – with a long-term goal of becoming a wholetime firefighter.

On-call firefighters remain available to respond in their own time, receiving retainer fees and call-out payments alongside whatever other work or study they’re doing.

Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service is currently recruiting for on-call firefighters – and Bobi’s message to anyone considering it is simple.

“I would say absolutely go for it,” he said. “The availability options are flexible enough to suit everyone and the Service is always recruiting for more on-call firefighters.”

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