SWANSEA: Meats, milkshakes, sunglasses and cheese — the one-man crime wave that hit 13 city centre shops in a month

A prolific shoplifter who visited the same Co-op nine times in a single month — and hit 13 Swansea city centre shops in four weeks — has been jailed and banned from every Co-op branch in the city.

James Brittain, 46, now of Alexandra Road, Swansea, pleaded guilty to 13 counts of theft from a shop at Swansea Magistrates Court, stealing goods worth almost £700 during a spree in March and April this year.

Brittain targeted Co-op branches on Bryn Road and Walter Road nine times, taking items including meats, ready meals, bottles of alcohol, chocolate and milkshakes. He also stole alcohol and cheese from Tesco on two occasions, bread from a Greggs bakery, and pairs of sunglasses from Vision Express.

The court heard that his long-term drug use had taken a significant toll on his physical and mental health. His advocate described him as someone who had become “institutionalised” to life in prison and who struggles when in the community.

Brittain was sentenced to 24 weeks in prison and will serve 40 per cent of that time in custody before being released on licence. He was also made subject to a criminal behaviour order prohibiting him from entering any Co-op branch in Swansea for the next three years.

South Wales Police say that the order is the sixth secured by its Neighbourhood Policing Team in Swansea for retail crime in the past two years. The application was supported by evidence compiled through close partnership working with local retailers and local authority CCTV.

Officers added that the broader enforcement effort has contributed to a 14% fall in shop thefts in Swansea city centre.

City Neighbourhood Inspector Andrew Hedley said tackling prolific offenders remained a priority. “Securing this sixth Criminal Behaviour Order in two years for retail crime reflects the proactive and evidence-led work of officers who are focused on those causing the greatest harm through repeat offending,” he said.

“Alongside targeted enforcement and highly visible policing, this work has contributed to a 14% reduction in shop thefts in the city centre. We will continue to focus our efforts and maintain our determination to protect local businesses and disrupt persistent retail crime.”

Swansea Business Crime Reduction Manager Steve Gallagher said the order sent a clear message to repeat offenders. “Persistent retail crime has a significant impact on retailers, their staff, and the overall confidence of the city centre, and this action shows that repeat offending is being tackled effectively,” he said.

“Through strong partnership working with South Wales Police, we are seeing meaningful enforcement that helps deter further offences, reduce financial losses, and improve the day-to-day safety of those working and trading in the city.”

Brittain has 30 previous convictions for 114 offences, including nine house burglaries, 22 non-dwelling burglaries, aggravated vehicle taking, and going equipped for burglary. In December 2020 he was sentenced to 32 months in prison for two attempted burglaries in the Sketty area of Swansea.

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#BusinessCrimeReduction #CoOp #CriminalBehaviourOrder #NeighbourhoodPolicingTeam #shoplifting #Sketty #SouthWalesPolice #SwanseaCrownCourt #VisionExpress #WalterRoad

GOWER: Former teacher jailed after sustained campaign of coercive control against wife

Christopher Haynes, 58, of Whitestone Avenue, Bishopston, Gower, was sentenced at Swansea Crown Court after pleading guilty to engaging in controlling and coercive behaviour. He entered his plea on what was due to be the first day of his trial.

The court heard how Haynes gradually tightened his grip over his wife’s life during their marriage, dictating who she was permitted to see, who could visit their home, and even what music was played in the house. He dismissed her work colleagues as “below him” and tried to pressure her into giving up her job entirely.

Prosecutor Craig Jones said Haynes viewed himself as “intellectually superior” to those around him and did not want his wife spending time with others or doing anything outside the home without him. Alongside the control, he would accuse her of being lazy around the house while simultaneously spending money the family did not have on expensive holidays and showering her with gifts.

Haynes repeatedly told his wife he had powerful connections within the Freemasons and warned her it would only take “one call, one bullet” to have her killed through his contacts in the organisation. The court heard he also engaged in frequent bouts of heavy drinking, with his wife later describing home life as like “walking on eggshells every day”.

When arrested, Haynes denied making any threats and claimed he was “besotted” with his wife and would do anything for her.

The complainant read a statement to the court in which she described how Haynes had “love bombed” her when they first met, making her feel as though they were soul mates – something she now recognises as part of the manipulation.

She told the court she had been an “independent and adventurous woman” but that Haynes had isolated her and shattered her confidence and safety with his jealous, abusive, coercive, degrading, and controlling behaviour and repeated threats.

She described the family home as a “prison” and said she was “a shell of the woman I once was” who now exists only for her children.

Caitlin Brazel, representing Haynes, said the lateness of his guilty plea stemmed from his reluctance to admit he was an alcoholic and his “deep-seated shame and embarrassment” at what he had done.

She told the court that after being forced to leave the teaching career he loved at the age of 50 due to deteriorating health, Haynes had turned to alcohol as a coping mechanism. The court heard that following his divorce from the complainant, Haynes had remarried around three years ago.

Judge Geraint Walters told Haynes he had “ruthlessly controlled and manipulated” his former wife and “effectively stole her identity”.

The judge noted that in his pre-sentence report, Haynes had sought to blame his ex-partner and justify his behaviour, and said it appeared the defendant was incapable of fully accepting his wrongdoing.

Haynes received a 10 per cent discount for his guilty plea and was sentenced to 21 months in prison. He will serve up to half the sentence in custody before being released on licence to serve the remainder in the community. He was also made subject to a lifelong restraining order prohibiting any contact with his former wife. Haynes has no previous convictions.

[Lead image: South Wales Police]

#Bishopston #coerciveControl #Gower #SouthWalesPolice #SwanseaCrownCourt

SWANSEA: Man told support worker he wanted to go back to prison for gym access — then set his hostel on fire to get there

A man has been jailed after setting fire to his hostel using an aerosol as an accelerant — just hours after telling a support worker he wanted to go back to prison for the food and gym facilities.

Matthew Draper, 40, was living in a hostel for people with complex needs on The Strand in Swansea city centre, run by The Wallich charity, when he set the fire on January 24 this year.

The Wallich is a Welsh charity supporting homeless and vulnerable people across Wales. Its Dinas Fechan project on The Strand is a 15-bedroom hostel providing shelter and support to single homeless people with a range of complex needs — including mental health issues, learning difficulties, offending behaviour and substance misuse.

Each resident has their own living space, meets regularly with a support worker, and can access help with everything from drug and alcohol support to advice on finding permanent accommodation.

Swansea Crown Court heard that earlier that afternoon Draper had told his support worker he wanted to return to prison where he would get “three square meals a day” and access to a gym.

Shortly before 4.45pm, he used an aerosol as an accelerant to set fire to lockers against an external wall of the hostel. The flames quickly took hold and reached a window some 15ft above ground level, though they did not enter the building. Rather than raise the alarm or flee, Draper stayed at the scene to watch the fire.

Staff were alerted and called the emergency services. Officers from the nearby fire station arrived almost immediately, the hostel was evacuated, and the blaze was extinguished.

Draper was arrested and answered “no comment” to all questions in interview.

Formerly of Geiriol Road, Townhill, Swansea, Draper has 21 previous convictions for 61 offences, the majority of which are for theft. His most recent prior conviction, from October 2023, was for shoplifting women’s clothes from the Matalan store in Cwmdu, Swansea, and failing to surrender to court.

His advocate told the court that at the age of 40 it was to be hoped Draper was motivated to “deal with the issues that have dogged him for much of his life.”

Draper had previously pleaded guilty to arson and arson with recklessness as to whether life was endangered. With a discount for his guilty plea he was sentenced to 27 months in prison. He will serve up to half that time in custody before being released on licence.

PC Gareth Bennett, of South Wales Police, said the behaviour could have cost lives. “Idiotic behaviour like that shown by Matthew Draper could have resulted in serious injury or even lives being lost on that day,” he said.

“This was completely reckless behaviour and it cannot be tolerated. He is clearly a danger to society and prison is the best place for him.”

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#Arson #SouthWalesPolice #Swansea #SwanseaCrownCourt #TheStrand #TheWallich #Townhill

https://www.fogolf.com/1232250/fire-near-rhondda-golf-club-prompts-emergency-response/ Fire near Rhondda Golf Club prompts emergency response #Golf #GolfNews #SouthWalesPolice

DRUG DEALING: Ammanford pair used ‘Chinese’ as codeword for cocaine orders — jailed after being caught waiting for a delivery in Swansea

Two men from Ammanford have been jailed after being caught supplying cocaine on the streets of Swansea — with an examination of their phones revealing drug users were ordering their fix by asking for a “Chinese.”

Jac Cadman, 23, of Florence Road, Ammanford, and Jamie Cook, 31, of Tabernacle Road, Glanaman, were spotted by officers on patrol in the Blaenymaes area of Swansea on March 13 this year, sitting in a parked Renault on Pentregethin Road. The officers noted the pair appeared “overly nervous and fidgety” and that the vehicle was registered and insured to a provisional licence holder.

A search under the Misuse of Drugs Act uncovered 28g of cocaine and £470 in cash in Cadman’s pockets, and 5g of cocaine and £880 in cash on Cook. Three mobile phones were also seized.

Subsequent searches of the defendants’ home addresses revealed further cash — £1,620 and an additional $1,330 in US currency were found at Cadman’s property.

Swansea Crown Court heard that messages on Cadman’s phone showed “clear evidence of involvement in the supply of cocaine,” and that he had been waiting in Pentregethin Road to collect a delivery for onward supply at the time of his arrest.

Cook’s phone told a more colourful story. Caitlin Brazel, prosecuting, told the court that a large number of messages from known drug users referred to buying “Chinese” — which she said appeared to be a codeword for cocaine. The prosecution said police concluded Cook’s phone was being used as the drugs line.

Investigators were also able to link messages from a phone seized in a separate drugs investigation in 2025 to Cook, suggesting he had been involved in supplying cocaine since at least 2024. Cook had previously been convicted in 2022 of possession with intent to supply and being concerned in the supply of cocaine after being caught operating as a street dealer in the Penlan area of Swansea by a plain-clothed police officer.

Both men answered “no comment” to all questions in interview, save for Cadman telling officers he worked in tarmacking.

The court heard that Cadman, who has no previous convictions, had begun drinking and taking drugs as a teenager as an escape from the pressures of being a carer for his parents. His barrister said he had found himself in debt and turned to dealing as a result, and that he was “deeply ashamed” of the impact on his family — including an unborn child.

Cook’s barrister told the court his client had experienced adverse childhood experiences linked to his mother’s addiction issues, and that the breakdown of a relationship following his 2022 imprisonment had seen him turn back to drugs. While on remand, the court heard, Cook had reflected on his situation and hoped to undertake the 12 Steps addiction programme upon release.

Recorder Greg Bull KC, sentencing, said those who involve themselves in Class A drug supply are “dealing in human misery” and that the courts would always treat such offending seriously.

With one-third discounts for their guilty pleas, Cadman was sentenced to 28 months in prison and Cook to 40 months. Both will serve no more than half their sentences in custody before being released on licence.

Sergeant Luke Tucker, of South Wales Police, said: “Both Jac Cadman and Jamie Cook will have felt great when they thought that their Class A drug dealing was going to net them a quick windfall. However, unfortunately for them, that feeling was quickly shattered when officers caught them in the act.

“Both will now follow in the footsteps of other drug dealers who have plagued the streets of Swansea as they rightfully head to prison.”

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#Ammanford #BlaenYMaes #DrugDealing #drugs #SouthWalesPolice

NEATH: Fire damages derelict Katz nightclub — weeks before it was due to go under the hammer again

A derelict Neath nightclub that has been empty for years was damaged by fire in the early hours of Tuesday morning — just weeks before it was due to go back under the hammer at auction.

Crews from Neath, Morriston, Pontardawe and Port Talbot were called to the former Katz nightclub on Queen Street Back Road at 3.11am on Tuesday after fire broke out at the rear of the two-storey building. The blaze affected the first and second floors.

A spokesperson for Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service said: “Crews utilised eight breathing apparatus, three hose reel jets, a 10m ladder, three thermal imaging cameras and small tools to extinguish the fire. The turn table ladder was used to gain access to the building.”

Fire crews left the scene at 6.53am — more than three and a half hours after being called out. A road closure was put in place on Alfred Street and Queen Street Back Road during the incident but has since been lifted.

South Wales Police, who were also in attendance, said the cause of the fire was yet to be determined and is under investigation.

The building has been empty for a number of years since the nightclub closed. For those who remember it, Katz was a fixture of Neath’s night-time economy — a sizeable two-storey venue with a prominent bar, raised stage, and a large dancefloor with original parquet wood flooring that survives inside to this day.

The original parquet dancefloor and the bar with its distinctive diamond-pattern detail, still visible inside the abandoned building (Image: Seel & Co Auctions)One of the first-floor bar areas, with mirrored panels and suspended ceiling still in place (Image: Seel & Co Auctions)

The property failed to sell when it went to online auction with a guide price of £145,000 in March. It is currently listed for auction again with a reduced guide price of £85,000, with bidding closing on May 12. The listing describes it as a building “in a state of disrepair” with potential for conversion into flats, a gym, boutique cinema, restaurant or creative studio space, subject to planning permission.

The rear of the building, where Tuesday’s fire is understood to have started (Image: Seel & Co Auctions)

The full extent of the damage caused by Tuesday’s fire is not yet known, and it is unclear what impact — if any — it will have on the upcoming auction.

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#auction #buildingFire #KatzNightclub #MidAndWestWalesFireAndRescueService #Neath #QueenStreet #SouthWalesPolice #SteelCoAuctions

NEATH: Man jailed for strangling vulnerable partner who he threatened would end up back on the streets

A man has been jailed after strangling his vulnerable partner to the point she lost consciousness, a court has heard.

Daniel Rogers, 38, formerly of Croft Road in Neath but now of no fixed abode, was sentenced to 18 months in prison after pleading guilty to intentional strangulation at Swansea Crown Court. He has also been made subject to a restraining order protecting his victim.

Rogers had initially denied the offence, claiming the injuries to the woman had been caused during consensual sexual activity — a defence he maintained until shortly before trial, when he reversed his plea and admitted the charge.

The court heard that Rogers and the woman had met in 2021, when the victim was homeless and Rogers had an income and stable accommodation. Over time she developed feelings for him, but he used her vulnerability to control her, making threats that she would end up back on the streets.

The attack took place on April 28, 2024, at an Airbnb rental property in the Neath area. The court heard that both had been drinking when a verbal argument broke out. Rogers became increasingly aggressive, screaming in the woman’s face before grabbing her and throwing her onto the bed. He then put both hands around her throat and squeezed.

The victim struggled to get free, later describing how she felt unable to breathe and feared her eyes “were going to burst.” She lost consciousness and cannot remember how the assault ended — only that police were present when she came round. A neighbour had called 999 after hearing screams.

When officers arrived, the victim told them Rogers had done nothing wrong. It was only the following day, speaking to a domestic violence support worker, that she revealed what had really happened — saying she had not told the truth to police because she did not think she would be believed and feared Rogers would not be arrested.

Rogers came to the attention of police again in August 2024 after a member of the public called 999 reporting screams and a disturbance involving the same woman. Following his arrest, the victim disclosed the full details of the April strangulation.

In a statement read to the court, the victim said Rogers’ behaviour had severely impacted her mental health and that she no longer feels safe. She said she had believed she was going to die when he strangled her, and that looking back she believed he had deliberately exploited her vulnerabilities and the fact she had nowhere else to go.

Recorder Greg Bull KC, sentencing, told Rogers that strangulation was not permitted in law even with consent, and that its consequences can be fatal. He noted Rogers’ “appalling” record for violence and expressed concern at the length of time the case had taken to come to court.

Rogers has 26 previous convictions for 27 offences, including battery of a former partner, assaulting emergency workers, breaching a non-molestation order, and a particularly chilling offence of sending threatening communications to an ex-girlfriend — including messages saying he was going to kill her, accompanied by a photograph of himself digging what he described as her grave.

Sergeant Danielle Walters said: “Daniel Rogers’ victim felt like he was going to kill her as a result of his domestic violence. She had been scared to report what he was doing at first, due to her fear of reprisal from Rogers if she did so.

“Sadly, this is an all-too-common occurrence in cases of domestic violence such as this. She has been through a terrible ordeal, and we are pleased that she is finally free of his abuse now that he is going to prison. The victim is receiving all the available support after coming through the ordeal.”

Rogers was sentenced to 18 months in prison. With credit for his guilty plea he will serve up to half that time in custody before being released on licence.

Anyone experiencing domestic abuse can contact the Live Fear Free helpline on 0808 80 10 800, available 24 hours a day. The Samaritans can be reached on 116 123.

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#domesticAbuse #domesticViolence #Neath #SouthWalesPolice #SwanseaCrownCourt

Port Talbot man who preyed on vulnerable girls jailed for rape

45-year-old Michael Allen, from Port Talbot, was convicted in March of four counts of rape against two separate complainants. Both victims were under the age of 18 at the time of Allen’s offending.

A judge at Swansea Crown Court praised the courage of his victims in coming forward and giving evidence at trial, describing them as “impressive young ladies.”

The court heard that both the defendants victims were vulnerable young girls who were experiencing difficulties at home when he raped them.

Allen, of Tanygores Street, Port Talbot, had previously been convicted of two counts of rape of a girl under 13 and two counts of rape of a girl under 16 when he returned to the dock for sentencing.

Judge Catherine Richards said given everything she had heard, Allen was sexually attracted to young girls and poses a serious risk to such girls were he to gain access to them again.

Allen was given a sentence of 24 years in prison and will be registered on the Sex Offenders list for the rest of his life. He has also been made subject to an indefinite sexual harm prevention order to control his access to girls under the age of 16

Detective Constable Penny Romanello said:

“This thorough investigation has shown that Michael Allen is an incredibly dangerous man capable of horrendous sexual crimes against children.

“His two victims have been through a dreadful ordeal at his hands; one which we cannot even begin to understand the damage that he has caused them both physically and mentally.

“We commend them both for their bravery in speaking up about Michael Allen’s crimes.”

If you have been sexually abused, and you are not yet ready to report to police, please don’t suffer in silence. A wealth of information and details of support services can be found here: https://www.south-wales.police.uk/…/rape-sexual…/

[Lead image: South Wales Police]

#LawAndEnforcement #PortTalbot #rape #SouthWalesPolice #SwanseaCrownCourt

CAUGHT DEALING: Townhill man who tried to outrun police found hiding behind parked car — and cocaine was on the ground beside him

A Swansea drug dealer who tried to flee from plain-clothed police officers has been jailed for three years and eight months after being caught hiding behind parked cars — with cocaine on the ground nearby.

Kian Meredith, 22, of Caradog Place, Townhill, was spotted by officers on patrol in Prince of Wales Road in Swansea, who observed what they believed was a drug deal taking place among a group of known drug users. When officers approached, the group scattered. Meredith ran towards the Dyfatty junction before being found a short time later crouching behind two parked vehicles on Greenhill Street.

On the ground near him were wraps of cocaine. When searched, officers found a mobile phone and £115 in cash.

A download of Meredith’s phone later revealed messages related to the supply of cocaine and crack cocaine over the previous three months, as well as a so-called “tick list” — a record of money owed to him by customers. He answered no comment to all questions in police interview.

Meredith had already pleaded guilty to being concerned in the supply of cocaine and to simple possession of cocaine when he appeared at Swansea Crown Court for sentencing.

The case was made significantly more serious by Meredith’s history. He was out of prison on licence at the time of the offence, having previously been convicted of conspiracy to supply heroin and conspiracy to supply cocaine in 2023 — offences linked to the Jack line, a drugs network that was supplying significant quantities of both cocaine and heroin to users around Swansea. He received three years in a young offenders institution for those matters.

His barrister Emily Bennett told the court that Meredith had relapsed into cocaine and crack use in January this year “for no particular reason,” which had led to what she described as a “spiral” of addiction, debt and then dealing. She said his decision to run from officers when approached reflected his lack of maturity.

Ms Bennett said her client wanted to use his time in custody constructively, tackle his addiction issues, and train as a barber “so he is in a better position when he comes out of prison.”

Judge Catherine Richards said she accepted that Meredith’s life had been blighted by drugs, but said that by the age of just 22 he had been caught dealing on three separate occasions — and that the most recent offence was aggravated by the fact he had been on licence at the time. With a one-third reduction for his guilty pleas, she imposed a sentence of three years and eight months. He will serve 40% of that in custody before being released on licence.

The area where Meredith was caught has been the focus of a dedicated crackdown by South Wales Police, which has already seen crime fall 12% and anti-social behaviour drop 69% in the Dyfatty area following targeted enforcement activity.

South Wales Police Sergeant Luke Tucker said: “Kian Meredith was caught in the act while trying to peddle his poison onto the streets of Swansea. He is now going to prison for almost four years — a very costly price to pay which shows that dealing Class A drugs is just not worth it. Our officers will find you and you will go to prison.”

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#cocaine #DrugDealing #Dyfatty #JackLine #KianMeredith #SouthWalesPolice #SwanseaCrownCourt #Townhill

Swansea: Waun Wen man jailed after being found guilty of rape

30-year-old Adam Ezalden, from Waun Wen, punched and kicked his victim on a number of occasions after the victim had made clear that he did not have her consent.

The victim was only able to escape the assault, which took place in April 2024, after elbowing Ezalden to the face and taking the opportunity to run away.

Ezalden was found guilty of rape and assault occasioning actual bodily harm in March 2026. He has this week been sentenced to seven and a half years in prison.

Detective Constable Carys Davies said:

“This was a harrowing attack in which Adam Ezalden used his clear power over the victim to achieve sexual gratification, even using violence as he did so.

“He is clearly a danger to women and is therefore not welcome on the streets of Swansea.

“We hope that the victim is able to overcome her trauma suffered at the hands of Adam Ezalden, and commend her for her bravery in coming forward.”

If you have been sexually abused, and you are not yet ready to report to police, please don’t suffer in silence. A wealth of information and details of support services can be found here.

[Lead image: South Wales Police]

More local Police & Crime stories can be found here.

#CourtNews #rape #SouthWalesPolice #WaunWen