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.

Related stories from Swansea Bay News

Brazen serial shoplifter who stole £5k worth of booze sentenced
Another prolific Swansea shoplifter brought to justice.

Serial shoplifter jailed after £861 spree targeting Swansea stores
More repeat retail crime coverage from Swansea.

Beauty haul shoplifter jailed after £927 spree at McArthurGlen
A shoplifting spree at Swansea’s designer outlet.

Dramatic video shows moment Swansea shoplifter tackled off bike
One of our most-watched crime stories.

Swansea burglar jailed after targeting city business
More coverage of repeat offending in Swansea city centre.

Thousands of shoplifting cases go unsolved in South Wales and Dyfed-Powys as charge rates remain low
The wider picture on retail crime in our area.

Uplands man jailed just two days after car theft

A Swansea man has been sentenced to 12 weeks in prison just two days after being arrested for breaking into a car and stealing items.

Darren Williams, 54, from Uplands, targeted a vehicle on a lane off Walter Road on March 23, according to South Wales Police. CCTV footage shows him smashing the front passenger window before returning an hour later to attempt another break-in.

Officers were able to match Williams to the CCTV images, arresting him shortly afterwards. Police say he was found in possession of items taken from the vehicle.

Williams pleaded guilty to theft from a motor vehicle and criminal damage to property at Swansea Magistrates’ Court.

PC Luke Morgan, speaking on behalf of South Wales Police, said the case demonstrated the force’s “zero-tolerance approach to thefts from motor vehicles.”

He added that thieves like Williams make “the good, law-abiding people of Swansea fearful that their vehicle could be targeted at any time.”

The speed of the arrest and sentencing has been described as unusually quick. Police released CCTV and bodycam footage of both the theft and the arrest, showing Williams’ brazen behaviour:

https://youtu.be/BF1YPdJaYBY?si=cbxbS2bvAGV49hdG

Residents in Uplands have been reminded to remain vigilant and report suspicious behaviour, particularly around parked cars. Police also encourage the community to use security measures such as alarms and steering locks to prevent theft.

This is not the first case of quick sentencing in the Swansea area; police say they have increasingly been cracking down on opportunistic thefts, aiming to deter repeat offenders.

The incident has sparked discussion among local residents about car security and the need for stronger community awareness. Some have praised the rapid response, noting that catching thieves quickly can help restore confidence in neighbourhood safety.

Police say Williams’ sentencing highlights how law enforcement in Swansea are acting swiftly against crimes that threaten the local community. Officers say the case serves as a warning that theft from vehicles will be pursued promptly and rigorously.

CCTV and bodycam footage from the arrest is being used to help educate the public about vehicle crime and the importance of reporting suspicious activity.

Swansea restaurants fined after serving unsafe meals to allergy sufferers

Three Swansea restaurants have been fined thousands of pounds after investigations revealed they had served meals containing undeclared allergens to customers who had specifically warned staff about their allergies.

Trading Standards officers from Swansea Council carried out undercover sampling and inspections at Saporito Pizza and Grill House on Gower Road in Killay, Indian Street Kitchen on Walter Road in Swansea city centre, and Joyato Sushi and Grill on Salubrious Passage, off Wind Street in the city centre. In each case, staff gave false assurances about food safety, but laboratory analysis later confirmed the presence of allergens including gluten, milk and egg.

At Swansea Magistrates’ Court, all three owners admitted offences under the General Food Regulations 2004 and the Food Safety Act 1990, including placing unsafe food on the market and falsely describing menu items.

The penalties varied, but all were significant. The owner of Saporito Pizza and Grill House, Seckin Bulutoglu, was ordered to pay more than £2,000 in fines, surcharges and costs. At Indian Street Kitchen, Muminul Uddin faced a bill of over £2,300. The heaviest penalty was handed to Yanrui Yi, who runs Joyato Sushi and Grill, with fines and costs totalling close to £9,500.

Council officers said the breaches included mislabelled menu items, poor allergen management systems, and a lack of staff training.

Council: “No excuses”

Cllr Andrew Williams, Cabinet Member for Corporate Service (Performance), said the cases showed how dangerous poor allergen practices can be.

“These cases highlight the potentially fatal consequences of failing to manage allergens and provide accurate information to customers,” he said.

“All the businesses involved have no excuses, having received significant advice about staff training and the dangers associated with allergens.

“Swansea Council is committed to protecting public health and will not hesitate to take enforcement action against businesses that put consumers at risk.”

Warning to businesses and customers

The council is urging all food businesses to ensure staff are properly trained and that allergen information is accurate and up to date. Consumers are also advised to ask about allergens and, if in doubt, walk away.

#allergens #cllrAndrewWilliams #featured #foodDrink #foodSafety #gowerRoad #killay #restaurant #salubriousPassage #swansea #swanseaCityCentre #swanseaCouncil #walterRoad #windStreet

The proposed active travel network expansion, which has been under discussion with residents and businesses, aims to provide dedicated cycling lanes and improved pedestrian and crossing facilities along Walter Road and Sketty Road. It would also see general upgrades to key public areas in Uplands.

However, a number of key policy and priority changes announced by the new administrations in Westminster and Cardiff on economic growth and public transportation, will now need to be fully considered by Swansea Council’s Cabinet, alongside feedback from Swansea residents and businesses before a decision is made on whether to proceed with the Sketty and Uplands scheme.

Cllr Andrew Stevens, the council’s Cabinet Member Environment and Infrastructure, said:

“Our transport and highways teams have done an amazing job in creating an extensive walking and cycling network that offers residents and visitors over 120km of safe, enjoyable off-road walking and cycling routes that connect communities, links for children to their local schools and are used and enjoyed by residents and visitors daily’.

“However, it’s clear that some remaining part of the proposed network, especially those that run through local commercial areas, are much more challenging technically to deliver without sustained disruption.  

“The active travel route for Walter Road and Sketty Road has identified some important local and broader impacts that need to be considered further before deciding whether it is right to continue.”

“We are aware of misleading comments on social media claiming that decisions were made before people have had a chance to give their views. This is completely untrue.

“However, there are some broader considerations. Cabinet will need to take into account before making a decision on whether to proceed with the scheme.

Cllr Rob Stewart, Leader of the council, said:

”People want better roads but also cheaper and more reliable bus and rail services. That is what we are attempting to deliver with over £8m being invested in local roads this year, and free bus travel being offered across Swansea during holiday periods.

“However, with the announcement of significant policy changes following the election of the new Government in Westminster and a reprioritisation and refocusing of priorities by the new Welsh Cabinet, we have the potential to do even more on public transport as a driver of economic growth and prosperity.

“Swansea is already going through its biggest ever sustained period of regeneration and has recently been identified as being one of the fastest growing cities in the UK next year.

“With both Government focusing on economic growth and taking tangible steps to invest in public owned or controlled transport across the UK, including new bus franchising in Swansea and South west Wales from 2027, and the potential for a new rail metro network services in South West Wales currently being finalised by TFW, it’s right to reassess how best to prioritise our own local transport investment in Swansea as we plan for these changes.

“We also know that Swansea is a major tourist destination and our annual programme of major events, provides a significant economic tourism boost to our local economy.

“Events like the Wales National Airshow and major concerts draw in hundreds of thousands of visitors and tourists. Planning for these events relies on the ability to safely divert traffic flows through area like Sketty and Uplands. So, investments must support and grow the local economy.”

“Transport, tourism, and economy officers are currently assessing all of the broader considerations plus the comments provided by residents and businesses during recent local engagements, so a revised report can be provided to the council’s Cabinet for a decision to be made on whether to progress this scheme.”

Uplands councillor Peter May welcomed the halting of the cycle path scheme:

In” my view common sense has prevailed. The dilemma the council had was the scheme’s engineer-ability. The last thing we wanted was to rush something through.”

[Lead image: Swansea Council]

https://swanseabaynews.com/2024/09/28/future-transport-plans-lead-to-rethink-on-city-centre-walking-and-cycling-route/

#ActiveTravel #cycling #GowerRoad #Sketty #SkettyRoad #Swansea #SwanseaCouncil #WalterRoad