#cadle — Public Fediverse posts
Live and recent posts from across the Fediverse tagged #cadle, aggregated by home.social.
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SWANSEA: Prolific shoplifter who stole entire chocolate display case jailed after targeting city convenience stores
Richard Wolsey, 47, of no fixed abode, pleaded guilty to six counts of theft from a shop at Swansea Magistrates’ Court on 11 May and was sentenced to eight months in prison.
Wolsey targeted supermarkets and convenience stores across Cadle, Portmead, Fforestfach, Penlan and the city centre — leaving with items worth as much as £657 in a single visit.
CCTV footage from one of the businesses, released by South Wales Police, captures the moment Wolsey walked out carrying an entire Cadbury’s display stand. The footage was shared by officers as part of a wider warning to shoplifters that persistent offenders will be identified, pursued and jailed.
PC Christian Thomas of South Wales Police said Wolsey had never shown any signs of attempting to change his ways. “Shop workers should not have to deal with petty thieves targeting their businesses,” he said. “But Richard Wolsey cares not a jot for those whose lives he makes harder with his shoplifting.”
He added: “We will relentlessly pursue anyone involved in shoplifting, especially those persistent offenders like Richard Wolsey, and they will be sent to prison.”
The shoplifting convictions are the latest chapter in a long and serious criminal history. In 2023, Wolsey appeared at Swansea Crown Court on far more serious charges — pointing a knife at his former partner’s neck on a park bench and threatening to slit her throat.
Prosecutor Hannah George told the court that Wolsey and the complainant had been in an on-off relationship for some 23 years, during which the defendant had been repeatedly violent towards her. The court heard that when Wolsey was released from prison following a 2021 assault conviction, the pair had rekindled their relationship with him promising to change — but by January the following year he had returned to his old ways.
Richard Wolsey. Picture: South Wales PoliceThe knife incident occurred in June 2022. Wolsey attended a garden area the couple used to frequent, found his former partner sitting on a bench reading a book, and grabbed her — pointing a Stanley-type knife at her neck and threatening to slit her throat. When she tried to flee, he punched her repeatedly to the back of the head.
At that sentencing, Wolsey was found to have 16 previous convictions for 32 offences including 11 for violence and two involving weapons. He had also breached a restraining order designed to protect his former partner on seven separate occasions since it was first imposed in 2015.
Judge Geraint Walters jailed him for two years for the knife offence and related charges, telling him the sentences would only get longer each time he broke the order. A new indefinite restraining order was imposed.
The latest sentence means Wolsey has now spent significant periods of his life in custody. He was of no fixed abode at the time of the shoplifting offences, and South Wales Police say he remains a priority target for enforcement action.
South Wales Police say shoplifting causes real harm to the people who run and work in small businesses — and that persistent offenders like Wolsey who show no intention of stopping will face the full consequences.
Anyone who recognises shoplifting activity in their local area can report it to South Wales Police on 101 or anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
More court cases
Prolific shoplifter jailed for ten months and banned from every store she targeted
Another persistent offender sentenced after a sustained campaign of theft from Bridgend shops.Maesteg meat thief: serial shoplifter jailed after six raids in six weeks
A serial shoplifter who repeatedly targeted the same stores was banned from the town’s shops entirely.Swansea burglar jailed after targeting city business
Another Swansea offender jailed after targeting local businesses.Serial dine and dashers sentenced to jail
#Cadle #Fforestfach #Penlan #Penplas #shoplifting #SouthWalesPolice #Swansea #theft
A pair who repeatedly ran off without paying at restaurants across south Wales were jailed. -
SWANSEA: 186 homes planned for Penplas – including derelict supermarket site
Plans have been unveiled to build 186 new homes on land in Penplas that has stood derelict for nearly three decades.
The proposals focus on three sites off Milford Way — including the former Leo’s superstore, which has remained vacant since it was demolished in the mid-1990s.
Developers say the scheme could finally bring the long-neglected land back into use, delivering new housing for local families and first-time buyers.
Map showing the three proposed housing sites off Milford Way in Penplas, including the long-derelict former Leo’s supermarket siteThe plans have been submitted to Swansea Council for pre-application consideration by housing association Codi (previously known as Pobl), working in partnership with building firm Morganstone and the local authority.
If approved, the development would form a key part of wider efforts to regenerate the Penderi area, which covers Blaenymaes, Portmead, Penplas and Cadle.
The move comes amid growing demand for housing in Swansea, particularly in established communities where younger generations are struggling to stay close to family.
Local resident Dylan Jones said the plans could help keep communities together.
He said: “New houses are very much needed in this area. People who grow up here naturally want to live near to their parents and friends when they start their own families.”
He added: “We are a proud community, who always look out for each other, and these proposals look like they will also enable those who may want to downsize from family homes as they get older.”
The new homes are expected to be modern and energy efficient, with developers promising lower energy bills and environmentally friendly design.
Plans also include improved green spaces and better links between different parts of the neighbourhood, reflecting feedback from local residents.
The development builds on wider regeneration work already underway in Penderi, including the launch of a major masterplan aimed at transforming the area, as previously reported when a long-term vision for the community was unveiled.
It also follows significant investment in existing homes, including a groundbreaking energy retrofit scheme that has seen hundreds of properties fitted with solar panels to cut costs and carbon emissions — part of what we reported as the UK’s largest project of its kind.
Homes in Penderi fitted with solar panels as part of a major energy retrofit scheme already underway in the area
(Image: Codi)Codi says the latest proposals are another step in a long-term commitment to the area, where it has been a landlord for more than 30 years.
Development director Claire Tristham said the plans are about more than just housing.
She said: “These proposals add another step in delivering high-quality, energy-efficient homes providing comfortable, affordable homes.”
She added: “Regeneration here isn’t short term — it’s a long-term commitment to people, place and opportunity.”
The scheme is still at an early stage, with further consultation expected before any formal planning application is submitted.
But for many in Penplas, the prospect of finally seeing the long-empty supermarket site brought back to life could mark a turning point for the area.
Related stories from Swansea Bay News
Masterplan launched to transform a Swansea community
The wider vision behind regeneration plans in Penderi.Contract awarded for largest UK energy retrofit of its kind in Penderi
Major investment has already upgraded hundreds of existing homes in the area.UK’s largest energy retrofit scheme reaches milestone in Swansea community
#BlaenYMaes #Cadle #Codi #CodiGroup #Fforestfach #housingAssociation #LeoSSupermarket #MilfordWay #Morganstone #newHomes #Penplas #Pobl #regeneration #socialHousing #Swansea
Ongoing work to cut energy bills and emissions for local residents. -
“Inspect this, miss”: Swansea headteacher banned after decade of predatory behaviour
A married father‑of‑two who once ran a Swansea primary school has been banned from teaching for 15 years after a misconduct panel heard how he repeatedly exposed himself to female staff, showed them explicit images, and even flashed colleagues on a school trip.
James “Jamie” Richards, head of Cadle Primary School in Ravenhill from 2011 to 2021, was described as “harassing, abusive and predatory” by the Education Workforce Council (EWC) after five women gave harrowing evidence of his behaviour.
Shock allegations
The hearing was told Richards would lure staff into his office under the pretence of meetings or paperwork, only for them to be confronted with him standing semi‑naked, trousers down, smirking as he exposed himself.
One teacher recalled being summoned to collect a form, only to walk in and find him with his penis erect. Another said he propped a pair of glasses on himself and laughed “goofily” after exposing himself.
On a residential school trip, Richards allegedly turned a routine room inspection into a grotesque stunt, telling a colleague: “Inspect this, miss” as he revealed himself.
Staff described being shown “d*** pics” on his phone, explicit slides during presentations, and even a video of him caressing himself on his laptop. One colleague said she was trapped in his office while he played the footage, watching her reaction as she sat in shock.
Victims left traumatised
Witnesses told the panel they were left “shocked, numb and frightened” but feared reporting him because Richards was popular, well‑liked, and portrayed himself as a devoted family man.
One woman said she felt “worthless” and “awful” when people refused to believe her account. Another described being panicked and desperate to leave the room after being shown explicit images.
Several said they felt silenced when South Wales Police decided there was no criminal case to answer in 2021, despite the catalogue of allegations. One victim said: “He got away with it. We were left traumatised, silenced, and made to feel worthless.”
Education News
Explore the latest updates from schools, colleges, and universities across Swansea Bay and South West Wales — from policy changes to campus developments.
Excuses and investigations
Richards never attended the hearing, claiming ill health prevented him from being interviewed. But Swansea Council’s fraud team filmed him playing golf while on sick leave, undermining his excuses.
He had resigned from his post during an internal investigation in 2021, after being suspended. He was formally dismissed in 2024.
The panel heard he failed to return a school laptop, which he allegedly used to store naked images of himself.
Panel’s verdict
Panel chair Sue Davies said Richards’ behaviour was “overtly sexual in nature” and driven by a desire for gratification and the reaction of colleagues. She ruled he cannot apply for reinstatement until at least November 2040.
She added: “Mr Richards was dishonest and self‑serving. This was deeply entrenched behaviour which represents a risk to young women and colleagues.”
The EWC presenting officer said Richards had abused his position of trust and targeted women who feared they would not be believed.
📚 What is the Education Workforce Council?
Independent regulator
The EWC is the professional regulator for the education workforce in Wales, covering teachers, support staff, youth workers, and work-based learning practitioners.Established by law
It was created under the Education (Wales) Act 2014 and began operating in April 2015.Maintains a public register
All qualified education professionals in Wales must be registered with the EWC to work in maintained schools and colleges.Sets professional standards
The EWC publishes a Code of Professional Conduct and Practice that all registrants must follow.Investigates misconduct
The council hears cases involving unacceptable professional conduct, serious incompetence, or relevant criminal offences.Sanctions and bans
If allegations are proven, the EWC can issue warnings, impose conditions, or strike individuals off the register entirely.Why it matters: The EWC helps protect learners and uphold public trust in the Welsh education system.
Entrance to Cadle Primary School in Ravenhill, Swansea, where former headteacher James Richards worked from 2011 to 2021. [Google Maps]A respected head turned predator
Richards had once been seen as a jovial, approachable headteacher and a family man. Colleagues said his popularity made them reluctant to speak out, fearing they would lose their jobs or not be believed.
But behind closed doors, the hearing was told, he used his authority to arrange one‑to‑one meetings, shut doors, and expose himself.
One teacher said he told her: “I love my wife and children. I can’t help myself.” Another recalled him laughing after incidents, as if enjoying the shock he caused.
What happens next
Richards has the right to appeal the decision to the High Court within 28 days, but unless overturned he will remain barred from teaching until at least 2040.
The case has raised questions about how allegations of misconduct are handled, with victims saying they felt let down by both the school and police.
For staff at Cadle Primary, the hearing brought closure to years of silence — but also reopened painful memories of a headteacher who abused his position and left colleagues traumatised.
Related stories from Swansea Bay News
Swansea school attendance under scrutiny
Senedd member calls for urgent action as pupil absence rates spark political row.Council hits back over religion lesson claims
Swansea Council rejects “false and dangerous” allegations about teaching content at Sea View Primary.Calls to halt Swansea Valley school closures
Campaigners urge Neath Port Talbot Council to rethink plans for a new super‑school.#bannedHeadteacher #bannedTeacher #cadle #cadlePrimarySchool #educationWorkforceCouncil #ewc #headteacher #indecentExposure #swansea #teacher
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A484: Average speed cameras to be installed between Cadle and Loughor Bridge after years of fatal accidents
A new average speed camera system is set to be installed on the A484 between the Cadle roundabout and Loughor Bridge, as Swansea Council moves to tackle a road that has seen a number of fatal accidents in recent years.
Swansea Council’s cabinet has confirmed the cameras will be accompanied by improved road markings and signs along the route. The scheme forms part of the council’s 2026/27 transport investment programme, backed by Welsh Government regional transport fund money.
The A484 between Cadle and Loughor Bridge was built as a bypass in phases during the 1980s and 1990s, relieving the original route through Penllergaer, Gorseinon and Loughor of through traffic. The bypass nature of the road means it carries significant volumes of fast-moving traffic, and the junction at Victoria Road in Gowerton is a known congestion hotspot, particularly during peak hours.
Unlike fixed speed cameras — which only capture vehicles at a single point — average speed cameras measure a driver’s speed across the entire length of the monitored zone, making it much harder to slow down at a known camera location and accelerate again in between.
The decision to use average speed cameras rather than fixed cameras reflects the nature of the route, which has seen persistent speeding problems across its full length rather than at isolated spots. The road has been the scene of a number of fatal accidents in recent years, and the case for stronger enforcement has been building for some time.
A businessman based along the affected stretch welcomed the move, saying the road was badly in need of action. “It could do with it — it’s a very fast road. And it’s a lot faster at night-time. They race up and down there,” he told reporters covering last week’s cabinet meeting.
The route links Swansea’s western suburbs with Gowerton and Gorseinon, continuing to Loughor and on towards the Carmarthenshire boundary and Llanelli — making it a key commuter corridor for communities along Swansea’s western fringe.
Average speed camera systems have been widely deployed across Wales on roads where persistent speeding has been linked to serious collisions. They are generally credited with producing more sustained reductions in average speeds than fixed cameras, because drivers cannot predict exactly where enforcement is occurring along the monitored stretch.
The scheme forms part of a broader £6.7 million transport investment package for Swansea in 2026/27, which also includes a new mile-long riverside walking and cycling path along the River Tawe, flood alleviation work at Killay Square and on the Gower road at Llandewi, new EV charging infrastructure and a £750,000 e-bike hire scheme.
Swansea Council’s Head of Service for Transport and Highways, Stuart Davies, said the funding would enable the council to deliver “a wide range of transport related projects that will benefit motorists, public transport users as well as pedestrians and cyclists.”
Road safety education programmes will also continue to be funded as part of the same settlement, the council’s cabinet heard — including the Kerbcraft scheme for children learning to cross roads safely, cycle safety training and Bike Safe courses for motorcyclists.
The A484 camera scheme is expected to be delivered during the current financial year, though the council has not yet confirmed when the cameras will become operational.
Related stories from Swansea Bay News
Flood fix: Funding confirmed to finally tackle Killay Square and Gower road misery
Two of Swansea’s worst flood hotspots are part of the same transport investment package.Barges needed to build new £8m riverside cycle path linking city centre to Swansea.com Stadium
#A484 #averageSpeedCameras #Cadle #featured #Gowerton #Kingsbridge #Loughor #LoughorBridge #RoadSafety #SpeedCamera
The headline project from the same 2026/27 transport settlement.