#dyfatty — Public Fediverse posts
Live and recent posts from across the Fediverse tagged #dyfatty, aggregated by home.social.
-
HAFOD: Snapchat messages led police to a dealer’s ketamine stash — hidden in a Tesco bag in his spare bedroom
A Hafod drug dealer whose Snapchat messages gave him away has been jailed for four years — after police found 2.7kg of ketamine and hundreds of grams of cannabis stashed in a Tesco carrier bag in his spare bedroom.
Flynn Johnson-Andrews, 28, of Grandison Street, was identified during an unrelated phone download, when Snapchat messages showed him selling cannabis and ketamine, South Wales Police said.
Officers went to his home on 9 June and arrested him as he got out of his car and headed for his front door, Swansea Crown Court heard.
After his phone was seized, the 28-year-old told officers they would find ketamine and cannabis in a spare bedroom — where a Tesco carrier bag was found holding packages of ketamine totalling some 2.7kg, along with 623g of cannabis.
The search also turned up cannabis joints under the bed and on a bedside cabinet, small snap bags, and weighing scales in the kitchen covered in white powder.
Messages sent and received on his phone over the previous few days related to the supply of cannabis, the court heard.
Johnson-Andrews was on licence at the time, having been sentenced to 32 months in prison in 2024 for supplying cocaine and cannabis. He has five previous convictions for 11 offences, including possession of Class A, B and C drugs and three counts of drug-driving.
He pleaded guilty to possession of cannabis with intent to supply and possession of ketamine with intent to supply, and was jailed for four years — four years for the ketamine offence and six months for the cannabis, to run concurrently — after a one-third discount for his guilty pleas.
His barrister, Andrew Evans, told the court that both of his client’s parents had struggled with drug addiction, saying it was “perhaps not surprising that he is a young man with his own addiction issues”. He conceded an immediate custodial sentence was inevitable.
Judge Huw Rees told Johnson-Andrews it was not his fault that he did not have the best start in life, and said that as he approached his 30th birthday he was left wondering what direction his life would take. The judge told him he would make a “good teacher” telling people to give up drugs.
Acting Inspector Jonathan Shaddick said: “This was an excellent arrest, charge and sentence which demonstrates quick and efficient police work following a thorough investigation from start to finish.
“I recognise the work of PC Finch, who led the warrant, along with the fine work of other City NPT officers involved in this investigation.
“With our Clear Hold Build work currently ongoing in the area to build a better Dyfatty, this sends a strong message that those in the area who are involved in criminality can expect to be tracked down and brought to justice as we address the long-standing issues the people of Dyfatty have had to contend with for too long.”
The Clear Hold Build operation — which clears an area of organised crime, holds the ground, then works with the community to build longer-term resilience — has been credited with cutting crime in Dyfatty by more than a tenth in four months. Over the same period, a row of long-shuttered High Street units reopened as the Dyfatty Junction community hub.
Hafod itself sits within the wider turnaround area. The neighbourhood is one of six — alongside Dyfatty, North Hill, High Street, Brynmelyn and Waun Wen — covered by a £20m, decade-long UK Government investment programme, and applications are open until later this month for residents to join the board deciding how the money is spent.
South Wales Police said tackling organised crime was a priority for the force, and that it would “continue to be relentless” in pursuing criminals to protect communities from harm.
Anyone who suspects drug dealing is taking place — or is concerned that a young person or vulnerable adult may have been targeted by an organised crime group — can call South Wales Police on 101, or report anonymously to Crimestoppers online or on 0800 555 111. “You don’t have to be certain, just concerned,” the force said. In an emergency, always call 999.
Related stories from Swansea Bay News
SWANSEA: Empty Dyfatty shops reborn as community hub in neighbourhood’s turnaround
Crime in the area is down by more than a tenth in four months as the regeneration takes hold.DYFATTY: Want a say in how £20m transforms your neighbourhood? Applications open for the board that decides
Residents of Hafod, Dyfatty and four neighbouring communities can apply to steer a decade of investment.DYFATTY: Residents asked to shape the next chapter of their community’s turnaround
#BuildingABetterDyfatty #Cannabis #ClearHoldBuild #DrugDealing #Dyfatty #Hafod #ketamine #SouthWalesPolice #Swansea #SwanseaCrownCourt
The regeneration and safety drive moves into its next phase. -
DYFATTY: Want a say in how £20m transforms your neighbourhood? Applications open for the board that decides
People across a swathe of north-central Swansea are being invited to apply for the board that will decide how £20m of UK Government money is spent in their neighbourhoods over the next ten years.
Applications opened today to join the area’s new Pride in Place Neighbourhood Board, which will draw up a ten-year vision and investment plan.
“North Gate Swansea” is the name given to the programme area, covering North Hill, Upper High Street, Dyfatty, Hafod, Brynmelyn, Waun Wen and surrounding neighbourhoods — the cluster of communities north of the railway station selected earlier this year for up to £20m under the UK Government’s Pride in Place programme.
The board will be chaired by Thom Lynch, co-founder of the High Street charity Matthew’s House, whose appointment was announced last month.
Anyone who lives, works, volunteers, studies or has a strong connection to the area can apply, and no previous board experience is needed. Applications can be made in writing or by video, with a deadline of 12pm on Thursday 16 July.
Mr Lynch said more than forty local people had expressed an interest before applications had even opened.
“We are looking for people who care deeply about this area and want to play an active role in helping it thrive,” he said. “What matters most is your passion for the community, your willingness to work with others and your desire to create lasting positive change.”
Swansea West MP Torsten Bell said people in the area deserved “not only to see investment to strengthen their communities” but “a voice in what those investments should be”.
“I fought for this funding because it gives us the chance to show that no part of Swansea can be written off,” he said. “Please do get involved.”
Swansea Council leader Rob Stewart said the board would ensure local people helped shape priorities and decisions, adding that he looked forward to “a wide range of people stepping forward”.
Places on the board are limited, but applicants who miss out will be encouraged to join a wider North Gate Swansea Changemakers Network supporting projects across the area.
Anyone wanting to find out more can meet Mr Lynch at an informal drop-in session at Matthew’s House on High Street this Friday, 10 July, between 11am and 1pm.
Application packs are available at northgateswanseapip.co.uk or by emailing [email protected].
The area has seen a run of recent investment activity, including a row of long-empty High Street units reopening as the Dyfatty Junction community space last month, as police reported falling crime in the neighbourhood.
North Gate Swansea is one of three Pride in Place areas locally. In Llanelli, where an equivalent board is steering the town’s own £20m programme, applications close today — while the Afan Valley’s £20m drive is chaired by former Neath Port Talbot Council chief executive Karen Jones, who was recognised in the King’s Birthday Honours last month.
Related stories from Swansea Bay News
DYFATTY: Swansea homelessness charity boss to lead £20m drive to transform city neighbourhoods
Thom Lynch’s appointment as chair of the North Gate Swansea board.SWANSEA: Empty Dyfatty shops reborn as community hub in neighbourhood’s turnaround
Long-shuttered High Street units reopen as the Dyfatty Junction community space.LLANELLI: Residents wanted for board steering town’s £20m, 10-year transformation
The equivalent Pride in Place board across five Llanelli wards.HONOURS: ‘An incredible honour’ — MBE for the council chief now leading the Afan Valley’s £20m revival
#CllrRobStewart #Dyfatty #GatewayCommunities #Hafod #homelessness #MatthewSHouse #PrideInPlace #SwanseaCouncil #TorstenBell #WaunWen
Karen Jones takes on the Afan Valley’s Pride in Place programme. -
DYFATTY: Lane closures set to stay into Monday after fire ripped through industrial unit
Dyfatty Street is down to one outbound lane — and likely to stay that way into Monday — after a huge fire tore through an industrial unit on Saturday, sending black smoke across Swansea.
Drivers face lane closures into Monday’s rush hour after a major fire ripped through an industrial unit on Dyfatty Street in Swansea.
The fire broke out at around 12.30pm on Saturday, sending a plume of thick black smoke over the city centre that could be seen for miles around.
The unit — used as a vehicle workshop, with cars parked tightly around the building — was engulfed, with flames bursting through its roof as firefighters trained hoses on the blaze.
Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service sent ten appliances — six main pumps, two water bowsers, an aerial appliance, a high-volume pump and an incident command unit.
A fire service spokesperson described it as “quite a large scale incident for us”.
People living nearby were told to keep doors and windows closed, with South Wales Police warning of heavy smoke around the Matthew Street flats and closing Dyfatty Street in both directions.
The fire was brought under control by around 4pm, the service said.
The building was left severely damaged — the aftermath pictures show its roof largely destroyed — but crews stopped the flames spreading to the neighbouring Enterprise Rent-A-Car premises.
No injuries were reported. The cause has not been confirmed, and the fire service said further investigations would follow.
The closure brought parts of the city centre to a standstill on Saturday afternoon, with traffic backing up on High Street and Carmarthen Road as drivers diverted.
Swansea West MP Torsten Bell urged people to stay away while emergency services worked, describing it as “a very significant event” in a video posted on social media.
Swansea Council said on Saturday evening that crews were dampening down the fire and that the road surface itself was being assessed for damage.
By 8.45pm the road had fully reopened to inbound traffic, with one lane running outbound.
But in a further update the council said the outbound side would stay at one lane while the building’s owner has its condition assessed — and was unlikely to fully reopen on Monday.
The fire-damaged building behind safety barriers, next to the Enterprise Rent-A-Car premises crews protected. Image: Swansea CouncilDrivers heading out of the city centre on Monday morning are being advised to consider alternative routes.
The fire struck at the heart of an area midway through a major turnaround — Dyfatty sits within a £20m, decade-long UK Government-funded drive to transform the neighbourhoods north of the railway station, and less than a fortnight ago a row of long-empty units reopened as the Dyfatty Junction community hub.
Residents are currently being asked to help shape the next phase of the area’s regeneration.
Related stories from Swansea Bay News
DYFATTY: Swansea homelessness charity boss to lead £20m drive to transform city neighbourhoods
The decade-long programme transforming the neighbourhoods north of Swansea railway station.SWANSEA: Empty Dyfatty shops reborn as community hub in neighbourhood’s turnaround
Long-shuttered units reopened as Dyfatty Junction, with crime in the area down by more than a tenth.DYFATTY: Residents asked to shape the next chapter of their community’s turnaround
#Dyfatty #fire #MidAndWestWalesFireAndRescueService #OystermouthRoad #SouthWalesPolice
People across Dyfatty are being invited to have their say on the next phase of the area’s regeneration. -
DYFATTY: Residents asked to shape the next chapter of their community’s turnaround
Residents in Dyfatty are being asked to help shape the future of their community, as a major effort to turn the area around moves into its next phase.
A new residents’ survey has been launched as part of the Building a Better Dyfatty programme, a multi-agency drive to make lasting improvements to the area.
It builds on months of work that has already seen hundreds of conversations with residents, businesses, community groups, school pupils, parents and students about the issues that matter most to them.
The programme is led by Swansea Public Services Board and aims to tackle long-standing problems the partners link to serious organised crime, while supporting a safer, stronger community.
It brings together South Wales Police, Swansea Council and other organisations to take coordinated action.
The work began with targeted enforcement to disrupt and remove criminal activity, followed by sustained partnership work to keep those gains, prevent further harm and rebuild confidence.
That approach mirrors the “Clear, Hold, Build” model recently highlighted by police inspectors, who praised the tactic of flooding a troubled area with support and then working to keep crime down for good.
The early signs have been encouraging. Police recently reported crime in the area down by more than a tenth in four months.
Andrea Harrington, chair of Swansea’s Public Services Board, said the partners had spent recent months in Dyfatty “listening, learning and understanding what people want to see.”
She said that work would continue, to capture as many voices as possible and give everyone a genuine chance to have their say.
“If we are serious about change, it must be led by the people who live and work here,” she said.
Swansea Council leader Rob Stewart said it was clear from the conversations held so far that people cared deeply about Dyfatty and wanted to be part of its future.
He said the consultation was about making sure those voices continued to be heard, so support and services could be shaped around what mattered most to the community.
“We’re committed to working alongside people to build something that delivers real, lasting change,” he said.
The launch follows the recent opening of Dyfatty Junction, a new community hub in a row of long-empty High Street units that will bring services, support and partners together in one place.
It also comes as a separate £20m regeneration drive gets under way to transform a cluster of neighbourhoods north of Swansea railway station over the next decade.
Residents, businesses and community groups can take part in the survey on the Building a Better Dyfatty website.
Related stories from Swansea Bay News
Empty Dyfatty shops reborn as community hub
The new Dyfatty Junction opens as police report crime down more than a tenth.Charity boss to lead £20m drive to transform city neighbourhoods
Thom Lynch to chair the board spending £20m around Swansea railway station.Police inspectors highlight Swansea’s Clear, Hold, Build work
#BuildingABetterDyfatty #Dyfatty #PublicServicesBoard #SouthWalesPolice #Swansea #SwanseaCouncil
A watchdog report on how the region tackles serious organised crime. -
RAPE TRIAL: Swansea man jailed for 16 years after attack on vulnerable woman who later died
A Swansea man has been jailed for 16 years for raping and assaulting a vulnerable woman he had met hours earlier — and for stealing her dog.
Dominik Szymanski, 47, attacked the woman at his flat on Matthew Street before dragging her out of the property and leaving her in a lift, Swansea Crown Court heard.
The day after she gave evidence against him at his trial, the woman was found dead. An inquest has yet to establish how she died.
Szymanski, who denied the offences, was convicted by a jury of rape and assault occasioning actual bodily harm following a 10-day trial. He later admitted stealing her dog.
The court heard the pair had met for the first time in Swansea city centre on 2 September last year. Both had their dogs with them, and they began talking before going back to his nearby flat.
There, Szymanski subjected the woman to a prolonged attack. He was caught on CCTV in the block of flats dragging her from the property and putting her into a lift.
In the days afterwards, he kept her dog and arranged to sell it. The animal was eventually returned to her.
In a statement read to the court by the woman’s mother, she described her daughter as a devoted animal lover who had looked “broken” after the attack and the loss of her pet.
She said it was only after the dog’s safe return that her daughter began to think about herself and what had happened to her.
The mother said her daughter had worked hard to tackle addiction issues and had drawn up a list of things she dreamed of doing in life.
She said that, whatever a court might find, she believed Szymanski’s actions had led to her daughter’s death. “In my eyes, his actions killed my child,” she said.
Sentencing, Judge Geraint Walters said the facts of the case were “disturbing” and that Szymanski had seen the woman as “a vulnerable individual who he could take advantage of.”
The judge said he had found her to be a “most compelling and honest witness” despite her difficulties over the years with drink and drugs.
He said he could not say the woman had taken her own life as a result of what she had been through, and the timing of her death was “particularly sad.” He told Szymanski: “What you did to her had a profound emotional effect on her.”
The court heard Szymanski had previous convictions. They included an assault on a former partner, whom he pushed down steps after begging her to take him back before attacking her car, and a battery and an assault on a police officer, during which he repeatedly kicked a man who was on the ground and then pushed the constable who arrested him.
He was given an extended 16-year sentence as a dangerous offender, made up of 12 years in custody and a four-year licence period.
He will have to serve two-thirds of the custodial term before he can apply for release, and it will be for the Parole Board to decide whether he is safe to be freed. He will be a registered sex offender for life.
Detective Constable Claire Davies, of South Wales Police, described it as a “prolonged and significant attack” by a “truly despicable offender against a vulnerable woman who had little means of defending herself.”
She said that, although the victim was no longer able to see justice done in court, the outcome was of great relief to her family and friends, who had seen Szymanski held accountable. She added that the force hoped cases like it reassured victims of sexual abuse that they would be listened to and treated with dignity and respect.
If you have been affected by any of the issues in this article, the Samaritans can be contacted free on 116 123, or by email at [email protected].
#Dyfatty #rape #SouthWalesPolice #SwanseaCrownCourt -
SWANSEA: Empty Dyfatty shops reborn as community hub in neighbourhood’s turnaround
A parade of long-empty shops in Dyfatty has been brought back to life as a new community space for the neighbourhood.
Swansea Council has reopened the former units on High Street as Dyfatty Junction, a hub for drop-ins, advice, training and community activity.
The aim is to reconnect people with services and with each other, in a space designed to feel welcoming and local.
A range of partners are already involved, spanning health, housing, police, and voluntary and community organisations.
Services are expected to include regular drop-ins, training sessions and informal support in what organisers describe as a safe, trusted setting.
The units were cleared, refurbished and safety-checked before branding, signage and furniture were installed, with a phased programme of activity planned over the coming months.
Crucially, the council says the space will be shaped with and by the community, with residents helping to influence how it is used.
Walkabouts, drop-in sessions and chances to share ideas are planned as Dyfatty Junction becomes active.
Over time, the aim is for it to become a community-led facility, with the council stepping back as local ownership grows.
The launch marks a milestone in the Building a Better Dyfatty initiative, a partnership led by the Swansea Public Services Board and South Wales Police.
The approach pairs regeneration with a push to tackle serious and organised crime in Dyfatty and the surrounding area, using the police model known as Clear, Hold, Build.
Swansea Council’s cabinet member for children, young people and families, Alyson Anthony, said seeing the space open and welcoming people in made the work worthwhile.
She said it was about bringing support closer to people’s lives, removing barriers and helping conversations happen so people could get the help they need.
The opening builds on early signs that the crackdown is working, with police pointing to falling crime since the operation began in January.
Between 15 January and 15 May, South Wales Police figures show overall crime in the area down 11.5% on the same period last year, with anti-social behaviour down 63.2%.
City neighbourhood inspector Andrew Hedley said Clear, Hold, Build was about more than enforcement, and aimed to create lasting change by working with communities and partners.
He said bringing the empty units back into positive use helped create a visible, trusted space where support, engagement and opportunity could grow.
The work runs alongside a wider £20m, decade-long regeneration drive for Dyfatty and neighbouring communities, funded through the UK Government’s Pride in Place programme.
Related stories from Swansea Bay News
Charity boss to lead £20m drive to transform Dyfatty
Thom Lynch of Matthew’s House to chair the regeneration board.Crime down as Dyfatty crackdown delivers early results
#BuildingABetterDyfatty #ClearHoldBuild #Dyfatty #PrideInPlace #SouthWalesPolice #SwanseaCouncil
The first figures from the Clear, Hold, Build operation in April. -
DYFATTY: Swansea homelessness charity boss to lead £20m drive to transform city neighbourhoods
A Swansea charity leader who has spent years helping the city’s most vulnerable people has been handed a central role in deciding how £20m is spent transforming neighbourhoods north of the city centre.
Thom Lynch has been named independent chair of the Neighbourhood Board overseeing Swansea’s £20m Pride in Place funding.
The money is a 10-year investment targeted on the city’s Gateway Communities — a cluster of neighbourhoods just north of Swansea railway station that takes in Brynmelyn, Waun Wen, North Hill, Dyfatty and Hafod.
They are areas long identified as among the most overlooked in the city, despite being passed through daily by thousands of commuters and visitors arriving in Swansea.
The funding can be spent on a wide range of community-led projects, from saving threatened pubs and libraries to improving community safety, reviving local high streets and restoring green spaces — with residents helping to decide where it goes.
Lynch is the co-founder and project leader of Matthew’s House, the High Street charity that provides a base and support for vulnerable people, including those experiencing homelessness.
The charity’s work has been recognised nationally, including with the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service.
His appointment followed an open recruitment process, with the role designed as a community-rooted voice at the top of the board rather than a council or government appointee.
Lynch said one of his first tasks would be to build the Neighbourhood Board itself, and he urged local people to step forward.
“I’m honoured to take on this role and grateful for the opportunity to work even more with local people to shape the future of our communities,” he said.
“Pride in Place is about putting residents at the heart of decision-making, and I’m excited to build on the strong community work already happening across these neighbourhoods.”
He added: “I’ll be looking for people from local communities to get involved, share their ideas and help deliver projects that make a real, lasting difference. We’re going to need a real team effort to get this right.”
Thom Lynch, left, new chair of the Pride in Place Neighbourhood Board, with Swansea West MP Torsten Bell. (Image: Swansea West MP’s office)Swansea West MP Torsten Bell, who secured the funding, described it as a once-in-a-generation chance for the area.
“Pride in Place is a landmark 10-year, £20 million investment in Swansea communities that have too long been overlooked,” he said.
“It is a huge opportunity to make a real difference to people’s lives. Thom is exactly the right person to get as many residents as possible involved in making that happen.”
Council leader Cllr Rob Stewart said the appointment was a major step forward.
“This is a fantastic opportunity for the people of Dyfatty to shape their own future, backed by £20 million of UK Government investment over the next decade,” he said.
“Thom has a proven track record, is well-known in the community and will be an outstanding chair for the Neighbourhood Board.”
Stewart said the money would add to more than £60m of council investment in housing improvements in the area, alongside wider work to create a safer, stronger community.
The regeneration drive comes after a targeted police crackdown on crime and anti-social behaviour in Dyfatty, which saw crime fall 12% and anti-social behaviour drop 69% in its early months — work the longer-term investment is intended to complement.
In neighbouring Neath Port Talbot, a separate £20m Pride in Place award is regenerating the Upper Afan Valley, with former council chief executive Karen Jones chairing that board as a volunteer.
The council has not yet set out which individual projects will receive money, or when residents will see the first changes on the ground.
But with the board now taking shape, decisions on how the £20m is spent are expected to follow in the months ahead.
Related stories from Swansea Bay News
Swansea neighbourhood handed £20m boost
How the decade-long Pride in Place investment was first announced for the city.Community champion sought to lead £20m drive
The chair’s role as it was advertised earlier this year — now filled by Thom Lynch.Llanelli handed £20m lifeline in same scheme
The Carmarthenshire town’s own Pride in Place award.Matthew’s House and the Swans big sleep out
#CllrRobStewart #Dyfatty #featured #GatewayCommunities #homelessness #MatthewSHouse #PrideInPlace #SwanseaCouncil #TorstenBell
The High Street charity Thom Lynch co-founded. -
SCHOOL‑GATE STABBING: Swansea knifeman jailed after attack outside primary
Joseph Cullen, 26, of no fixed abode, was sentenced at Swansea Crown Court after admitting unlawful wounding and possession of a knife. His co‑defendant Rebecca Stubbs, 28, of Edward Street, Carlisle — also known as Rebecca Nicholson — received a 12‑month community order after pleading guilty to assault by beating.
The attack outside St Joseph’s
The court heard that Cullen stabbed Jonathan Yeandle twice in the back with a large knife outside St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School in the Brynmelyn area of Swansea on 6 December last year.
Mr Yeandle ran along Llangyfelach Street towards Dyfatty lights as Cullen chased him. Both Cullen and Stubbs were later arrested. Stubbs made serious allegations against the victim following her arrest.
Argument escalated into violence
Prosecutor Ieuan Rees said the incident began with a street argument between Stubbs and Mr Yeandle outside the school. The dispute reportedly centred on Mr Yeandle failing to retrieve stolen belongings for Stubbs.
As the victim attempted to walk away, Cullen appeared and launched the stabbing attack.
Case weakened when victim refused to give evidence
Both defendants were originally charged with inflicting grievous bodily harm with intent — charges they denied. However, the prosecution case was significantly weakened when Mr Yeandle declined to give evidence at trial.
As a result, Cullen and Stubbs entered guilty pleas to lesser offences, which were accepted by the Crown.
Extensive criminal histories
Cullen has eight previous convictions for 66 offences, including assaults, possession of an offensive weapon and possession of a bladed article.
Stubbs has 14 previous convictions for 28 offences, including 13 assaults — most of them against emergency workers.
Mitigation: ‘Appalling childhood experiences’
Andrew Evans, defending Cullen, said his client had endured “appalling childhood experiences” that led to drug misuse and offending. He said Cullen believed Mr Yeandle had “significantly wronged” Stubbs, someone he cared about, and reacted in a “wholly inappropriate” way.
Ryan Bowen, representing Stubbs, said her background was “difficult to imagine”, with illicit drug use beginning at the age of nine. He said she had been surrounded by a “negative peer group” during her time in Swansea but now had access to a stable home environment.
Judge: ‘Pure luck’ prevented murder
Sentencing Cullen, Judge Geraint Walters said the only thing separating him from a life sentence for murder was “pure luck”.
Cullen was jailed for 30 months for the crime, reduced by 10% for his guilty pleas. He will serve half in custody before being released on licence.
Stubbs, who had already spent seven months on remand, received a 12‑month community order with a rehabilitation requirement.
[Lead image: South Wales Police]
Related stories
More from the courts
Latest sentencing hearings and court reports from Swansea and South Wales.Crime news
Updates on police investigations, arrests and criminal cases.Swansea news
Breaking news and local updates from across the city.Knife crime
#Brynmelyn #courts #Crime #Dyfatty #featured #knifeCrime #sentencing #StJosephSCatholicPrimarySchool #Swansea #SwanseaCrownCourt
Coverage of knife-related incidents and sentencing across the region. -
PENLAN: Man jailed for stabbing victim in the neck with a bicycle wheel spoke
Daniel Pridmore, of Primrose Court, Heol Emrys, Penlan, appeared at Swansea Crown Court via prison videolink, having pleaded guilty to inflicting grievous bodily harm and possessing an offensive weapon.
39-year-old, Pridmore, had been involved in an altercation with the male at nearby flats before the violence spilled out onto the street in front of passing pedestrians and motorists.
Prosecutor Robin Rouch told the court that on the afternoon of April 1 this year, Pridmore and the victim Jude Picton had been among a group of people inside a flat on Griffith John Street in the Dyfatty area of the city. He said “something took place” in the property that left both men with injuries.
The violence spilled into the building’s communal areas, where Pridmore armed himself with a spoke – one of the thin metal rods that connects a bicycle wheel. The pair then moved out onto nearby High Street, bringing their confrontation into full view of pedestrians and passing traffic.
A witness described seeing Pridmore thrust the broken spoke towards Mr Picton’s neck in a “punching motion”. The prosecutor said there was “no doubt both men had taken intoxicants”.
One member of the public placed himself between the two men in an attempt to halt the violence. Despite Pridmore directing threats at both the individual and their family, the bystander stood firm.
Officers who responded to the scene found Pridmore behaving “erratically”. Both men were initially arrested.
Mr Picton was taken to hospital where he received a tetanus jab, though his wounds did not require stitches. He later declined to provide a statement to police, telling officers he was “fearful of the repercussions”.
The court heard Pridmore has racked up 51 previous convictions spanning 75 separate offences, among them possession of a bladed article, assault occasioning actual bodily harm, robbery, and common assault. His most recent conviction, for public disorder, came in 2025.
The court heard that after five years without offending, during which Pridmore had managed to free himself from drugs, he entered a relationship with a woman who was herself a user. Mr John described it as a “co-dependent relationship” during which Pridmore became a victim of domestic violence and fell back into substance misuse.
The advocate said his client was concerned about “negative influences” in Penlan and that family members including his mother were working to arrange accommodation for him outside the area.
Judge Walters said he had read reports in which Pridmore expressed a desire to change his life. He told the defendant it was to be hoped he could turn his back on a way of living that had so far “ruined the first few decades of your life”.
With credit for his guilty pleas, Pridmore was sentenced to 21 months in prison. He will serve up to half the sentence in custody before being released on licence to complete the remainder in the community.
[Lead image: South Wales Police]
#assault #Dyfatty #GrievousBodilyHarm #Penlan #possessionOfABladedArticle #SwanseaCrownCourt -
Swansea: Dyfatty man sentenced for stamping on unconscious neighbour’s head
James Christopher Grenfell, of Croft Street, Dyfatty, Swansea, was handed a 38-month prison sentence at Swansea Crown Court after pleading guilty to attempting to inflict grievous bodily harm with intent.
Judge Huw Rees told the court that Grenfell and the victim had been friends and neighbours prior to the incident, and that whatever words were exchanged inside the flat had led to the complainant suffering a beating.
The judge described Grenfell’s decision to stamp on the man’s head as the victim lay unconscious in the doorway as a “shocking loss of temper”.
Grenfell received a 20 per cent discount on his sentence for his guilty plea. He will serve half the 38-month term in custody before being released on licence to complete the remainder in the community.
Prosecutor Helen Randall told the court that on November 17, 2024, the victim visited Grenfell’s flat in Swansea to check whether he had left his keys there the day before. The two men sat down together and began drinking whisky, with nothing appearing to be wrong between them.
Later that day, another resident in the block arrived home from work and heard shouting from inside Grenfell’s flat. The neighbour heard the defendant yelling words to the effect of “don’t say anything about my kids” and “I’m going to f****** kill you”.
The neighbour dialled 999 and opened his front door to find the complainant lying unconscious in the doorway of Grenfell’s flat. He then witnessed Grenfell stamping on the victim’s head and stepped in to stop the attack.
The victim was taken to hospital where medical staff recorded a “reduced level of consciousness” along with extensive swelling, bruising, and soft tissue damage across his face and head. The prosecution said the victim had sustained additional injuries but it was not possible to determine how those were caused, and the case was brought solely on the basis of the head injuries resulting from the stamping.
The court heard the complainant has no memory of anything that happened after sitting down inside Grenfell’s flat.
Grenfell was arrested on the day of the assault and gave “no comment” responses throughout his police interview. He initially denied responsibility and the case was listed for trial in February this year, but that date had to be vacated due to a lack of court availability. A fresh trial date was scheduled for September, but Grenfell subsequently changed his plea to guilty.
The court heard Grenfell has four previous convictions covering six offences. These include three counts of assault occasioning actual bodily harm from 2001 and 2020, as well as possession of a bladed article and possession of cannabis from 2025 – offending which took place after the flat assault.
David Singh, representing Grenfell, accepted there could be no justification for what his client did. He told the court Grenfell had struggled with alcohol, drug, and mental health issues for many years but had been responding well to the sentence imposed in 2025 and had been making progress.
[Lead image: South Wales Police]
#Dyfatty #GrievousBodilyHarm #SouthWalesPolice #SwanseaCrownCourt -
SWANSEA: Dyfatty man armed with tyre iron beat woman in garage over spiking claims
Brian Michael Nicol, of Prince of Wales Road, Dyfatty, Swansea, was sentenced at Swansea Crown Court after pleading guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm and possession of an offensive weapon. He entered his pleas on the day he had been due to stand trial.
Prosecutor Georgia Donohue told the court the assault took place on the evening of April 18 last year at the Ensign car sales garage on Carmarthen Road, Swansea. The business was closed at the time, and the victim had called in to visit the owner, who was a friend of hers.
At around 8.50 pm, Nicol arrived and began hammering on the office door, shouting, “What have you said to my missus!” When the woman opened the door, Nicol, carrying a tyre iron, forced his way inside. He grabbed her, threw her to the floor, and got on top of her, striking her repeatedly before kicking and stamping on her.
After the assault, Nicol sat down in a chair inside the office and accused his victim of having “spiked” his wife. He then left the premises, and the attack was subsequently reported to police, leading to his arrest.
The victim sustained bruising and a cut to her wrist, marks to her neck, and a cut and bruising to her shoulder.
The court heard Nicol had 31 previous convictions spanning 77 offences, the majority of which related to acquisitive and drug offences. He had one prior conviction for violence, a common assault dating back to 2008, and was last before the courts in 2016 for possession of a Class C drug.
Alycia Carpanini, representing Nicol, told the court that her client had been free from drugs for between five and 10 years following a long-standing heroin addiction, and had been working hard to avoid falling back into his former lifestyle. She said Nicol was a working man who had been “shocked” at his own behaviour on the night in question.
Judge Huw Rees said it appeared Nicol had been seeking some sort of “revenge” for what he believed had happened to his wife when he forced his way into the garage and attacked the woman. The judge acknowledged that Nicol’s record showed he was not usually a violent man, but said he had lost his temper and acted in anger in what was a “disgraceful incident”.
Judge Rees said a sentence of immediate custody was inevitable. With a one-third discount applied for his guilty pleas, Nicol was sentenced to 16 months in prison. He will serve up to half in custody before being released on licence to serve the remainder in the community. A restraining order was also imposed, prohibiting Nicol from contacting his victim for 10 years.
[Lead image: South Wales Police]
#ABH #actualBodilyHarm #assault #Dyfatty #SouthWalesPolice #SwanseaCrownCourt -
SWANSEA: Community champion sought to help shape how £20 million is spent on Gateway Communities regeneration
Community leaders in Swansea are being urged to apply for a new independent role that will sit at the heart of one of the most significant regeneration programmes the city has seen in years.
The position — Independent Chair of the Neighbourhood Board — will provide strategic leadership over how £20 million of Pride in Place funding is invested in Swansea’s Gateway Communities. The area covers a cluster of neighbourhoods north of Swansea railway station, including Brynmelyn, Waun Wen, North Hill, Dyfatty and Hafod — communities that have long been identified as among the most overlooked in the city despite being passed through daily by thousands of commuters and visitors.
The Chair’s role will be to act as a champion for those communities, ensuring the Neighbourhood Board is genuinely community-led, inclusive and rooted in local needs rather than top-down priorities. The money can be used on a wide range of projects — from saving threatened pubs or libraries and improving community safety, to revitalising local high streets or restoring green spaces.
Swansea West MP Torsten Bell, who secured the funding through the Pride in Place programme, is calling on community leaders to put themselves forward.
Bell said: “The Pride in Place scheme is all about handing power back to people — this role is a fantastic opportunity for a community champion to have a lasting impact, working with a Swansea neighbourhood whose residents have too often felt overlooked.”
He added: “I fought for this funding because it gives us the chance to show that no part of Swansea can be written off. If you care deeply about these neighbourhoods and want to help make that vision a reality, I would strongly encourage you to apply.”
The Pride in Place scheme is part of a wider £214 million investment across south west Wales, designed to give communities a direct say in tackling long-standing problems in their areas. The Swansea allocation is one of the largest individual awards in the region and is intended to be spent over a decade, with decisions made in phases as priorities are identified.
Bell has previously set out his own vision for how the money should be used, but has been clear that the decisions must ultimately be driven by residents — not politicians or officials. The Independent Chair role is central to that ambition, providing a community-rooted voice at the top of the board rather than a council or government appointee.
The area covered by the funding has been in the spotlight in recent months for a range of reasons. South Wales Police has been running a targeted crackdown on crime and anti-social behaviour in Dyfatty, which has already produced significant early results — with crime falling 12% and anti-social behaviour down 69%. The regeneration investment offers a longer-term complement to that enforcement work, addressing the underlying conditions that can fuel deprivation and disorder.
The Neighbourhood Board will be responsible for overseeing how the money is prioritised and spent, and the Independent Chair will play a key role in making sure that process is transparent, community-led and genuinely responsive to the needs of residents in the affected areas.
Full details of the role and the application process are available on the Swansea Council website at swansea.gov.uk/prideinplacechair.
Related stories from Swansea Bay News
Swansea neighbourhood handed £20m boost as MP urges residents to shape decade of investment
The announcement of the Pride in Place funding for Swansea’s Gateway Communities.Opinion: Torsten Bell MP — how Swansea should spend its Pride in Place funding
The MP sets out his priorities for the decade-long regeneration investment.Crime down 12% and anti-social behaviour down 69% as Dyfatty crackdown delivers early results
South Wales Police’s targeted enforcement in the same area is already showing significant results.South West Wales to share in £214m Pride in Place investment for local projects
#Brynmelyn #Dyfatty #GatewayCommunities #Hafod #PrideInPlace #Swansea #TorstenBellMP #WaunWen
The wider regional context for the funding that is now being put to work in Swansea. -
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.”
Related stories from Swansea Bay News
Crime down 12% and anti-social behaviour down 69% as Dyfatty crackdown delivers early results
South Wales Police targeted the same area where Meredith was caught dealing, with significant early results.Drug gang busted: Swansea man jailed as cocaine network smashed in multi-area operation
South Wales Police smashed a major drugs supply operation across multiple areas of Swansea.Five jailed after street brawl saw family arm themselves with nail-studded plank in revenge attack
#cocaine #DrugDealing #Dyfatty #JackLine #KianMeredith #SouthWalesPolice #SwanseaCrownCourt #Townhill
A violent revenge attack in Swansea led to lengthy prison sentences for those involved. -
SWANSEA: Crime down 12% and anti-social behaviour down 69% as Dyfatty crackdown delivers early results
The results cover the period between 15 January and 15 March, the first two months of the Clear Hold Build initiative, which was launched by South Wales Police and partners in late March with a pledge to take back the streets from organised crime.
South Wales Police say that in that period, officers carried out 28 proactive arrests for offences including assaults, robberies, drug dealing and possession, fail-to-appear warrants and weapon-related offences. A further 45 stop searches were conducted, 15 of which produced positive results leading to arrests or out-of-court disposals.
Police say 38 people were issued with directions to leave the area in response to anti-social behaviour, and four community protection warning notices were issued to repeat offenders with no legitimate reason to be in Dyfatty. Officers also executed five misuse-of-drugs warrants at identified addresses during the period.
The 69% reduction in reported anti-social behaviour incidents compared to the same period last year is particularly striking given the scale of the problems that preceded the operation. Residents had been living with the effects of organised crime for years — a situation Chief Superintendent Stephen Jones described as “long overdue” for action when the operation launched.
Acting Chief Inspector Andrew Hedley said the results reflected the strength of the partnership approach established between police, the local authority, support services and the community. “Our continued presence in Dyfatty is making a real difference, and we are committed to building on this progress to ensure residents feel safe and supported,” he said. “This is only the beginning, and we will keep working together to deliver long-lasting improvements for the area.”
The Clear Hold Build model, backed by the Home Office, follows a three-phase approach. The first — Clear — involves a year-long police-led crackdown targeting offenders and disrupting criminal networks. The second phase, Hold, focuses on stabilising the area and preventing gangs from returning once enforcement pressure eases. The final phase, Build, brings long-term investment to tackle the root causes of crime and support economic growth.
The force says the Dyfatty project is the flagship scheme for the Swansea Public Services Board and builds on similar operations delivered elsewhere in the South Wales Police force area, including in Merthyr Tydfil, Adamsdown, Roath and Butetown.
The Hold phase will be led by Swansea Council working with all Public Services Board partners, and police and partners say it will focus on maintaining security, preventing criminal re-infiltration and strengthening community confidence. The Build phase will begin during the Hold phase and continue over the longer term.
The operation is being coordinated through the Swansea Public Services Board, which brings together South Wales Police, Swansea Council, Swansea Bay University Health Board and Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service. Council leader Rob Stewart had pledged at the outset that the project would run alongside a separate regeneration programme expected to bring up to £20 million of investment into Dyfatty over the next decade.
The early results suggest the intensive enforcement phase is having a tangible effect on the ground. Police have not yet detailed how many of the 28 arrests have led to charges or prosecutions, but the volume of activity in just eight weeks underlines the scale of the operation.
The force has signalled that work will continue in the months ahead, with the stated aim not simply of making arrests but of achieving lasting change for residents who have long borne the brunt of crime and disorder in the area.
Related stories from Swansea Bay News
Dyfatty crime crackdown: Major police operation targets Swansea hotspot
Our original report on the launch of the Clear Hold Build operation in March.Dyfatty set for £20m investment boost
The regeneration plans running alongside the police operation.Dyfatty flats set for major upgrade
#antiSocialBehaviour #ClearHoldBuild #CrimeReduction #Dyfatty #SouthWalesPolice #SwanseaCouncil
Multi-million pound plans to improve ageing council tower blocks in the area. -
SWANSEA: Police impose 48-hour dispersal order on city centre after Easter holiday disorder
The Section 35 order, granted under the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014, came into force on Wednesday and runs until 9.30am on Friday 10 April. It covers a wide area including the Quadrant shopping centre and bus station, Parc Tawe, the Kingsway, Dyfatty, and the area surrounding the National Waterfront Museum.
A Section 35 order gives police the power to instruct anyone who is causing — or is likely to cause — harassment, alarm or distress to leave a defined area for up to 48 hours. Refusing to leave when directed by an officer is a criminal offence, as is returning to the area within the specified period.
South Wales Police Section 35 notice area in SwanseaActing Chief Inspector Andrew Hedley said the order had been authorised following an unacceptable number of reports of youths congregating and causing violence and disorder.
“We are increasing our patrols in the area and intensifying our approach,” he said. “This means that any young person found committing anti-social behaviour in the area will face formal action.”
Among the incidents prompting the order, a police officer was assaulted by a 14-year-old girl, who was subsequently arrested. A teenage boy was also arrested for engaging in disorder over the weekend, with his mother having to collect him from the custody suite.
Acting Chief Inspector Hedley issued a direct message to parents. “I would urge parents to assist us by checking where their children are going and what activities they are engaging in,” he said. “On the weekend, one mother experienced the stress of having to come to collect her son from the custody suite after he had been arrested for engaging in disorder — this is not a scenario we want to see repeated.”
He added: “Officers will not hesitate to enforce these extra powers in order to keep the community safe. Everyone should be able to come into Swansea city centre during the sunny weather and enjoy their time free of any form of harassment or anti-social behaviour.”
The inclusion of Dyfatty in the dispersal zone is significant. South Wales Police launched the Dyfatty Clear Hold Build project in March — a major long-term operation targeting serious organised crime, anti-social behaviour and community safety concerns in the area around High Street North and the nearby tower blocks. The project follows a national model backed by the Home Office, with a year-long police crackdown as its first phase.
Running alongside the policing operation is a £20 million regeneration programme aimed at transforming Dyfatty over the next decade. Swansea West MP Torsten Bell has urged residents to help shape the investment, which is intended to address the deep-rooted social and economic challenges in the neighbourhood.
A similar Section 35 order was imposed in Gorseinon earlier this year following a rise in anti-social behaviour there.
The dispersal order expires at 9.30am on Friday 10 April. Anyone with information about disorder in the area is asked to contact South Wales Police.
Related stories from Swansea Bay News
Dyfatty crime crackdown: Major police operation targets Swansea hotspot
South Wales Police launched the Dyfatty Clear Hold Build project in March, targeting serious organised crime and anti-social behaviour in the area.Swansea neighbourhood handed £20m boost as MP urges residents to shape decade of investment
A major regeneration programme will invest up to £20 million in Dyfatty over the next decade.Police impose dispersal order in Gorseinon after rise in anti-social behaviour
A similar Section 35 order was imposed in Gorseinon earlier this year following a rise in disorder.Safer Swansea city centre wins top UK award as crime falls
#antiSocialBehaviour #Dyfatty #section35DispersalOrder #SouthWalesPolice #SwanseaCityCentre #SwanseaCouncil #SwanseaMarina #SwanseaWaterfront
Swansea city centre was recognised nationally for improvements in safety and reductions in crime. -
DYFATTY CRIME CRACKDOWN: Major police operation targets Swansea hotspot
The Dyfatty Clear Hold Build project is now underway, targeting long-standing issues linked to serious organised crime, anti-social behaviour and community safety concerns in the area around High Street North and nearby tower blocks.
Led by South Wales Police alongside the city council and other agencies, the operation is being described as a “long overdue” intervention for residents.
Map outlining the Dyfatty area targeted under the Clear Hold Build programme
(Image: South Wales Police)‘Long overdue’ action
Chief Superintendent Stephen Jones said the first phase will focus on removing criminal influence and protecting vulnerable people.
He said many residents have been forced to live with the impact of organised crime for years — despite having no connection to it themselves.
“This work is long overdue for the people who live in Dyfatty,” he said.
Residents, officials and partners attend the launch of the Building a Better Dyfatty programme
(Image: South Wales Police)Chief Superintendent Stephen Jones addresses partners at the project launch event in High Street
(Image: South Wales Police)Three-phase plan to transform the area
The scheme follows the national Clear Hold Build model — a strategy backed by the Home Office.
- Clear phase: A year-long police-led crackdown targeting offenders and disrupting criminal networks
- Hold phase: Stabilising the area and preventing gangs from returning
- Build phase: Long-term investment to tackle the root causes of crime
Officials say the aim is not just arrests — but lasting change.
Millions pledged to ‘transform’ Dyfatty
Council leader Rob Stewart said the project will work alongside a separate regeneration programme expected to bring up to £20 million into the area over the next decade.
He said the combined efforts would help “clean up and stabilise” Dyfatty while supporting long-term improvements.
The initiative is being coordinated through the Swansea Public Services Board, which includes partners such as Swansea Bay University Health Board and Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service.
Community at the heart of the plan
Chair of the board, Andrea Harrington, said the project would focus on listening to residents and working with local communities to deliver change.
She described Dyfatty as a diverse area facing a range of challenges — but said partners were committed to creating a safer, stronger neighbourhood.
Related stories from Swansea Bay News
Dyfatty set for £20m investment boost
Plans aim to transform the area over the next decade with major regeneration funding.Police crackdown on Dyfatty anti-social behaviour
Dispersal powers introduced after rising incidents in the area.Three arrested after armed police incident
Officers responded to a disturbance at flats, with arrests made following an investigation.Dyfatty flats set for major upgrade
Multi-million pound plans to improve ageing council tower blocks.Major makeover for Croft Street flats
More than 100 homes to benefit from upgrades including new kitchens and security.CCTV upgrade at problem tower blocks
New security measures installed to tackle crime and anti-social behaviour.New anti-social behaviour powers proposed
Council seeks views on tougher measures to deal with persistent issues.High-rise flats evacuated after major damage
Residents forced out following a serious incident in a Swansea tower block.High Street revival plans gather pace
#ClearHoldBuild #CllrAndreaHarrington #CllrRobStewart #CrimeReduction #Dyfatty #HighStreet #PublicServicesBoard #SouthWalesPolice #Swansea #SwanseaCouncil
Community-led projects aim to bring new life to Swansea city centre. -
Major makeover for more than 100 council flats in Swansea’s Croft Street
Tenants living in two high‑rise blocks and two low‑rise buildings in Dyfatty will see their homes upgraded inside and out. Swansea Council say the work will include new kitchens, bathrooms, fire‑safety improvements and insulation designed to help cut energy bills.
The scheme forms part of the council’s £55m housing investment programme for the current financial year. Swansea Council say the project is funded entirely through tenant rents and Welsh Government grants, with no contribution from council tax.
£500m already spent on upgrades — and more to come
The authority says Croft Street is the latest phase in a long‑running effort to modernise its housing stock. Over the last decade, Swansea Council say they have invested more than £500m in tenants’ homes, with another £250m planned over the next five years.
Cllr Andrea Williams, Joint Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Service Transformation, said the council was confident residents would see a real difference once the work is complete.
Cllr Williams said:
An artist’s impression of the refurbished low‑rise flats within the Croft Street estate, showing new façades and landscaping. (Image: Swansea Council)We know there will be some disruption, but our contractors will do all they can to keep it to a minimum and keep tenants informed every step of the way.
New lifts, CCTV and safer communal areas
As well as improvements inside homes, the blocks will receive new lifts, windows, CCTV and upgraded entrances. Swansea Council say communal areas will be fitted with additional safety measures, and the surrounding environment will be improved with new lighting, landscaping, fencing and paths.
A row of garages has already been demolished to create more parking bays. Several small retail units facing High Street will also be refurbished as part of the wider scheme.
An artist’s impression showing the redesigned high‑rise and low‑rise Croft Street flats from further along Croft Street. (Image: Swansea Council)The Croft Street high‑rise and low‑rise flats as they appear today, before refurbishment work begins. (Image: Google Maps)Ground‑floor space turned into new homes
One of the biggest changes will see the ground‑floor areas of the high‑rise blocks — previously used for offices and storage — converted into new homes. Swansea Council say this will increase the supply of affordable housing in the city centre and make better use of underused space.
The new accessible flats form part of the council’s ‘More Homes‘ plan, which aims to deliver 1,000 new council homes by 2031. So far, 309 have been added through new builds, buy‑backs and conversions, all built to the council’s ‘Swansea Standard‘ for insulation and energy efficiency.
Related stories from Swansea Bay News
Minister visits council’s latest More Homes development
A Welsh Government minister tours one of Swansea Council’s newest additions to its growing housing stock.More new council homes being built in Swansea
Work continues across the city as Swansea Council expands its programme of modern, energy‑efficient homes.More homes developed in former council buildings in Swansea
Underused council buildings are being converted into new homes as part of the More Homes plan.More than 100 new council homes planned for Bonymaen
#CllrAndreaWilliams #councilHouses #CroftStreet #Dyfatty #Swansea #SwanseaCouncil
A major new development is proposed for Bonymaen as Swansea Council pushes towards its 1,000‑home target. -
Swansea burglar jailed after targeting city business
42-year-old Raymond John targeted Skin and Glamour Beauty Salon in Llangyfelach Street on December 4.
As a shop worker was closing up at the end of the day, John burst into the salon and lay on the treatment bed, demanding water before making threats and searching for money, Swansea Crown Court heard.
The worker, a lone female, was forced to go to a nearby shop for safety.
John’s “erratic behaviour” came only a matter of days after he had been released from prison, where he was serving a sentence for shoplifting and exposing his penis in public.
John, of Griffith John Street, Dyfatty, was later identified by a police officer who recognised him from a previous investigation.
He has 57 previous convictions for 89 offences, including burglary, 20 thefts, and kindred matters. His last conviction was in October last year when he was sentenced to four months in prison for exposure and shoplifting a bottle of tequila from Sainsbury’s.
Judge Paul Thomas KC said the defendant had only been out of prison for a short time when he entered the business premises and began smashing it up and making threats.
He told John he was very fortunate that the prosecution had not proceeded with the more serious charge of attempted robbery.
The judge told John that he hoped he would make the necessary changes in his life; otherwise, “you will wake up one day and find you have spent most of your life in one institution or another.
With a one-third discount for his guilty plea, John was sentenced to eight 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.
Detective Constable Charlotte Rees said:
“Raymond John’s aggressive behaviour will have made the shop worker feel that their safety was in danger, and that is completely unacceptable.
“Shop workers should be able to go about their daily business free from threats and intimidation.
“It is only right that Raymond John goes to prison.”
[Lead image: South Wales Police]
#burglary #Dyfatty #Llangyfelach #shoplifting #SouthWalesPolice -
Swansea’s future mapped out: new transport hub, market revamp and cultural quarter in draft city centre plan
Swansea could be about to undergo its biggest city centre shake‑up in a decade — with a new transport hub, a revamped market, and even a cultural quarter all on the table.
The draft Swansea City Centre Placemaking Plan, presented to councillors this week, sets out how the city centre and waterfront could be transformed over the next 8–10 years. It replaces the 2016 regeneration framework and covers everything from the Civic Centre site to the top of High Street.
A city carved into five zones
The plan doesn’t treat the city centre as one lump of concrete and shops — instead, it breaks it down into five distinct “Action Areas,” each with its own character and proposals:
- The Core: The beating heart of Swansea, where retail, leisure and nightlife collide. Here the council wants to reinforce a thriving shopping district, breathe new life into the Oxford Street arcades, and make Swansea Market a destination in its own right.
- City Waterfront: Stretching from the Marina to the Civic Centre, this is about reconnecting Swansea to its seafront. Expect talk of new public squares, leisure attractions, and even an aquarium as part of the Civic Centre redevelopment.
- Tawe Waterfront: Across the river, the old St Thomas railway station site is earmarked for housing, commercial space and community facilities — a new neighbourhood rising from the tracks.
- City North: St Helen’s Road and its surroundings are seen as a gateway, with plans to improve connections and make the area more welcoming for residents and visitors.
- Upper High Street/Dyfatty: The northern gateway, where the High Street station plaza could be transformed into a proper arrival point, linking seamlessly to a proposed transport hub at The Strand.
The big ideas
At the centre of the plan is a new transport hub on The Strand, just a stone’s throw from the railway station and facing the River Tawe. Councillors were told this could become the city’s main interchange, making it easier to move between trains, buses, and active travel routes.
Other “indicative concept” schemes include:
- A facelift for Swansea Market, with better links to the Quadrant and surrounding streets.
- Revitalised shopping arcades off Oxford Street.
- Greener, safer public spaces with more trees, street furniture and public art.
- A potential Cultural Quarter, celebrating Swansea’s identity and drawing visitors in with events, galleries and creative spaces.
Related coverage: Strand arches proposals
New images show how Swansea’s Strand arches could be transformed
Council proposals to revitalise the historic arches as part of wider regeneration, reconnecting the city centre with the River Tawe and creating new public spaces.Councillors weigh in
At the scrutiny meeting, Cllr Michael Locke pressed for updates on the Civic Centre site, while regeneration team leader Gail Evans confirmed initial designs were ready and a report could follow in the new year.
Cllr Will Thomas praised the new central hub Y Storfa, which opened recently on Oxford Street, and asked if more city centre buildings could be repurposed for education and sport to drive footfall. Panel convenor Cllr Chris Holley warned that commercial viability remains a challenge, with many schemes needing public sector “gap funding” to stack up. He called for a workshop for all elected members, describing the plan as covering “a huge area.”
Council leader Rob Stewart said Swansea was “a different city” compared to 2016 and that it was time to refresh the plan.
What happens next
The draft placemaking plan will go before Cabinet in February 2026, followed by public engagement in March. Adoption as council policy is expected later in 2026, setting the stage for a decade of regeneration.
Related stories from Swansea Bay News
All the exciting plans for Swansea in 2025
Castle Square, Y Storfa and other major schemes set to reshape the city centre this year.Business leader says regeneration shows Swansea is serious about growth
BID chair praises council’s £1bn investment strategy and placemaking ambitions.Council-backed scheme creates new business opportunities
Funding programme sparks new openings and refurbishments across the city centre.The future of retail in Swansea
What big brands, local leaders and industry experts say about the city’s retail revival.More Swansea city centre regeneration news
#CivicCentre #Dyfatty #featured #HighStreet #homepage #planning #StHelensRoad #Swansea #SwanseaCityCentre #SwanseaCityCentrePlacemakingPlan #SwanseaCouncil #SwanseaHighStreetStation #SwanseaMarket #SwanseaRailwayStation #SwanseaTrainStation #TheStrand #TransportHub
Catch up on the latest updates and projects transforming the city centre.