#swansea-magistrates-court — Public Fediverse posts
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NEATH: Man sentenced after knives and household waste fly-tipped in town hotspot
Investigators located several black bags on Foundry Road, adjacent to the steps linking to Meadow Road, in an area commonly known as Eaglesbush Valley and frequently used by nature lovers.
As the waste was being inspected, an individual in a Range Rover approached inspectors expressing frustration and using abusive language. Both Council officers left the area as the individual was entering their yard next to where the fly-tipping had occurred.
That individual was later identified as 26-year-old Arron Dixon. Evidence within the waste, found on 14th April 2025, linked it to an address in the Afan Valley. A woman admitted she had arranged for waste to be removed by Mr Dixon, and assisted officers with their enquiries.A Council Tax search confirmed that Mr Dixon resided in Briton Ferry. During a subsequent interview, he provided conflicting accounts of events, which did not align with witness evidence.
Appearing at Swansea Magistrates Court on Thursday, 2nd April, Dixon of Regent Street West in Briton Ferry pleaded guilty to unlawfully depositing controlled waste and was ordered to pay nearly a thousand pounds, including a fine of £200, prosecution costs of £498, compensation of £148.63 for the waste being removed, and a victim surcharge of £80.
[Lead image: Neath Port Talbot Council]
#flyTipping #NeathPortTalbotCouncil #SwanseaMagistratesCourt -
HEARTBREAK: Swansea man banned for life after ‘threats to kill’ his own dog
52-year-old Andrew Matthews from Ravenhill was sentenced at Swansea Magistrates’ Court on February 24 after pleading guilty to two offences under the Animal Welfare Act 2006.
The “extremely lame” dog, a tan and black crossbreed named Lola, was found to be suffering from severe swelling in her front legs, with her owner admitting he hadn’t taken her to a vet in seven years.
Neighbors raised the alarm after reporting that Matthews had behaved “aggressively” towards the animal at his home last July.
Witnesses told the court they heard “smacking sounds” followed by the heartbreaking cries of a dog, with Matthews even heard making “threats to kill” the animal.
When RSPCA Animal Rescue Officer Paula Milton arrived with police, she found Lola was unable to bear any weight on her right front leg due to “significant swelling” on the wrist.
The severe swelling on Lola’s front leg was “obvious” to anyone, according to vets who examined her. (Image: RSPCA)A vet who examined Lola found both her wrists were affected by degenerative joint disease, with multiple scars over her muzzle, elbow, and wrists.
X-rays showed bony changes around the dog’s right wrist joint which indicated an ongoing arthritis-related issue that would have taken “weeks to months” to reach that stage.
Despite being put on an extensive course of three different pain relief medications by the RSPCA, Lola was still unable to bear weight on her legs more than a month later.
Vets eventually made the “kindest” decision to put the dog to sleep, ruling that she would never be able to lead a life free from pain or fulfill her physical needs.
The court heard that Matthews struggled with alcoholism and was drunk at the time of the incident, with his defence stating he was remorseful for his actions.
As well as the lifetime ban, Matthews was handed a 20-week prison sentence, suspended for 12 months, and ordered to undertake an alcohol treatment programme and 15 Rehabilitation Activity Requirement days.
RSPCA Inspector Gemma Cooper slammed the neglect, stating: “Poor Lola’s lameness was obvious and was prolonged, but the defendant failed to get her seen by a vet.”
Matthews was also ordered to pay court costs of £400 following the prosecution by the animal charity.
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Officials step in after serious welfare allegations surface at a well‑known centre.More pet stories
#animalCruelty #animalWelfare #CourtNews #dog #DogNeglect #Ravenhill #RSPCA #Swansea #SwanseaMagistratesCourt
The latest updates on animals, welfare and wildlife across our region. -
Bridgend man sentenced for two fly-tipping Offences
Nicholas Blackwell, 35, of Madoc Close, Brackla, Bridgend, was sentenced at Swansea Magistrates’ Court on after he pleaded guilty to two offences under Section 33(1)(a) of the Environmental Protection Act 1990.
The offences involved the unlawful deposit of household waste at locations in Croeserw and Glynneath in late 2024.
The first incident, at Heol Y Felin, Croeserw, in October 2024, involved a large amount of household waste which had been dumped and set alight. The second, in November 2024, on waste ground off Chain Road, Glynneath, included a mattress, rug, suitcase, cardboard packaging, baby walker, television, black bags, carrier bags and white plastic piping.
Evidence recovered from the waste linked the deposits to residents who had hired Blackwell after seeing his waste removal advert on Facebook. Checks with Natural Resources Wales and the Environment Agency confirmed Mr Blackwell did not hold a valid Waste Carrier Licence.
During the investigation, a white Mercedes Sprinter van was also seized, which was later crushed by the Council. The vehicle was unregistered and deemed unfit for the road.
At sentencing, Mr Blackwell received a 12-month Community Order, 160 hours of unpaid work, and was ordered to pay £500 in costs, £255.04 in compensation for clean-up, and a £164 victim surcharge.
Cllr Scott Jones, Neath Port Talbot Council’s Cabinet Member for Streetscene, said:
“Fly-tipping is a blight on our communities and will not be tolerated. This case demonstrates our commitment to tackling environmental crime and holding offenders to account.
“We urge residents to ensure anyone removing waste on their behalf is a registered waste carrier. I would also like to take this opportunity to thank our colleagues in South Wales Police for assisting our Waste Enforcement team in this complex investigation.”
Residents are reminded that failing to use licensed waste carriers can result in prosecution if their waste is found fly-tipped. For more information on responsible waste disposal, visit: https://www.npt.gov.uk/parking-roads-and-travel/problems-with-roads-and-streets/fly-tipping/
[Lead image: Neath Port Talbot Council]
#Bridgend #flyTipping #NeathPortTalbotCouncil #Streetscene #SwanseaMagistratesCourt -
Swansea man jailed following Townhill burglary
38-year-old Daniel Allen, from Waun Wen, was identified as the suspect after attempting to sell a lamp stolen from the property at a nearby shop. Other ornaments, computers, phones and trainers were also stolen during the burglary, at an address on Gomer Road.
He has 37 previous convictions for 76 offences, with around 50 relating to theft and similar matters. The court heard he has been jailed for 17 shoplifting offences this year alone.
Dan Griffiths, defending his guilty plea at Swansea Magistrates Court, said a custodial sentence was inevitable and told the court that addiction to Class A drugs and excessive alcohol consumption had blighted Allen’s adult life and been the “driver” for his offending.
“The reality is his client is ‘simply unable to cope in the community, and the best place for him for the foreseeable future would be the structured environment of a custodial setting,” he said.
Allen refused to attend his sentencing hearing, with Mr Griffiths saying even if given another chance to attend on a subsequent date, he did not think his client would.
Judge Vanessa Francis said it was clear Allen’s life was blighted by drink and drugs, but added that he was “in turn blighting the lives of others by his actions”.
She said she had not been invited to consider suspending the custodial sentence, and even if she had been, given the defendant’s “abject failure” to comply with court orders in the past, an immediate custodial sentence was the only option.
With a one-third discount for his guilty plea, Allen was sentenced to 20 months in prison. He will serve no more than half the sentence in custody before being released on licence to serve the remainder in the community.
Detective Constable Liam Jenkins said:
“Daniel Allen had already been remanded for 13 shoplifting offences at the time of the investigation into this burglary.
“Whilst he was known to the victim, any burglary will cause worry amongst all those who live on the victim’s street, so I hope that they can feel some relief in knowing Daniel Allen is going to prison.
“It is very disappointing that Daniel continues to offend in this way.”
[Lead image: South Wales Police]
#burglary #SouthWalesPolice #SwanseaMagistratesCourt #Townhill #WaunWen