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South Wales Argus
24-07-2025
- South Wales Argus
Church worker made girl engage in sex act on video chats
Anthony Arr, 61, appeared at Newport Crown Court accused of offences against a 13-year-old girl in the Gwent area between 2009 and 2010. The court heard Arr – who was 45 at the time – began sending the girl messages calling her beautiful and mentioning the age gap between them after she added him on Facebook. Their conversations moved on to MSN, and they then began talking over webcams, the prosecution said. The chats would happen 'most nights' and occurred during the early hours of the morning – between around 2am and 5am – with the defendant asking 'Are you clear?' to check with the victim that she wouldn't be disturbed. Arr told the victim 'Get your kit off', and incited her to masturbate on the webchats. During this, he was also naked and he would masturbate whilst watching her on the webcam. During the chats, Arr told the girl: 'Don't worry, when we do have sex you won't be able to get pregnant', and referred to his vasectomy – telling her he had been 'snipped'. The defendant was married and employed by a church at the time. This offending stopped after he was caught having an affair with a woman. Arr was interviewed by police on October 5 last year. He admitted engaging in sexual communication with the girl, but said he believed she was '15 or 16'. Church worker Anthony Arr masturbated as he made a teenage girl strip in online chat. (Image: Gwent Police) The defendant, now of Laburnum Avenue in Skegness, Lincolnshire, pleaded guilty to two offences of causing a child to engage in sexual activity and two offences of engaging in sexual activity in the presence of a child. In a statement read to the court by the prosecution, the victim said she 'continually battled with' the effects of Arr's abuse. 'I was too scared to tell [my mum] and kept it to myself,' she said. 'I fear the impact of [the defendant's] offending is going to affect me for the rest of my life.' Josh Scouller, in mitigation, said: 'This does seem to be a particularly isolated incident. 'This occurred during the course of the breakdown of his marriage. He was in a very unhappy place. 'He acknowledges what he had done is wrong. He has never suggested otherwise. 'He broke off contact with the victim in this case. 'He hasn't sought to extend the pain by denying matters.' Sentencing Arr, Judge Carl Harrison said: 'You should be thoroughly ashamed of the damage you have caused the victim. 'Whilst she was going through this turmoil, you were able to go about your life as normal. 'It took the bravery of [the victim] to bring you to justice.' Arr was jailed for a total of four years and four months. He must register as a sex offender for life, and the victim was granted a life-long restraining order.
South Wales Argus
24-07-2025
- South Wales Argus
Barry thief stole Michael Kors coat and handbag outside club
Wesley Jones, 48, from Barry took the coat from an unlocked BMW in Bridgend and the handbag outside Live Lounge in Cardiff city centre. He was also arrested for trying doorhandles and looking inside windows at three houses on Morfa Street and Oddfellows Street in Bridgend. The offences took place between April 24 and April 28, Newport Crown Court was told. Jones, of no fixed abode, pleaded guilty to three attempted burglaries, one count of theft from a motor vehicle and one of theft. Ruth Smith, prosecuting, revealed how the defendant had 54 previous convictions for 131 offences. They include robbery, burglary, theft and shoplifting. His barrister James Evans said his client was a former soldier. Jones had witnessed the aftermath of the horrors of the Omagh bombing in Northern Ireland as well as that of Britain's involvement in Kosovo in the 1990s. 'It would have had a profound effect on anyone,' his barrister told the court. 'He comes from a good family and had a catering qualification before he joined the army,' Mr Evans added. 'The defendant suffered from PTSD and turned to drugs, especially crack cocaine. 'He said it has dominated his life since 2006. 'The defendant has spent a large part of his life in custody. 'He wants to become drug free and he wants it more than anything in the world.' Judge Celia Hughes told Jones: 'You targeted a woman outside a nightclub late at night and you knew her.' She added: 'Society must be protected from you until you can manage your drug use and you stop stealing to fund your habit. 'You were committing these offences to buy illegal drugs.' She jailed Jones for 18 weeks for the offences committed in Bridgend and a consecutive term of 18 weeks for the Live Lounge matter He was sent to prison for a total of 36 weeks and told any time he had spent remanded in custody would count towards his sentence. The defendant must pay a victim surcharge.
South Wales Argus
20-07-2025
- South Wales Argus
Robber stole cash and tobacco at Tredegar petrol station
Newport Crown Court heard that Liam Watts and another man – who has not been identified – entered Nantybwch Service Station in Tredegar wearing balaclavas at around 8.45pm on December 23, 2023. There was a lone woman working in the service station, and the men grabbed her and told her to open the till. The men took £200 in cash, and Watts emptied packets of tobacco and cigarettes into a bag. The men hit Nantybwch Service Station in Tredegar. (Image: Google Street View) The pair warned the woman not to call the police, and the other man then grabbed a bottle of brandy as they fled. She phoned the police, and CCTV footage of the incident was provided. Police searched an address in Tredegar on January 1, 2024, in relation to an unrelated matter. Whilst at the address, they recognised a pair of grey Armani tracksuit bottoms. Forensic checks revealed Watts' fingerprints on a tobacco pack which had been dropped during the robbery. The defendant, who has five previous convictions for 12 offences, pleaded guilty to robbery. In a statement read out in court, the woman said she was left feeling 'particularly nervous' when working by herself late at night after the robbery, and she was concerned that the other man had not been identified yet. Liam Watts robbed a petrol station with another man. (Image: Gwent Police) Kevin Seal, appearing for Watts, said the defendant was 'sorry' and 'embarrassed' about his offending, and was so intoxicated during the robbery that he didn't realise the member of staff was somebody he knew. He said Watts developed a drug addiction and issues with alcohol after receiving a large amount of money and spending it all in a short period of time 'mixing with others and taking cocaine'. 'That's probably the worst thing that ever happens to him,' said Mr Seal. 'He then went on effectively a spree of offending.' Mr Seal said Watts was 'grateful' that he was now in custody, and that this gave him a chance to address his substance issues. 'It has put the brakes on a one way path,' he said. Addressing the defendant, Judge Carl Harrison said: 'This was a lone female working at night at 8.45pm in December. It was dark outside. 'Your offending has had a long-lasting effect on her.' Watts was jailed for two years and three months, and the woman was granted a five-year restraining order against him.
South Wales Argus
14-07-2025
- South Wales Argus
Caerphilly cocaine dealer jailed after police raid on home
Prosecutor Amelia Pike told Newport Crown Court that police raided Kimberley Davies' home in Rhymney on March 26 last year. Officers seized her phone, which contained a number of drug-related messages from an 11-month period, including Davies labelling herself as 'active' when she had drugs to sell, and messages where she supplied her bank details to customers. Analysis of Davies' bank account showed £69,349.44 in third party payments had been made between August 2022 and August 2024. She was arrested on January 31 this year and gave a no comment interview. However she later pleaded guilty to being concerned in the supply of cocaine and possession of criminal property – relating to the cash from the bank transfers. Kimberley Davies admitted her involvement in selling cocaine. (Image: Gwent Police) The court heard that Davies, 35, of Brynhyfryd, had four previous convictions for nine offences, although none of these were drug-related. Alice Sykes, mitigating, said Davies 'struggled to cope' after she lost two family members and her relationship broke down. 'She began smoking crack cocaine at a faster rate than she could afford to and began selling to pay off her debt,' she said. 'She plans to use her time in custody constructively. 'Part of that will be to address her addiction to drugs.' Judge Carl Harrison said Davies' offending was so serious that only a custodial sentence could be justified. He sentenced Davies to three years and four months imprisonment. Ms Pike confirmed Proceeds of Crime Act proceedings would be sought against Davies in an attempt to recover any profits she made from her offending.
South Wales Argus
12-07-2025
- South Wales Argus
Caerphilly drug-driver jailed for series of driving offences
Newport Crown Court heard witnesses saw Neo Maguire 'struggling to stand up' as he staggered towards his Ford Ka in Trethomas on November 16. Within minutes, police located Maguire – who was driving 'erratically' – and he turned into a dead-end road. Maguire tried to flee on foot, leaving his passenger in the car, but was tackled to the ground by an officer and was arrested. When searched, cannabis was found in his wallet. Maguire was taken to hospital, and blood tests revealed he had 240 micrograms of benzoylecgonine - the main metabolite of cocaine - per litre (µg/L) of blood. There was also THC present. The prosecution said this was 'nearly five times the limit' for benzoylecgonine, which is 50µg/L. Checks also revealed Maguire was disqualified from driving and had no insurance. He was released under investigation. Weeks later, at around 9.45am on January 12, police attended Nantgarw Road in Caerphilly following reports of a man asleep inside a car with the engine running who couldn't be woken. Officers attended, and Maguire eventually woke up. However he was slurring his words and couldn't get out of the car. The defendant was slightly over the drink-drive limit in a roadside test, but was under the limit when he was breathalysed at the police station. He refused to take a drugs test, and told officers 'I don't care. I'm f***** anyway' before adding that he was an alcoholic. Due to his issues with cocaine, Maguire was referred to an assessment with the Gwent Drug and Alcohol Service on January 27. However, he failed to show up. Neo Maguire was driving under the influence in Caerphilly. (Image: Gwent Police) Maguire pleaded guilty to driving whilst disqualified, driving whilst unfit through drugs, being in charge of a vehicle whilst unfit through drink or drugs, driving without a licence, two offences of driving with no insurance, possession of cannabis, and failing to provide a specimen for analysis. He also admitted failing to attend a follow-up drug assessment. The court heard that Maguire, 24, of Keble Court in Graig-Y-Rhacca, had three previous convictions for six offences – including dangerous driving in 2021 and 2024 despite never passing his driving test. 'He's pragmatic about his position,' said Alice Sykes, mitigating. 'His relatively young life has been blighted by alcoholism.' Ms Sykes said Maguire had been working to address his issues with alcohol, and had completed a previous alcohol treatment requirement. The court heard the defendant was subject to a suspended sentence at the time of these latest offences. 'Within only five months of that sentence, you committed more driving offences,' said Judge Carl Harrison. Maguire was jailed for a total of 30 weeks.
