Latest news with #SwanseaMagistratesCourt
Wales Online
04-06-2025
- Politics
- Wales Online
Fly-tipper's terrible excuse for waste dumped at picnic spot
Fly-tipper's terrible excuse for waste dumped at picnic spot The driver of a van seen in the area was tracked down - and gave a terrible explanation for how the waste ended up at the beauty spot The waste found illegally dumped near Mosshouse reservoir in Neath (Image: Neath Port Talbot Council ) A van driver has been fined after waste from a bathroom refurbishment project was found fly-tipped near a picnic area and beauty spot, a court has heard. The driver was located after detective work by council officers The defendant has been fined £153 but been ordered to pay another £1,500 in prosecution costs. A councillor has thanked the members of the public who provided information on the case for their "community-spirited action". Swansea Magistrates Court heard the waste was discovered on October 18, 2022, near the Mosshouse Woods reservoir off Fairyland Road in Neath when a number of people who knew the area as a fly-tipping hotspot became suspicious of the activities of a tipper-style van. At the reservoir picnic site the eagle-eyed members of the public found bathroom fittings and furniture including a broken toilet, a sink, and shower screens along with other items had been dumped. They passed on the information to Neath Port Talbot Council's waste enforcement team. The court heard an investigation by council officers traced the dumped waste to a house which had undergone a bathroom refurbishment, and the officers also then located the owner of the van seen near the reservoir. Article continues below The owner said at the time of the offence the vehicle was being used by a man called Richard Holland who was spoken to and who later attended an interview at Neath Civic Centre. For the latest court reports sign up to our crime newsletter During the interview Holland accepted he was in control the van on the day in question but denied dumping the waste claiming he had taken it to a skip. He told the officers: "Someone must have placed the waste back in the vehicle from the skip and travelled to the location and deposited it". Richard Marc Holland, aged 47, of Jersey Road, Bonymaen, Swansea, had previously pleaded guilty to an offence under the Environmental Protection Act 1990 when the case returned to court to be sentenced. The defendant was fined £153 and was ordered to pay £1,500 in prosecution costs along with a £61 victim surcharge. The court heard that though the defendant was not seen depositing the waste, section 33 of the 1990 act establishes that the person in control of a vehicle carrying controlled waste is considered to be knowingly causing the waste to be deposited - even without direct instructions - if the waste is deposited from the vehicle. This means that the person in control of the vehicle is held responsible for the waste's illegal deposit, regardless of whether he or she personally gave the order for the waste to be deposited. Speaking after the sentencing councillor Scott Jones, Neath Port Talbot Council's cabinet member for street scene, said: "I'd like to thank the members of the public for their community-spirited action in initially bringing this matter to our attention. "Fly tipping is a crime against our environment and we will pursue a prosecution either in court or via a fixed penalty notice. We take this nationwide issue extremely seriously and will continue to have a zero-tolerance approach." Article continues below
Wales Online
02-06-2025
- Wales Online
Man appears in court over collapse of Ammanford school stabbing trial
Man appears in court over collapse of Ammanford school stabbing trial Christopher Elias, 45, denies a charge related to the original Ammanford school stabbing trial, which saw the jury being discharged by the judge Christopher Elias (right) leaves Cardiff Magistrates Court (Image: John Myers ) A man has appeared in court in connection with the collapse of the first trial into a stabbing at an Ammandford school. A 14-year-old girl - who cannot be named due to reporting restrictions - was sentenced to 15 years detention after being convicted of the attempted murder of two teachers and a pupil at Ammanford's Ysgol Dyffryn Aman following a trial in January, 2025. The matter had originally gone to trial in October last year but the jury was discharged when the case was only part-heard. Christopher Elias, 45, of Millbank, Waunceirch, Neath, pleaded not guilty to an offence of refusing to answer a question relating to the qualification to serve on a jury - contrary to the Juries Act 1974 - when he appeared at Swansea Magistrates Court at an earlier date. Today, June 2, the case was due to be heard at Cardiff Magistrates Court but the matter was adjourned to June 30 and the defendant released on unconditional bail to that date. District Judge Christopher James said it was "deeply regrettable" that the hearing had to be pushed back again. He said: "It is regrettable that this matter is to be adjourned by four weeks." Article continues below Giles Hayes, defending, expressed his frustration that it was the third time the case had been to court and been adjourned, adding that his client was of "clean character". He said: "Each time we have come to court no-one can tell me what is happening with this case." Don't miss a court report by signing up to our crime newsletter here . The school stabbing trial heard the girl attacked deputy head teacher Fiona Elias, teacher Liz Hopkin and a female pupil during the school's morning break on April 24 last year. The girl approached Mrs Elias in the school yard and said "I'm going to f****** kill you" before stabbing her in the arms with the knife. Article continues below When Mrs Hopkin intervened and tried to restrain the girl, the teenager turned on her and stabbed her in the neck, back, legs and arms. Other members of teaching staff spoke to the defendant and tried to calm her down but she ran off and attacked a 14-year-old girl with the bladed multi-tool before being successfully restrained and disarmed. The judge later said he believed the girl had done it "for attention" and she was sentenced to a 15-year detention.
Wales Online
02-05-2025
- Wales Online
Ammanford school stabbing: Man charged over collapsed trial
Ammanford school stabbing: Man charged over collapsed trial Christopher Elias, 45, denies a charge related to the original trial in the Ammanford stabbing, which had to be discharged by the judge A man has appeared in court charged in connection with the collapse of the first trial into the stabbing of two teachers and a pupil at Ammanford's Ysgol Dyffryn Aman (Image: John Myers ) A man has appeared in court charged in connection with the collapse of the first trial into the Ammanford school stabbing. Last week a 14-year-old girl - who cannot be named due to reporting restrictions - was sentenced to 15 years detention after being convicted of the attempted murder of two teachers and a pupil at Ammanford's Ysgol Dyffryn Aman following a trial in January. The matter had originally gone to trial in October last year but the jury was discharged when the case was part-heard. Christopher Elias, 45, of Millbank, Waunceirch, Neath, pleaded not guilty to an offence of refusing to answer a question relating to the qualification to serve on a jury - contrary to the Juries Act 1974 - when he appeared at Swansea Magistrates Court. The matter was adjourned to May 14 and the defendant was released on unconditional bail to that date. The school stabbing trial heard the girl attacked deputy head teacher Fiona Elias, teacher Liz Hopkin and a female pupil during the school's morning break on April 24 last year. The girl approached Mrs Elias in the school yard and said "I'm going to f****** kill you" before stabbing her in the arms with the knife. When Mrs Hopkin intervened and tried to restrain the girl, the teenager turned on her and stabbed her in the neck, back, legs and arms. Other members of teaching staff spoke to the defendant and tried to calm her down but she ran off and attacked a 14-year-old girl with the bladed multi-tool before being successfully restrained and disarmed. The judge later said he believed the girl had done it "for attention" and added: "I believe you did what you did, above all, for attention - perhaps attention you have not had from others. I think, in a weird way, you actually enjoyed the reaction and publicity coming out of what you did." She was sentenced to a 15-year detention. Article continues below
Wales Online
29-04-2025
- Wales Online
Men did wheelspins and handbrake turns on a busy road then threatened family with Samurai sword
Men did wheelspins and handbrake turns on a busy road then threatened family with Samurai sword Police described the defendants as "men who believe that the law does not apply to them". Lathan Gray (left) and Stephen Harris Two men in a car performed handbrake turns and wheelspins on a busy main road then threatened a family who challenged them and brandished a Samurai sword, a court has heard. Police described Lathan Gray and Stephen Harris as "men who believe that the law does not apply to them." Swansea Magistrates Court heard that at around 6.20pm on April 20 this year the defendants were in a Citroen Xsara Picasso car on Llangyfelach Road in the Treboeth area of Swansea. The Citroen - with Harris at the wheel - was seen doing handbrake turns and wheelspin on the busy road. Following a near-collision, a passing motorist challenged the defendants about their behaviour and they responded by following his car in a "threatening and intimidating manner." When the motorist stopped at the nearby Texaco garage Harris used the Citroen to block his escape and Gray got out and advanced on their victims' car. He then lifted his jumper to show the long handle of a Samurai sword tucked into his trousers. The court heard that in the car were a couple and their seven-year-old child. The police were called and officers located the defendant's Citroen a short distance away from garage. A search of the car uncovered a kitchen knife and a hammer. Article continues below The vehicle itself had a false registration plate, while checks showed Harris was a disqualified driver. For the latest court reports sign up to our crime newsletter here Latham Gray, aged 27, of Jersey Road, Bonymaen, Swansea, had previously pleaded guilty to affray and to possesison of a bladed article when he appeared in the dock for sentencing. Stephen Harris, aged 29, of Eaton Crescent, Uplands, Swansea, had previously pleaded guilty to driving while disqualified, drink-driving, driving with no insurance, the fraudulent use of a registration mark, and possession of an offensive weapon when he joined his co-defendant in the dock. Gray was sentenced to a total of 48 weeks in prison and Harris to 26 weeks. The defendants will serve up to half their sentences in custody before being released on licence to serve the remainder in the community. Article continues below Harris was also banned from driving for five years and 13 weeks. Speaking after the sentencing South Wales Police detective inspector Danielle Thorne said: "Stephen Harris and Lathan Gray are two men who believe that the law does not apply to them. "Their intimidating behaviour, particularly towards a family with a young child, was totally disgraceful. We hope that they both take their time in prison to think better of this kind of thuggish behaviour."
