Crime

Covid loan fraudster ordered to repay almost £200,000 after Swansea hearing

Published

1 month ago

January 19, 2026

A HAVERFORDWEST man who fraudulently secured £150,000 in Covid support for mobile phone businesses has been ordered to repay almost £200,000 — and faces prison if he fails to pay.

Zahid Afzal, 37, of Albert Street, appeared at Swansea Crown Court on Monday (Jan 19) for a confiscation hearing under the Proceeds of Crime Act. The court ordered him to pay £197,306 within three months.

Afzal was previously handed a two-year prison sentence suspended for two years in June 2025 after pleading guilty to fraud offences following an Insolvency Service investigation. He was also ordered to complete 300 hours of unpaid work.

The Insolvency Service said Afzal made two legitimate applications for Bounce Back Loans in 2020, totalling £52,500, for his companies Phone Bits Limited and Phones Onn Ltd. However, it said he then exploited the scheme by applying for three additional maximum-value loans of £50,000 each, despite companies only being entitled to one Bounce Back Loan.

The £150,000 was paid between May and November 2020 — one £50,000 loan for Phone Bits Limited and two £50,000 loans for Phones Onn Ltd.

Investigators said Afzal falsely declared that Phone Bits Limited had not already received a Bounce Back Loan when he made a further application in May 2020, despite £32,500 having been paid into the company’s account the day before.

They also said he inflated the turnover figure for Phones Onn Ltd on applications in July and November 2020, stating it was £200,000 — the minimum required to secure a £50,000 loan — after earlier declaring turnover of £80,000 when applying legitimately for a £20,000 loan.

The Insolvency Service said significant amounts of the money paid into the businesses were later transferred into Afzal’s personal accounts, contrary to scheme rules which required the loans to be used for the economic benefit of the business.

Afzal has repaid only £2,722 in the more than five years since the applications were made, the Insolvency Service said. If he fails to repay the £197,306 within the time allowed, he faces two years in prison — and will still be required to repay the money even if jailed.

The confiscation figure includes the three £50,000 loans and indexation to reflect changes in the value of money since 2020.

The Insolvency Service said it also secured a restraint order against Afzal’s accounts, preventing assets from being moved or spent while proceeds of crime action was pursued.

Afzal’s businesses operated mobile phone shops or kiosks in Carmarthen, Shropshire, Andover in Hampshire and North Devon.

Crime

Man who threw corrosive liquid at guest and fled abroad jailed

Published

12 hours ago

February 18, 2026

Court Reporter

A BUSINESSMAN who threw a corrosive liquid into a guest’s face during a row at a spiritual retreat before fleeing the country has been jailed for 18 months.

Dean Mayze, aged 38, from Abercrave in Powys, admitted inflicting grievous bodily harm following the attack at his Hafan-y-Coed retreat in December 2022.

Swansea Crown Court heard the assault happened after an argument with guest Keifer Price, who had complained about the condition of his accommodation, including a lack of heating and washing facilities.

During the confrontation, Mayze produced a blue container and threw its contents upwards into the victim’s face.

The liquid — described as smelling like ammonia — entered Mr Price’s eyes, nose and mouth, leaving him in severe pain and struggling to breathe.

Medical evidence confirmed injuries consistent with a chemical burn to both eyes. He suffered abrasions, a corneal defect and the loss of the outer corneal layer in one eye, requiring significant treatment to prevent permanent sight loss. He has since recovered without lasting injury.

Fled across Europe

Following the attack, Mayze fled the UK, triggering an international search.

The court heard he travelled across several European countries, including Ireland, France, Italy, Croatia and Greece, before eventually being arrested in Romania in 2025.

Despite being on the run, he remained in regular contact with police by text and email, at one point telling officers he would not be returning to Wales.

His partner initially claimed responsibility for the assault and later received a suspended prison sentence after admitting perverting the course of justice.

Previous conviction

The court was told Mayze has a previous conviction for wounding involving a corrosive substance in Kent in 2013.

Defence barrister Andrew Taylor said his client had experienced harsh conditions while detained in Romania, including contracting scabies without treatment, and described him as remorseful.

However, Judge Geraint Walters said it was “pure luck” the victim had not suffered permanent injuries, describing the attack as a “particularly wicked way of inflicting violence”.

Sentence and order

Mayze, who appeared via video link from prison, had previously denied a more serious charge of causing grievous bodily harm with intent.

He was sentenced to 18 months’ imprisonment and made subject to a three-year restraining order.

Crime

Police appeal after man injured in St Davids incident

Published

17 hours ago

February 18, 2026

Tom Sinclair

DYFED-POWYS POLICE are appealing for witnesses following an incident in St Davids which left one man injured.

The incident happened in Nun Street at around 11:10am on Tuesday, December 30. The injured man was taken to hospital for treatment.

Officers confirmed that a man has been arrested on suspicion of assault in connection with the incident.

Police are now asking anyone with information, dash cam footage, or CCTV that could assist the investigation to come forward.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Dyfed-Powys Police online at:
https://www.dyfed-powys.police.uk/contact/af/contact-us-beta/contact-us/

Alternatively, email [email protected], send a direct message via social media, or call 101 quoting reference DP20251230094.

Information can also be provided anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555111 or via crimestoppers-uk.org.

Crime

Sexual assault allegation to be tried

Published

18 hours ago

February 18, 2026

Tamsin Mathias

Accused granted conditional bail

A SEXUAL assault allegation has been listed for trial following a hearing before magistrates.

David Fletcher, 45, of Chestnut Way, Mount Estate, Milford Haven, Pembrokeshire, appeared before magistrates in Llanelli on Thursday (Feb 12) charged with sexual assault, contrary to section 3 of the Sexual Offences Act 2003.

The charge alleges that on March 16, 2025, at Johnston, Pembrokeshire, he intentionally touched a woman aged 16 or over and that the touching was sexual when she did not consent and he did not reasonably believe that she was consenting.

The matter was adjourned for trial and Fletcher was remanded on conditional bail.

The trial is listed for March 9, 2026 at Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court. Bail conditions prohibit him from entering a specified premises in Johnston, from contacting directly or indirectly the complainant or any prosecution witnesses, and from posting any information relating to the investigation on social media. The conditions were imposed to prevent further offending and to prevent interference with witnesses or obstruction of justice.