Crime

Trial continues into Swansea city centre murder case

Published

1 year ago

January 14, 2025

THE TRIAL of two men accused of murdering a workmate during a night out in Swansea city centre is underway at Swansea Crown Court.

This week, the jury heard how Andrew Main, 33, was subjected to what prosecutors described as a “prolonged and vicious” attack, leading to multiple head fractures and a traumatic brain injury. Despite medical efforts, Main was pronounced dead four weeks after the incident.

Joseph Dix and Macaulay Ruddock stand accused of the murder, which allegedly occurred in the early hours of Wednesday, July 17, 2024. Both men deny the charge.

ALTERCATION OUTSIDE TRAVELODGE

Prosecutor John Elias KC described how an altercation outside the Travelodge on Princess Way escalated into violence. Main and his friend, Michael Bell, encountered Dix and Ruddock, who allegedly chased Main down the street before attacking him.

The prosecution claims Dix delivered a punch to the back of Main’s head, knocking him unconscious. Dix and Ruddock are accused of repeatedly striking Main while he lay defenceless on the pavement. Main never regained consciousness and succumbed to his injuries in hospital four weeks later.

PROSECUTION OUTLINES INTENT

Elias told the jury the attack demonstrated clear intent to cause serious harm. He argued that both defendants were jointly responsible, highlighting the repeated blows inflicted while Main was unconscious.

“All four men were staying at the same Travelodge while working in Swansea,” Elias said. He explained that the evening began with Main and Bell drinking at the Potters Wheel pub, while Dix and Ruddock socialised at the Bank Statement bar. Later, the defendants met two women—also guests at the hotel—at the Coyote Ugly bar, where they first encountered Main.

RISING TENSIONS

After returning to the Travelodge, tensions reportedly escalated when Dix accused Bell of irritating one of the women. Despite Main and Bell being described as “polite and friendly,” an argument broke out. Hotel staff intervened, temporarily defusing the situation, but the conflict reignited outside the hotel.

CCTV footage showed Main trying to mediate and calm tensions. When Bell fled the scene, the defendants allegedly turned their attention to Main. The prosecution claims Dix delivered the initial punch, knocking Main unconscious, before both men continued the assault.

Witnesses described hearing “loud thudding sounds” as Main was attacked while lying on the ground.

INJURIES AND MEDICAL EVIDENCE

Main suffered fractures to his face and a severe traumatic brain injury. Medical reports detailed significant brain swelling and bleeding, which required intensive care. Despite treatment, his condition worsened, and end-of-life care was agreed upon on August 2.

Blood samples revealed alcohol, cannabis, and traces of ketamine, which paramedics may have administered to manage Main’s airway.

DEFENDANTS’ REACTION

The jury was told Dix later tried to place Main in the recovery position, while Ruddock called emergency services. Police body-worn camera footage captured Dix insisting he acted in self-defence, saying: “He wouldn’t stop trying to hit me. Look at the cameras. I promise I wasn’t trying to start it. If someone was swinging at you, you wouldn’t just take it.”

The trial continues.

Crime

Man spared jail after admitting child abuse image offences

Published

2 hours ago

February 3, 2026

Rieve Nesbitt-Marr

Police seized devices after intelligence linked Pembrokeshire address to illegal cloud storage accounts

A 23-YEAR-OLD Pembrokeshire man has avoided immediate custody after admitting making and possessing indecent images of children, including extreme bestiality material.

Ryan Beale, aged 23, appeared at Swansea Crown Court for sentencing this week.

At his first hearing, before magistrates on December 31, he entered guilty pleas and being granted conditional bail.

The court heard the case followed an intelligence-led police investigation linking Beale to a Dropbox account suspected of storing illegal material. Officers executed a warrant at his home on December 18.

During his arrest, Beale told officers: “I don’t use Dropbox,” claiming his email and Google accounts had been compromised.

However, police seized his mobile phone and computer equipment. A forensic examination found the email address connected to the Dropbox account stored on his device. Although the account had also been accessed from overseas locations, including Nigeria, investigators were satisfied it was controlled by Beale and linked to a larger cloud storage account containing significant volumes of illegal content.

Officers discovered 120 Category A images, 36 Category B images and 29 Category C images.

Category A represents the most serious level of abuse.

The material included extreme and disturbing bestiality content. Further Category C images were also located within the Dropbox account.

Two identified victims depicted in the images were girls aged nine and eleven.

Beale initially denied the allegations but later admitted the offences.

Passing sentence, at Swansea Crown Court on Tuesday (Feb 3) the His Honour Geraint Walters said: “This was not an innocent pastime. Every time an adult views that image, a child is still being abused.”

He added that an early guilty plea had spared Beale immediate custody but warned the offences would have lifelong consequences.

“The public have no time for anybody doing this,” the judge said. “If you’re doing this, the police will find out. They didn’t knock on your door randomly — they knew what they were looking for.”

Beale was sentenced to eight months’ imprisonment, suspended for two years. He must complete 20 days of rehabilitation activity and pay £300 in prosecution costs.

The court also imposed a Sexual Harm Prevention Order, ordered the forfeiture and destruction of his electronic devices, and placed him on the Sex Offenders Register for ten years.

“If you keep yourself out of trouble, you won’t have to serve that custodial sentence,” the judge told him.

Crime

Hakin man’s appeal delayed again as Crown Court seeks guidance on insurance law

Published

3 hours ago

February 3, 2026

Rieve Nesbitt-Marr

Judge gives CPS more time to review latest road traffic law guidance before case returns in March

A HAKIN man’s appeal against a conviction for driving without insurance has been delayed after a judge granted prosecutors additional time to review updated legal guidance.

Seventy-six-year-old Niall Taylor, of Haven Drive, appeared at Swansea Crown Court on Tuesday (Jan 13) for a mention hearing in his case.

Taylor has accepted the finding that he drove otherwise than in accordance with a licence, but is challenging the separate conviction for using a vehicle without insurance.

The case relates to an incident on January 18, 2023, when he drove a Vauxhall Zafira along Hammond Avenue, Haverfordwest.

The matter has already followed an unusual procedural history. Taylor initially pleaded not guilty in the magistrates’ court but later changed his plea during the original trial. Questions were subsequently raised over whether that plea had been “equivocal”, leading the case to be reopened under Section 142 of the Magistrates’ Courts Act 1980 and reheard in full.

Following a trial of the facts, magistrates found him guilty and imposed sentence in December. Taylor has since lodged an appeal focused solely on the insurance offence.

During Tuesday’s hearing, His Honour Judge Walters granted the Crown Prosecution Service 28 days to review Wilkinson’s Road Traffic Offences (32nd Edition), the leading legal reference text used by courts in motoring cases.

Addressing the court, the judge said the matter may still require further consideration, adding: “The court still might want to reconsider the sentence even if the insurance company is right. It does look as if different insurance companies do things in different ways.”

He added: “It is not in fact void, but it is voidable.”

Taylor maintains that a valid insurance policy was in force at the time of driving and argues that, in law, third-party cover cannot simply be cancelled because of an administrative licensing issue.

The appeal is due to return to Swansea Crown Court on March 27, when further legal argument is expected.

Crime

Pembroke Dock woman admits breaching community order

Published

6 hours ago

February 3, 2026

Rieve Nesbitt-Marr

Magistrates revoke sentence after missed appointments

A PEMBROKE DOCK woman has admitted breaching the terms of a community order.

Shannon Charge, aged 30, of Pater Court, appeared before Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court on Monday (Feb 2).

She admitted failing to attend a scheduled probation appointment and a drug dependency appointment.

Magistrates revoked the existing community order and ordered her to pay £60 in court costs.

The court heard the order related to earlier offences, for which she had been made subject to rehabilitation and drug treatment requirements. A further review hearing is listed for March 2.