Crime

Welsh grandfather conned out of £17,000 in cryptocurrency scam

Published

4 months ago

August 14, 2025

A WELSH grandfather who lives in the Dyfed-Powys Police area has spoken of his devastation after losing more than £17,000 to a sophisticated cryptocurrency scam which tricked him into believing his savings had grown to three quarters of a million dollars.

Paul Butterworth, 72, was lured into the scheme after responding to a Facebook advert for Diamond Ridge Asset Management – also trading as Diamond Ridge Financial Academy.

The advert led him to join a WhatsApp group where supposed investors praised the company’s daily market reports and trading advice. The group, complete with what appeared to be expert analysis from a “professor”, convinced Mr Butterworth the operation was legitimate.

“They had a website and accurate reports about the stock market,” he said. “I assumed their crypto reports were accurate too.”

Between January and April this year, Mr Butterworth’s apparent investment of £17,106 seemed to rocket to more than $750,000 on the fake platform. But when he tried to withdraw funds, his account was frozen until he repaid – from his own pocket – a $25,000 “loan” the scammers claimed to have provided.

The trades were bogus, and the money was gone.

Partial recovery

Mr Butterworth turned to the National Fraud Helpline, which has so far managed to recover £5,500 from his bank, Nationwide. The firm is now pursuing the rest of the money through the Financial Ombudsman Service.

Charlie Quail, a lawyer at the helpline, said: “This was a very sophisticated scam that allowed victims to log into a convincing but fake investment platform. Thousands of people have fallen victim, believing they were watching their investments grow.”

Hooked by small wins

The pensioner, a retired driving instructor, first dabbled in stock market trading before being persuaded to “beta test” a new trading system via a platform called “Winning.” The scammers even credited his account with $2,000 to start.

After following daily tips in the WhatsApp group, his balance appeared to grow, and he was allowed to withdraw some profit – a tactic he says hooked him into investing his own money.

“They made it seem genuine,” he said. “I wish I’d walked away then. Instead, I got greedy.”

The fraudsters later encouraged him to join a “partner programme” if he could bring his account to $25,000, promising to match the amount with a loan. He signed a contract that appeared official.

When his balance showed $753,855, he says he had “mixed emotions”.

“I thought, ‘wow, I’m going on holiday,’ but also thought it was too good to be true.”

His fears were confirmed when the $25,000 “loan” was called in – and the platform refused to deduct it from his account.

Warning to others

“I rely on the state pension, a little stock market trading and my meagre savings,” Mr Butterworth said. “This modern technology is like a goldmine to scammers. I don’t want anyone else to fall into the same trap.”

Crime

Man charged with strangulation and assault offences after October incident

Published

5 hours ago

December 14, 2025

Court Reporter

A MAN recorded in court as having no fixed abode has appeared before magistrates charged with intentional strangulation and two further assault offences.

Michael Sudbury, 50, whose address was not read out in court, but in Herald records is Glan Hafan, Llangwm, appeared before the bench facing multiple charges.

The charges relate to an incident on 22 October 2025 and include:

Intentional strangulation, contrary to section 75A of the Serious Crime Act 2015
Common assault
Assault by beating

No further details of the alleged incident were opened in court, and no plea was entered at this stage.

Sudbury was remanded on conditional bail, with the case listed to return to magistrates later this month.

Crime

Haverfordwest man sent to Crown Court on multiple serious charges

Published

5 hours ago

December 14, 2025

Court Reporter

Defendant remanded in custody

A HAVERFORDWEST man has been sent to Swansea Crown Court to stand trial on a series of A 49-year-old Haverfordwest resident has been committed to Swansea Crown Court to face trial on multiple serious charges deemed too grave for magistrates to handle.

David Guy, of Market Street, Haverfordwest, appeared before Haverfordwest magistrates facing a series of allegations stemming from a single case. The charges, which were not detailed in open court, include:

Assault occasioning actual bodily harm (ABH)
A second count of assault
Criminal damage
An additional allegation of interpersonal violence
A public order offence

Magistrates declined jurisdiction, determining that the matters exceeded their sentencing powers, and sent the case in its entirety to Swansea Crown Court.

Guy was remanded in custody pending his next appearance. The court register notes: “Sent to Crown Court for trial in custody – next hearing at Swansea Crown Court.”

A date for the initial Crown Court hearing will be set administratively. Guy will remain in custody until then.

The Pembrokeshire Herald will provide further updates as the case progresses in the Crown Court.

Crime

Castlemartin man back before magistrates over multiple alleged assaults

Published

5 hours ago

December 14, 2025

Court Reporter

Defendant remanded on conditional bail ahead of further hearing

A CASTLEMARTIN man has appeared repeatedly before magistrates this month over a string A 40-year-old man from Castlemartin has made repeated appearances before magistrates this month in connection with a series of serious alleged offences, including assault occasioning actual bodily harm (ABH), intentional non-fatal strangulation, common assault, and criminal damage.

Anthony Alcock, of Pwll Street, Castlemartin, is facing six linked charges stemming from incidents said to have occurred earlier this year. These appear to relate to the same complainant in what is understood to be a single ongoing domestic abuse prosecution.

During recent administrative hearings at Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court, Alcock did not enter pleas while matters of bail and case management were addressed.

Charges Include:

Assault occasioning actual bodily harm (ABH)
Intentional non-fatal strangulation
Common assault on a woman
Criminal damage in a domestic context
Additional assault allegations involving the same complainant
Breach of bail conditions

Alcock was initially granted conditional bail but was subsequently brought before the court on two occasions for alleged breaches. On those instances, magistrates remanded him in custody ahead of further hearings. He was later re-granted conditional bail, subject to strict conditions such as no contact with the complainant and exclusion from specified locations.

Magistrates have now declined jurisdiction, ruling that the case—particularly the more serious charges involving non-fatal strangulation—is too grave for summary trial. It has been committed to Swansea Crown Court for plea, trial, or sentencing.

No detailed evidence has been presented in open court at this preliminary stage. Alcock remains on conditional bail pending his next appearance at the Crown Court.