Crime

Help protect Wales’s past for future generations

Published

10 months ago

September 6, 2025

RESIDENTS across Wales are being urged to report suspicious behaviour around historic buildings and heritage sites, following a rise in vandalism and heritage crime.

Ancient monuments, castles and listed buildings are increasingly being targeted by offences ranging from graffiti and theft to illegal metal detecting. Damaging or destroying a scheduled monument, or using a detector on a protected site without consent, is a criminal offence. Such crimes not only threaten irreplaceable heritage but also impact local communities, tourism and the economy.

Culture Minister Jack Sargeant said: “Heritage crime is more than vandalism — it’s a loss of our history. Reporting it can help protect Wales’s past for future generations, so I would urge the public to be watchful.”

Cadw has reported multiple incidents this year, forcing sites to close and diverting funds from conservation work to emergency repairs.

Neath Abbey has seen new signage destroyed, grass ripped up for bike tracks, smashed undercroft windows and exhibition panels ruined.
Blaenavon Ironworks’ Cast House was closed after an AV display was vandalised and bricks were hurled from a tower.
Caerleon’s Amphitheatre and Barracks have suffered graffiti, damage from BBQs, a burnt-out motorbike abandoned on site and repeated masonry repairs.

What is heritage crime?

Heritage crime covers any illegal activity that damages historic sites, including:

Theft of materials such as lead from church roofs
Graffiti and vandalism
Unauthorised works on scheduled monuments
Illegal metal detecting (“nighthawking”)
Anti-social behaviour such as littering, trespassing and climbing on ancient walls

How to report heritage crime

In an emergency: Call 999 and quote Operation Heritage Cymru
Non-emergency: Call 101 and quote Operation Heritage Cymru
Anonymous tip-off: Contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or visit www.crimestoppers-uk.org

You can also:

Report damage to Cadw if a scheduled monument is involved
Notify your Local Authority Conservation Officer if a listed building is affected
Join your local Heritage Watch scheme

Members of the public are encouraged to take details and, where possible, provide a witness statement to help support investigations and prosecutions.

Crime

Portfield Gate man faces careless driving allegation after Tufton crash

Published

34 minutes ago

June 18, 2026

Court Reporter

A PORTFIELD GATE man has appeared before magistrates accused of failing to stop after a road accident on the B4329.

Tony Mallon, 32, of Chestnut Tree Cottage, Portfield Gate, Haverfordwest, appeared before Llanelli Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday (Jun 17).

He is charged with driving a Peugeot Partner without due care and attention on the B4329 Preselly Mountain Road at Tufton on November 12, 2025.

Mallon is also accused of failing to stop after an accident in which damage was allegedly caused to a Toyota Auris, and failing to report the accident to police within 24 hours.

The case was adjourned at the request of the defence for an intermediary report to be prepared.

Mallon is due to appear again at Llanelli Magistrates’ Court on July 8 for a further pre-trial review.

Crime

Milford Haven man jailed for breaching domestic violence protection order

Published

1 hour ago

June 18, 2026

Court Reporter

A MILFORD HAVEN man has been jailed after admitting breaching a domestic violence protection order.

Ryan Carlmain, 33, of Plas Peregrine, Milford Haven, appeared before Llanelli Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday (Jun 17).

The court heard that Carlmain breached an order made by the same court on May 14 this year.

The breach took place in Milford Haven on June 10, when he attended an address at Marble Hall Road, contacted the woman concerned three times by telephone, and entered the property through a bathroom window after snapping a key off in the back door.

Carlmain admitted the breach.

Magistrates committed him to prison for two months, saying the offence was so serious because he had shown a “flagrant disregard for court orders”.

He was also ordered to pay £284 in costs, with payment due on his release.

Crime

Worcestershire man jailed after violent attack on woman in Tenby

Published

15 hours ago

June 17, 2026

Court Reporter

Defendant was already serving a suspended sentence when serious assault took place

A WORCESTERSHIRE man has been jailed for more than two years after carrying out a serious assault on a woman in Tenby.

Lewis Thompson-Gill, 35, of Worcester Road, Little Witley, was convicted of inflicting grievous bodily harm following an incident in the seaside town on December 28 last year.

A jury found Thompson-Gill guilty after a trial, having rejected his not guilty plea to the charge that he unlawfully and maliciously caused the victim serious injury.

Swansea Crown Court heard that the offence was committed while Thompson-Gill was already subject to a suspended prison sentence imposed by Worcester Magistrates’ Court on May 6, 2025.

That earlier sentence related to two breaches of a non-molestation order.

Sentencing Thompson-Gill, Recorder Paul Lewis KC imposed a total prison term of two years and four months.

The sentence comprises 20 months’ imprisonment for the grievous bodily harm offence, together with the activation of an eight-month suspended sentence in full.

The court also ordered Thompson-Gill to pay a victim surcharge of £187, which must be paid within three months of his release from custody.

The assault took place in Tenby during the Christmas period and resulted in injuries serious enough to justify the grievous bodily harm charge.

Thompson-Gill will now serve his sentence in custody.

Caption:

Lewis Thompson-Gill was jailed for a total of two years and four months at Swansea Crown Court (Pic: Dyfed-Powys Police)