Crime

Defendant denies causing injuries to two-month-old baby

Published

3 months ago

December 2, 2025

Christopher Phillips explains “rattle” incident during questioning

CHRISTOPHER PHILLIPS, the 28-year-old man accused of sexually assaulting and causing serious physical harm to a two-month-old baby in January 2021, continued giving evidence before the jury this morning (Tuesday). Phillips repeatedly denied causing any injury to the infant — referred to in court as Baby C — and insisted he had never harmed him physically or sexually.

Phillips is on trial alongside the baby’s mother, who cannot be named for legal reasons, who is charged with causing or allowing serious physical harm. Both defendants deny the allegations.

Relationship and childcare involvement

Phillips told the court he met the baby’s mother on Tinder when the child was about two weeks old. He said his involvement in caring for the infant increased after Christmas 2020 but was limited to occasional help with feeding, bathing and nappy changing. He said the mother was “95 per cent of the time” present when he undertook any care tasks.

He said he first saw bright red blood in the baby’s nappy around 12 January 2021, which he attributed to constipation and a possible haemorrhoid, saying he recognised the condition because he suffered from them himself.

On the night of 23–24 January, Phillips said he changed the baby’s nappy three times. At around 22:17, he took a photograph of blood in the nappy and sent it to the mother, who was in the living room, explaining he thought it might be useful if she needed to show a doctor. He told the jury the baby’s anus “did not look injured” during any of the changes.

Sex toys and pornography

The jury were shown photographs of a number of sexual items recovered from a drawer beside the bed. Phillips confirmed that several of the items — including anal beads, butt plugs, an inflatable anal device, lubricant and a bottle of amyl nitrate (“poppers”) — belonged to him.

He accepted that he and the mother had engaged in anal play using toys, though he said there had never been penile-anal intercourse. He acknowledged viewing anal pornography and said he had deleted some search history and intimate photographs from his phone out of “embarrassment”.

The “rattle” incident

Phillips also admitted an incident involving one of the baby’s rattles. He said that after “mucking around” with the mother on the sofa, he picked up the rattle from the floor, mistaking its shape for a sex toy:

“I picked it up and began to press it against my anus, but never actually inserted it.”

He described the moment as “a moment of jocularity”.

After the prosecution concluded its questioning, John Hipkin KC, began a forceful cross-examination.

Hipkin KC put it to Phillips that the significant anal injury later identified in hospital could only have been caused by one of the two adults present in the flat that night.

He highlighted that Phillips had changed the baby’s nappy three times without noticing any injury and questioned him about his detailed knowledge of anal lubrication, dilation and the use of fingers before larger objects.

Hipkin KC suggested Phillips had used Sudocrem as a lubricant to insert a finger into the baby on or around 15 January, and again on the night of 23–24 January. Phillips denied this repeatedly: “Absolutely not.”

Phillips said he left the flat shortly before 03:00am on 24 January with the baby “settled and quiet”. He also denied deleting any material involving the baby from his phone.

Observations about the mother

Asked about the co-defendant’s care of the child, Phillips described her as “a loving mother”, though he recalled two occasions he found unusual: one where she placed the baby down “hard and fast” into the cot while tired, and another where she sat staring at a wall for around 20 seconds while holding him.

Clear denials

Phillips ended his evidence by telling the jury: “I absolutely did not harm Baby C physically or sexually.”

The trial continues this afternoon (Tuesday, Nov 2) before His Honour Judge Paul Thomas KC.

Crime

Police bail teenager after Ysgol Maesydderwen threat investigation

Published

7 hours ago

March 7, 2026

Tom Sinclair

A 17-YEAR-OLD boy arrested following threats made against Ysgol Maesydderwen in Ystradgynlais has been released on bail while police continue their enquiries.

Dyfed-Powys Police confirmed that the teenager, from Pontardawe, had been arrested on suspicion of sending digital communications conveying threats of death or serious harm with the intention of causing fear.

The west Wales arrest followed an incident which caused concern among pupils, parents, and staff at the secondary school.

Police have now confirmed the boy has been bailed pending further enquiries.

Powys Superintendent Gareth Grant thanked the community for their patience during the investigation.

He said: “I’d firstly like to thank the parents, teachers, staff and the wider community for the support and patience you have shown whilst we have carried out our enquiries in relation to this incident.

“I understand this will have had a profound impact. Our Neighbourhood officers will maintain a local presence for reassurance, and we will continue to work with our local secondary schools and partners to ensure our local community are supported.”

Dyfed-Powys Police say enquiries into the incident remain ongoing.

Crime

Indian takeaway ordered to pay £2,808 for serious allergen breaches

Published

7 hours ago

March 7, 2026

Tom Sinclair

AN INDIAN takeaway in Ceredigion has been ordered to pay £2,808 after an investigation uncovered serious failures in allergen management and food information.

Ruhul Amin Choudhury, trading as Nehar Indian Takeaway on Bridge Street in Lampeter, appeared before Aberystwyth Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday (Mar 3), where he pleaded guilty to three offences relating to breaches of food information and safety regulations.

The court fined him £1,290 and ordered him to pay a £518 victim surcharge and £1,000 in investigation and legal costs to Ceredigion County Council.

The offences came to light after officers from the council’s Public Protection team carried out an unannounced test purchase on January 23, 2025.

During the order, officers informed staff that one member of their party had a mustard allergy. However, the prawn cocktail supplied by the takeaway was later found to contain mustard.

Laboratory testing confirmed the presence of the allergen, meaning the food posed a potentially serious health risk.

Officers also discovered that the business was using genetically modified cooking oil without informing customers, as required by law. The issue had previously been raised with the owner on two separate occasions, but no corrective action had been taken.

Further concerns emerged when investigators examined the takeaway’s menu, which claimed that “no artificial colours or food additives are used”.

During the inspection, however, officers found a container labelled “bright red colour” on the premises. The product contained artificial colourings including E129 Allura Red, E102 Tartrazine and E122 Carmoisine.

Mr Choudhury confirmed these colourings were used in dishes such as chicken tikka masala and pilau rice. Laboratory tests later verified the presence of artificial colouring in food samples.

During interview, Mr Choudhury accepted the findings and offered no defence. He told investigators he was unaware the cooking oil was genetically modified, acknowledged the menu contained incorrect information about artificial colours, and said he did not realise the prawn cocktail sauce contained mustard.

Officers concluded he had a limited understanding of allergen control and food information requirements, raising concerns about safety practices at the premises.

A formal notice was issued requiring the business to stop handling any of the fourteen regulated allergens and to take immediate corrective action. Mr Choudhury voluntarily closed the premises later that evening.

In court, the defence solicitor said Mr Choudhury had worked in the catering industry for many years and had no previous convictions.

He told the magistrates his client was “a stranger to the court” and intended to introduce proper systems to prevent future issues, adding that a lack of understanding and the need for further support had contributed to the offences.

Councillor Matthew Vaux, Ceredigion County Council’s Cabinet Member for Partnerships, Housing, Legal and Governance and Public Protection, said: “This case highlights the importance of good allergen control and accurate food information.

“Undeclared allergens can have life-threatening consequences, and our officers found several worrying failings during this investigation.

“Our team worked closely with the business to ensure urgent corrective action was taken, and we will continue to support and enforce where necessary to keep consumers safe.”

Crime

Newport man jailed for terrorism offences

Published

7 hours ago

March 7, 2026

Tom Sinclair

A NEWPORT man has been jailed for five years after admitting a series of terrorism offences linked to the proscribed extremist group Islamic State.

Shazad Ali, aged 21, from the Newport area of Gwent, was sentenced at Bristol Crown Court on Friday (March 6) after previously pleading guilty to multiple offences.

Ali admitted supporting the proscribed organisation ISIS, two counts of encouraging terrorism, and possessing documents likely to be useful to a terrorist.

The charges were brought under the Terrorism Act 2000 and the Terrorism Act 2006.

Counter Terrorism Policing Wales said Ali was arrested in January 2025. Officers carried out a search of his home, where they recovered digital devices which revealed he had built up a library of extremist terrorist publications.

Investigators also found that Ali had publicly shared a number of extreme Islamist videos online.

The court heard that Ali’s activities demonstrated support for the Islamic State group and involved material promoting extremist ideology.

In addition to the five-year prison sentence, the judge imposed an extended licence period of two years following his release.

Detective Chief Inspector Leanne Williams, of Counter Terrorism Policing Wales, said the sentence followed a lengthy investigation.

She said: “Shazad Ali represented a very clear and dangerous threat to the public, and this sentence concludes what has been a lengthy investigation conducted by Counter Terrorism Policing Wales.

“Ali visibly expressed his support for the Islamic State, and it was our overriding priority to ensure the public were protected from both him and the abhorrent rhetoric he promoted.”

Police reminded the public that reporting concerns about extremist behaviour can help prevent serious harm.

They added that information about suspicious activity can be reported through the government’s Action Counters Terrorism campaign, and that in an emergency the public should always dial 999.