Tin ingot theft alleged

THREE men have been sent to the Crown Court accused of conspiring to steal valuable materials from the Tata Steel plant at Trostre.

The case was heard at Llanelli Magistrates’ Court on Thursday (Mar 5), where the defendants appeared charged with conspiracy to steal tin ingots from the Trostre Steelworks in Llanelli.

Prosecutors allege that the three men – Christopher Carter, aged 38, of Pemberton Road, Llanelli; Scott Phillips, aged 37, of Bryngwyn Road, Llanelli; and Gareth Lewis, aged 41, of Heol Stanllyd, Llanelli – entered into an agreement to steal quantities of tin ingots belonging to Tata Steel UK.

The alleged conspiracy is said to have taken place over an extended period between July 1, 2023 and October 31, 2024.

Tin ingots are a processed metal product used in steel coating and manufacturing, and the material produced at Trostre is widely used in the packaging industry, including food and drink containers.

The charge alleges that the defendants dishonestly agreed together to remove the metal from the steelworks without authority, contrary to section 1 of the Criminal Law Act 1977.

Conspiracy offences are treated seriously by the courts as they involve agreements between two or more people to commit a criminal offence.

Because of the seriousness of the allegation and the potential value of the materials involved, magistrates ruled that the case was not suitable to be dealt with at the magistrates’ court.

All three defendants were sent to Swansea Crown Court where the case will proceed.

They were granted bail pending their next appearance before the Crown Court.

Category B video allegation

A 56-YEAR-OLD man has been sent to the Crown Court to face serious child image offences following a hearing at Llanelli Magistrates’ Court on Thursday (Mar 5).

Stephen Battenbough, of Penygraig Road, Ystradowen, Swansea, appeared before magistrates charged with multiple offences relating to indecent images of children and extreme pornography.

The court heard that Battenbough is accused of making indecent photographs or pseudo-photographs of a child between January 31, 2020 and May 9, 2024. One of the allegations relates to the creation of a Category B indecent video involving a child.

Category B material is considered among the most serious classifications of indecent imagery, depicting explicit sexual activity involving children.

Battenbough is also charged with distributing an indecent image of a child. The allegation states that on May 7, 2024, at Swansea, he distributed a Category B indecent image of a child.

In addition to the child image offences, Battenbough faces a further charge of possessing extreme pornographic images. Prosecutors allege that between January 31, 2020 and May 9, 2024 he possessed 16 extreme pornographic images depicting a person engaged in sexual intercourse with a live animal, namely a horse.

The charge states that the images portrayed the acts “in an explicit and realistic way” and were considered grossly offensive, disgusting or otherwise of an obscene character, with a reasonable person believing the people and animals depicted were real.

A further charge alleges that between April 7, 2018 and May 9, 2024 Battenbough made an indecent photograph of a child classified as a Category C image.

The offences are charged under the Protection of Children Act 1978 and the Criminal Justice and Immigration Act 2008.

Magistrates ruled that the case was too serious to be dealt with at the magistrates’ court and sent Battenbough to Swansea Crown Court for trial.

He was granted unconditional bail until the next hearing.

A NEWPORT man has been fined thousands of pounds after admitting a series of harbour safety offences following a vessel collision in Milford Haven.

Nolan Orford, aged 51, Bishton Village, Newport, appeared before Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court on Thursday (Mar 5).

The court heard that the offences took place on June 4, 2025, when Orford was navigating a vessel named Andy 02 within the Milford Haven Waterway.

Prosecutors, acting on behalf of the Milford Haven Port Authority, said Orford failed to comply with directions lawfully given by the harbourmaster under the Milford Haven Conservancy Act 1983 and the Milford Haven Byelaws 1984.

The first offence related to the manner in which the vessel was navigated. The court was told that Andy 02 was manoeuvred in such a way that it caused damage, danger or inconvenience to other users of the Haven, resulting in a collision with another vessel.

Orford also admitted failing to report the collision to the harbourmaster immediately after the incident, despite being the master of the vessel and required to do so under harbour regulations.

A further offence concerned an act affecting the safety of navigation in the Haven, after Andy 02 struck a vessel that was on its moorings.

Orford had originally denied the charges but changed his pleas to guilty on February 17.

Magistrates fined him £1,125 for the first offence and a further £1,125 for the third offence relating to the safety of navigation.

He was also fined £750 for failing to report the collision.

In addition, Orford was ordered to pay £6,000 in prosecution costs and a £1,200 surcharge to fund victim services.

The court made a collection order and allowed the total amount to be paid at a rate of £100 per month starting from April 2.

The offences were brought under Section 23 of the Milford Haven Conservancy Act 1983 and various Milford Haven Byelaws governing navigation safety within the Haven.

Speaking after the case, the Harbourmaster at the Port of Milford Haven, Mike Ryan said: “We are responsible for ensuring the safe and lawful use of the Waterway. Most users comply with the byelaws and navigational requirements, which exist to protect all who operate on or enjoy the Haven.

“We encourage anyone who is unsure of their responsibilities to consult the guidance available online. Users who do not comply with these byelaws may be subject to legal action.

“This incident is a reminder to everyone using the Waterway of their obligations: to always maintain a proper lookout, to navigate at a safe and appropriate speed, and to take early and decisive action to avoid the risk of collision.

“And, in the event of any collision or incident, users are legally required to report the matter to the Harbourmaster without delay. We will act, including pursuing prosecution when necessary, to keep everyone safe.”

The Port of Milford Haven is responsible for managing the safe use of the Milford Haven Waterway within the defined port limits. The Milford Haven Conservancy Act 1983 and the Milford Haven Harbour Byelaws 1984 provide the legal framework for these responsibilities and give the authority power to prosecute those who endanger the safe use of the Waterway.