News

Tenby barber jailed for framing innocent man in speeding offences

Published

2 years ago

November 14, 2023

A SHOCKING case of perverting the course of justice was unveiled at the Swansea Crown Court involving Diyar Ali, a 30-year-old barber from Tenby, who falsely accused another man, Mr. Kareem, of two speeding offences committed in his Toyota Yaris.

The first offence occurred on April 21, 2021, in Sketty, and the second on February 27, 2022, on the A40 at Llanllwch. Ali, who resided on St Mary’s Street in Tenby at the time, submitted misleading information on a notice of impending prosecution form, alleging Mr. Kareem was the driver during both incidents.

Mr. Kareem, prosecuted in absentia, faced a £440 fine and six penalty points on his licence. The deceit began to unravel when police probed two Swansea addresses provided by Ali, discovering they were part of ‘NIP farms’ – properties used to facilitate traffic offence evasions, often promoted on social media platforms like TikTok.

The real victim, Mr. Kareem, suffered gravely. He lost his driving licence, car, job, and other work opportunities, spiralling into depression and experiencing suicidal thoughts. His victim statement poignantly expressed the ordeal as worse than physical assault or burglary.

Investigations by the police, including fingerprinting, mobile phone analysis, and automatic number plate recognition, conclusively proved Ali’s presence at the crime scenes, while Mr. Kareem was elsewhere. Initially denying the charges, Ali eventually pled guilty in court.

Ali, recently residing on Ship Street in Brecon and a temporary humanitarian resident in the UK from Iraq, was described by his defence solicitor, Jon Tarrant, as naïve and reliant on others for administrative tasks. Tarrant highlighted Ali’s remorse for his actions.

Judge Mr. Recorder J Powell KC sentenced Ali to eight months in prison, with a subsequent driving ban of one year and four months. Upon release, he faces a £156 victim surcharge and a year of supervision under licence. This case serves as a stark reminder of the severe consequences of perverting justice, impacting not only the perpetrator but the innocent lives caught in the web of deceit.

Charity

Christmas jumper fundraiser raises £360 for youth counselling

Published

20 hours ago

January 14, 2026

Tom Sinclair

A CHRISTMAS Jumper Day fundraiser held by staff at W.B. Griffiths & Son Ltd has raised £360 for the Megan’s Starr Foundation, helping fund vital mental health support for young people.

The money, presented to the charity by Carla and Liam, will pay for 10 professional counselling sessions for young people who are struggling and in urgent need of support.

The Megan’s Starr Foundation said the sessions provide a safe space for young people to talk, be listened to, and feel supported at a time when it matters most.

In a statement, the charity thanked the firm and its staff for getting involved, adding that access to timely support can be life changing and can help young people realise they are not alone.

The foundation said it was grateful to everyone at W.B. Griffiths & Son Ltd who took part, describing the donation as one that will have a real and lasting impact on local young people and their mental health.

News

Investigation launched after man found dead near Carmarthen railway line

Published

20 hours ago

January 14, 2026

Tom Sinclair

POLICE are investigating the circumstances surrounding the death of a man whose body was found in a field close to the railway track near Carmarthen railway station.

Emergency services were called to the area at just after 8:30am on Saturday (Jan 10). Officers from Dyfed-Powys Police attended alongside paramedics from the Welsh Ambulance Service.

Witnesses reported seeing police and ambulance vehicles outside the station’s main entrance, with officers also in an adjacent field near a railway bridge.

Dyfed-Powys Police said the man’s next of kin have been informed and are being supported by officers.

A police spokesperson said enquiries are ongoing and the death is currently being treated as unexplained.

No further details, including the man’s age or identity, have been released.

Crime

Former Gwent detective would have been sacked after off duty assault conviction

Published

21 hours ago

January 14, 2026

Rieve Nesbitt-Marr

Ex officer found guilty of gross misconduct following Devon incident and magistrates court conviction

A FORMER Gwent Police detective sergeant has been found guilty of gross misconduct after being convicted of assaulting a man while off duty in Devon.

Joanne Marston resigned from the force shortly before an accelerated misconduct hearing was due to begin at Cwmbran on Monday. The panel went ahead in her absence.

The hearing was told the incident happened in February 2024 while Marston was off duty in Devon. She was later arrested and charged with common assault, and was convicted at Exeter Magistrates’ Court in March last year.

A professional standards investigation concluded she had breached the police standards of professional behaviour relating to discreditable conduct. The panel upheld the allegation and found it amounted to gross misconduct.

Had she remained a serving officer, the panel ruled she would have been dismissed without notice.

Assistant Chief Constable Vicki Townsend, who chaired the hearing, said the former officer’s actions were “shocking and unacceptable” and warned that such behaviour damages public confidence in policing.

Marston will now be placed on the College of Policing barred list, preventing her from serving with any police force in the UK.