Crime

Cross-border tool thieves jailed after van raids in rural Wales

Published

4 months ago

November 15, 2025

Pair from Worcestershire targeted tradesmen across Carmarthenshire and beyond

TWO men who travelled from Worcestershire to raid work vans west Wales have been sentenced after stealing thousands of pounds worth of tools from local tradesmen.

Aston Amos, aged 35, and 27-year-old Robbie Bate, both from Bewdley, made late-night trips through Powys and Carmarthenshire during July, breaking into vehicles in Builth Wells, Brecon and Newcastle Emlyn. Tools worth around £13,000 were taken over two separate nights of offending.

Dyfed-Powys Police launched an investigation following multiple reports of vans being forced open. Officers reviewing CCTV footage identified a black Audi A4 travelling repeatedly between Wales and the West Midlands.

Enquiries later revealed the car had been linked to a booking at a hotel in St Clears, and that both men’s phones had travelled the same route. Amos, who was already subject to a court-imposed GPS ankle tag, was found to have been at the scene of the thefts when the offences took place.

When police searched the Woodman Caravan Park near Bewdley on 9 August, they discovered the Audi and a cache of stolen tools. Both men were arrested soon after.

At Swansea Crown Court, the pair admitted five counts of theft. Amos has 15 previous convictions for 24 offences, including vehicle theft and handling stolen goods. Bate has eight previous convictions for mainly motoring offences.

Judge condemns ‘cruel’ crimes

Judge Geraint Walters said the men had deliberately targeted tradespeople who depended on their tools for their livelihoods. He described the thefts as “organised and deliberate”, adding that taking away a worker’s tools was “one of the cruellest things imaginable”.

Defence lawyers said Amos had been battling drug and alcohol problems and was now sober in custody. Bate, who helps to care for his three-year-old son, expressed remorse and said he wanted to start a gardening business.

Amos was jailed for nine months, to run consecutively to an existing sentence for wounding. Bate received a nine-month suspended sentence, 160 hours of unpaid work, a 12-week curfew, and must complete rehabilitation sessions.

The judge warned Bate that if he breached the order, “you’ll be coming back to Swansea — and you won’t be going home.”

Crime

Man sentenced for stalking Milford Haven woman

Published

2 hours ago

March 15, 2026

Court Reporter

Restraining order imposed by Haverfordwest magistrates

A MAN has been sentenced after admitting stalking a woman in Milford Haven.

Andrew Richards, 39, of High Street, Neyland, appeared before Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court for sentence on Monday (Mar 9).

Richards had previously pleaded guilty to stalking without fear, alarm or distress, contrary to section 2A(1) and (4) of the Protection from Harassment Act 1997.

The court heard that between December 2, 2025 and February 15, 2026, he pursued a course of conduct which amounted to the stalking of Tamsin Matthias and which he knew, or ought to have known, amounted to harassment.

Magistrates imposed a community order running until September 8, 2027.

As part of the order, Richards must undertake alcohol treatment for nine months under the direction of the probation service.

He must also complete up to twenty days of rehabilitation activity as directed by probation.

Richards was ordered to pay a £120 fine, £500 compensation to the victim, £85 prosecution costs and a £114 surcharge.

The court made a restraining order lasting until September 8, 2027.

Under the order, Richards must not contact the victim directly or indirectly and must not post, or cause to be posted, any material on social media or the internet referring to her directly or indirectly.

The court heard a victim personal statement from the complainant, which was read to the court by the prosecutor.

The case was prosecuted by Dennis Davies, with Richards represented by Mike Kelleher.

The hearing was before magistrates Mrs J Morris, Mr C Pattison and Mr J Steadman.

Crime

Man, 80, sentenced for stalking after campaign of unwanted emails and posters

Published

2 hours ago

March 15, 2026

Court Reporter

Restraining order imposed after Haverfordwest case

A MAN has been sentenced for stalking after admitting a campaign of unwanted contact and harassment in Haverfordwest.

Michael Lockheart, 80, of Daisy Lane, Haverfordwest, appeared before Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court for sentence on Monday (Mar 9).

The court had previously heard that between July 27 and September 10, 2025, Lockheart pursued a course of conduct which amounted to stalking.

The offence involved sending numerous unwanted emails after being told to stop making contact, putting up defamatory posters in public places, and sending malicious correspondence to the complainant’s GP and local authority.

Lockheart had entered a guilty plea to stalking without fear, alarm or distress, contrary to section 2A(1) and (4) of the Protection from Harassment Act 1997, on January 27, 2026.

Magistrates imposed a community order running until March 8, 2028.

As part of that order, Lockheart must undergo non-residential mental health treatment for 12 months under Dr Cormac Duffy, as directed by probation.

He must also complete up to 25 days of rehabilitation activity.

Lockheart was ordered to pay £1,000 compensation, a £600 fine, £85 costs and a £114 surcharge.

The court also made a restraining order lasting until March 8, 2028.

Under that order, he must not seek, approach or communicate with the complainant by any means, directly or indirectly. He must not knowingly enter any address where she is living, and must not post, or cause to be posted, any material online or on social media referring to her directly or by implication.

A victim personal statement was read to the court by the prosecutor.