POLICE say 27 ATMs were targeted in a series of raids spanning five regions since February.

Three people have been charged as part of an investigation into a series of cash machine raids across the Midlands and Wales.

David Price, aged 43, of Blakenhall, Adam Walker, 38, of Moseley, and Joanne McGregor, 40, of Wednesfield – all in Wolverhampton – were arrested on Thursday.

The trio are accused of carrying out a number of raids since February, during which 27 cash machines were targeted and more than £300,000 was stolen across the West Midlands, Staffordshire, Derbyshire, the West Mercia Police area and Denbighshire.

All three have been charged with conspiracy to burgle, conspiracy to handle stolen goods and possession of criminal property.

Police said 14 of the 27 raids were successful. One of those involved a raid on the Santander branch on Stourbridge High Street on June 25, when a cash box was taken.

Two further suspects have been released on bail while the investigation continues.

ASSAULT AND STRANGULATION CHARGES

A MILFORD HAVEN man accused of multiple assaults, criminal damage and intentional strangulation has been sent to the Crown Court for trial.

Matthew Salter-Jones, aged 36, of Central Court, Hakin, appeared before Llanelli Magistrates’ Court on Friday, (Dec 19).

The court heard that Salter-Jones faces two separate allegations of assault by beating against the same complainant. One offence is alleged to have taken place on Tuesday, July 1, 2025, with a second incident alleged on Tuesday, September 30, 2025.

He is also accused of intentionally strangling the complainant during an incident alleged to have occurred on Sunday, December 1, 2024. Intentional strangulation is an indictable-only offence, meaning it must be dealt with at the Crown Court.

In addition, Salter-Jones faces a charge of criminal damage to property valued at less than £5,000, linked to the alleged incident on Tuesday, July 1, 2025.

A plea of not guilty was entered to the two assault by beating charges and the criminal damage allegation. No plea was recorded at this stage in relation to the intentional strangulation charge, which will be addressed at the Crown Court.

Magistrates declined jurisdiction due to the seriousness of the allegations and sent the case to Swansea Crown Court.

A plea and trial preparation hearing has been listed for Monday, January 19, 2026, at 9:00am.

Salter-Jones was released on conditional bail. Bail conditions include a requirement that he reside and sleep each night at his listed address.

Senior church figures reflect on Christ’s humanity, vulnerability and hope for the nation

CHRISTIAN leaders from across Wales have come together to deliver a joint Christmas message, reflecting on the meaning of Christ’s humanity and the message of hope at the heart of the Christmas story.

The message is issued jointly by The Most Revd Cherry Vann, Archbishop of Wales (Church in Wales), The Most Revd Mark O’Toole, Catholic Archbishop of Cardiff-Menevia, and the Rev Dyfrig Rees, President of the Free Church Council of Wales.

Drawing on the writings of theologian and Second World War martyr Dietrich Bonhoeffer, the leaders reflect on the idea that Christ helps humanity not through power or domination, but through weakness, vulnerability and suffering.

Quoting Bonhoeffer, the message states that the Bible “makes it quite clear that Christ helps us not by virtue of his omnipotence but rather by virtue of his weakness and suffering” — a truth reflected in Jesus’ life, which began in a borrowed manger and ended on a cross.

The leaders warn against the temptation to lose sight of Jesus’ full humanity by turning him into a distant or superhuman figure. Instead, they invite people to return to the birth narratives found in Scripture, where the infant Jesus reveals God’s presence within ordinary human life.

The message emphasises the Christian belief in Emmanuel — “God with us” — and describes Christmas as a profound paradox: that God, in all power and majesty, chose to be revealed in human vulnerability, dependency and weakness.

“The amazing truth of Christmas,” the leaders say, “is that God chose to reveal himself in the Bethlehem babe — weak, needy and totally dependent on others.”

They note that the Christmas story challenges modern culture’s rejection of vulnerability, failure and dependence, and instead calls people away from self-sufficiency and the pursuit of power at the expense of others and of creation.

Reflecting on the journey to Bethlehem, the leaders acknowledge that many people experience lives marked by brokenness, uncertainty and a lack of purpose. They describe the infant Jesus as a symbol of “complete and true humanity” and invite people to join the pilgrims at the stable in trust, prayer and hope.

In their closing words, the Christian leaders pray that Jesus will be “more fully received and honoured” across Wales, and that people will find in him a deeper sense of humanity, compassion and love.

“If we let him,” they say, “Christ can be a living presence within us — empowering us in our weakness, calling us to love and be loved, to serve and be served, and to become channels of God’s life-giving love and compassion.”

The message concludes with a Christmas greeting to the people of Wales:

“May you have a happy and blessed Christmas. Nadolig Llawen.”

Issued by:
• The Most Revd Cherry Vann, Archbishop of Wales
• The Most Revd Mark O’Toole, Archbishop of Cardiff-Menevia
• Rev Dyfrig Rees, President of the Free Church Council of Wales