Crime

Prolific west Wales rogue trader sent back to prison for six years

Published

5 months ago

February 13, 2026

LEE SLOCOMBE, 33, previously of Delhi Street, Swansea has been sent back to prison for six years for a £400,000 fraud against nine victims, following dangerous building work he carried out at properties in Cardiff, Bridgend and Swansea.

The total loss to his victims was calculated at least £547,000, after considering the costs incurred to rectify the dangerous work he carried out.

On 20^th October 2025, Slocombe pleaded guilty to two charges of participating in a fraudulent business between March 2021 and May 2023. One charge was brought directly against him, with a further charge against his company, LSP Developments. Slocombe was on Crown Court bail when these offences were committed.

In sentencing, on 11^th February 2026 Cardiff Crown Court heard that Slocombe targeted nine people seeking work to be carried out at their properties, ranging from rendering a shed to building a two‑storey extension. The work was completed to an appalling standard, with Slocombe often convincing his victims that work was required when it was not. He frequently left work incomplete, leaving victims with significant restoration bills.

His actions caused significant financial hardship to his victims, who were forced to take out loans and overdrafts and, in some instances, withdraw money from their pension pots to rectify the poor‑quality work he had carried out. Some of the victims were elderly and vulnerable.

The court heard that Slocombe has previous convictions for fraud dating from 2015 to 2023, during which time he was sent to prison on two occasions. In 2015, he was jailed for 43 months for three offences of fraud, and in 2023 he received a sentence of five years and five months after defrauding seven families of £150,000 through similar sub‑standard building work.

Slocombe was made subject to a Criminal Behaviour Order, banning him from carrying out building, maintenance or gardening work in the UK for life. He was also disqualified from being a company director until 2031.

Given his previous dishonesty, Slocombe used a false name when dealing with customers, calling himself Lee Lewis, to prevent them from discovering his previous convictions for similar offences.

At Cardiff Crown Court, His Honour Judge Felstead described Slocombe as a persistent rogue builder who operated dishonestly. The judge said Slocombe falsely escalated costs and that any work he did carry out was to an “appalling standard”, with some homes being “virtually destroyed”.

In two cases, Slocombe brought a fake and unqualified gas engineer to carry out work at properties, leaving them in a “potentially lethal state”. In one instance, carbon monoxide leaked into a property where a 10‑month‑old child was living.

Cllr Norma Mackie, Cabinet Member responsible for Shared Regulatory Services at Cardiff Council, said: “Lee Slocombe caused immense misery to his victims, carrying out sub‑standard work and leaving some properties in such a state of disrepair that they were open to the elements, not watertight and simply dangerous. The stress he caused is unimaginable, and he deserves to be sent directly back to prison.

“I would like to thank all the staff who enabled us to bring this case to court. Hopefully, this outcome provides some closure for the victims, knowing that he is where he belongs – back behind bars.”

Crime

Police appeal after alleged sexual assault in Carmarthen

Published

3 hours ago

July 1, 2026

Tom Sinclair

OFFICERS investigating an alleged sexual assault in Carmarthen are appealing for the public’s help to identify a person who may have information.

Dyfed-Powys Police said the incident happened in front of F.Hinds jewellers on Lammas Street at around 4pm on Tuesday, May 12.

Investigating officers have carried out a number of enquiries and are now asking for assistance in identifying the person pictured.

Police stressed that the person may have information that could help the investigation.

Anyone who is the person pictured, or who knows who they are, is asked to contact Dyfed-Powys Police online at https://bit.ly/DPPContactOnline, by emailing [email protected], or by calling 101.

Alternatively, information can be passed anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555111 or via crimestoppers-uk.org.

Quote reference: 26000377639

Crime

Scaffolder banned after cannabis smell reported from van

Published

20 hours ago

June 30, 2026

Sarah Jane Absalom

A SCAFFOLDER has been banned from driving for 14 months after an off-duty police officer smelt cannabis coming from his Volkswagen Transporter as it travelled through Slebech.

The report was made to police at around 10.30am on February 15. When officers located the vehicle, they discovered it was being driven by 46-year-old Christopher Bennett.

Further blood tests showed Bennett had 16.8 mcg of Delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol in his system. The legal limit is 2.

This week Bennett, of Queensdown Gardens, Brislington, Bristol, pleaded guilty to drug-driving when he appeared before Haverfordwest magistrates. He was represented in court by Alaw Harries.

“The defendant is remorseful for his actions and recognises the seriousness of the offence,” Ms Harries told the Bench.

“He suffers significant pain following operations to his shoulders and has been prescribed codeine. But this causes drowsiness, so he began self-medicating using cannabis.

“On the day of the offence, he was in worse pain than usual, so he used cannabis earlier than he normally does.”

Ms Harries said the conviction would have serious financial consequences for Bennett, who works as a self-employed scaffolder.

“His driving licence is fundamental to his livelihood,” she said.

“The financial consequences are going to be significant to him, as well as to those who are dependent on him.”

Magistrates fined Bennett £600 and ordered him to pay a £240 surcharge and £85 costs.

He was disqualified from driving for 14 months.

Crime

Estate agent banned after drug-drive crash in Milford Haven

Published

20 hours ago

June 30, 2026

Tom Sinclair

Alison Walker had nearly five times the legal benzoylecgonine limit in her system

A PEMBROKESHIRE estate agent has been banned from the road after admitting driving through Milford Haven with nearly five times the legal limit of a cocaine metabolite in her system.

Alison Walker, 59, was arrested on February 2 after her white MG was involved in a two-car collision on Great North Road, Milford Haven.

“Fortunately there were no injuries, just damage to the vehicles,” Crown Prosecutor Sian Vaughan told Haverfordwest magistrates this week.

After providing a positive roadside drug swipe, Walker was arrested and asked to provide blood samples. These showed she had 240mcg of benzoylecgonine in her system. The legal limit is 50mcg.

Walker, of Woodland Crescent, Milford Haven, pleaded guilty to drug-driving and was represented in court by solicitor Tom Lloyd.

He told the bench that prior to the offence, Walker had been employed as an estate agent.

“She has a good relationship with her boss, and as soon as this conviction is dealt with and her sentence has been served, he will be happy for her to return to her employment,” he said.

After considering a comprehensive probation report, magistrates disqualified Walker from driving for 20 months.

She was fined £80 and ordered to pay a £114 court surcharge and £85 costs. Walker must also carry out a 12-month community order, during which she must complete 15 rehabilitation activity requirement days.