News

Prominent Voice of Wales activist sentenced in major fraud case

Published

2 years ago

October 26, 2023

A notable far-right activist known for his campaign against “illegal” migrants has received a suspended prison sentence due to his role in a major fraud scheme. This scheme duped numerous individuals, many of whom vulnerable, out of large sums of money.

Daniel Raymond Morgan co-founded the group “Voice of Wales” in Swansea, alongside fellow activist Stan Robinson. In 2021, their YouTube channel was permanently taken down due to its racist content. Morgan also had political aspirations, having stood as a UKIP candidate in the Senedd elections in 2021. However, his recent conviction casts a shadow over his political ambitions.

The case at Swansea Crown Court revealed the fraudsters’ tactics. They set up a call centre that sent out millions of scam phone messages in relation to the PPI scandal. Their ploy involved promising huge payouts for mis-sold Payment Protection Insurance policies. In reality, their goal was to obtain and misuse victims’ credit card information.

Many victims, including the elderly and vulnerable, were deceived into paying fees of up to £550 each, under the belief that they were entitled to significant PPI refunds. The court’s ruling highlighted the deliberate and planned nature of the fraud.

The prosecutor, Lee Reynolds, detailed how the company at the heart of this scam, operating under various names including HES Synergy Limited and HES Savings Audit Ltd, was meticulously planned to exploit the PPI scandal.

The call centre operated using misleading scripts, aiming to gather personal information and build trust with their victims. Their strategies included accessing private credit reports of individuals under the guise of “data protection” or “security checks.”

Legitimate PPI reclaim companies’ complaints against HES Synergy instigated a Ministry of Justice investigation in 2015. The company’s operations at Swansea Enterprise Park were raided, revealing the full extent of their fraudulent activities.

While the company had ceased its operations by the time of the raids, it wasn’t due to moral reasons but because they faced payment issues stemming from numerous chargebacks by disgruntled consumers.

The court’s findings were based on evidence including recorded phone calls and misleading call centre scripts. It was evident that lying was a common practice at the call centre.

Six defendants, including Morgan, faced convictions in January, with all remaining defendants later pleading guilty. Judge Huw Rees highlighted the calculated nature of the fraud, emphasizing the impact on individual victims and the industry’s reputation.

Morgan, aged 38, was implicated in the “Noddle team” that accessed people’s credit reports without authorization. He received a six-month suspended sentence with rehabilitation and mental health treatment requirements. Morgan’s defense cited his role as a father and lack of prior convictions as factors for leniency.

In addition to his fraudulent activities, Morgan’s far-right affiliations have been a source of concern. His YouTube channels, which he co-managed with Stan Robinson, were taken down in 2021 for promoting racist content, including interviews with extremist groups. Despite these controversies, Morgan pursued a political career, even standing in the Senedd elections under the UKIP banner.

Crime

Broad Haven man remanded in custody over sexual harm prevention order breach

Published

14 hours ago

March 20, 2026

Court Reporter

Defendant admitted using Xbox without informing police as required under court order

ANTHONY COOMBES, aged 26, of Sand Banks, Broad Haven, appeared before Llanelli Magistrates’ Court on Thursday (Mar 20) charged with breaching a sexual harm prevention order.

The court heard that between February 26 and March 19, 2026, at Haverfordwest, Coombes repeatedly breached the order by using an Xbox device without informing police within three days, as required.

The offences relate to a sexual harm prevention order imposed at Swansea Crown Court on October 20, 2021.

Coombes indicated guilty pleas to the offences at the first hearing.

Magistrates committed the case to Swansea Crown Court for sentence.

He was remanded in custody ahead of the next hearing, which is due to take place at 9:00am on Friday, April 3, at Swansea Crown Court.

The court refused bail on the grounds that he was likely to offend, citing the nature and seriousness of the offences and his previous record and character.

A pre-sentence report was ordered.

News

Man arrested after suspected drugs-related death in Haverfordwest

Published

14 hours ago

March 20, 2026

Tom Sinclair

Police say death not suspicious as 46-year-old arrested over alleged Class A drug supply

A MAN has died following a medical emergency at a property in Haverfordwest, police have confirmed.

Emergency services were called at 3:18pm on Wednesday (March 18) after a report of a medical incident.

A man was pronounced dead at the scene.

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

The death is not being treated as suspicious at this time.

However, police confirmed that a man, aged 46, was arrested on suspicion of being concerned in the supply of Class A drugs.

He has since been released under investigation while enquiries continue.

No further details about the deceased have been formally released.

Crime

Illegal dog breeders ordered to pay over £129,000 after council probe

Published

15 hours ago

March 20, 2026

Tom Sinclair

FOUR people from Mynyddygarreg, Kidwelly, have been ordered to pay more than £129,000 following a successful prosecution for illegal dog breeding.

At Swansea Crown Court on Tuesday (Mar 10), before His Honour Judge Thomas KC, Stacey May June Edwards, Peter John Edwards, Sian Eleri Thomas and David Malcolm James Thomas, all of Sea Breeze, Mynyddygarreg, pleaded guilty to offences under the Breeding of Dogs (Wales) Regulations 2014.

The court imposed confiscation orders totalling £129,873.41 under the Proceeds of Crime Act across the four defendants. They were also ordered to pay £8,000 in costs, while each defendant received a £2,000 fine.

The investigation began in April 2021 after Carmarthenshire County Council’s Animal Health team received an enquiry from Peter Edwards about obtaining a dog breeding licence. Although licensing guidance was provided and a partial application was submitted in February 2022, this was later withdrawn.

In March 2024, the council received a complaint that puppies were being advertised for sale without the required licence. Officers subsequently contacted online advertising platforms and issued data requests to assess the scale of activity.

Analysis of records from Pets4Homes, Freeads and Gumtree revealed multiple litters being advertised by members of the same household.

Correspondence under the Police and Criminal Evidence Act confirmed that up to 25 dogs were kept at the property, including between 16 and 19 breeding females.

While some defendants claimed joint ownership of the dogs, others attempted to minimise their involvement.

The Herald understands that numerous puppy advertisements were posted between July 2020 and April 2025, demonstrating a sustained pattern of unlicensed breeding.

Carmarthenshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Climate Change, Decarbonisation and Sustainability, Cllr Aled Vaughan Owen, said: “This case demonstrates the council’s firm stance against unlicensed and illegal dog breeding.

“These regulations are in place to protect animal welfare and ensure that breeding activities are subject to proper oversight. The scale of activity uncovered at this property was entirely unacceptable, and we welcome the court’s decision to issue significant confiscation orders under POCA.”

He added: “We urge anyone with concerns about illegal dog breeding to report it. Our Animal Health officers will continue to investigate thoroughly and take action against those who disregard the law.”

Residents are reminded that anyone breeding and selling dogs must comply with licensing regulations designed to protect both animal welfare and consumers.