Chloe Tuff

Dominik Pietka, 26, of Toothill, Swindon, was sentenced after pleading guilty to two counts of driving while disqualified, two counts of driving without insurance, drug driving and handling stolen goods. The court heard he helped move a stolen motorbike and twice drove despite being banned, including while over the legal drug limit. District Judge Dickens criticised his repeated disregard for the ban, describing it as putting two fingers up to the court. Pietka received 16 weeks in prison, concurrent with an existing sentence, and a further 21-month driving disqualification. The judge declined to extend his existing sentence, citing his difficult circumstances and hope that he could turn his life around.

Lidia Young, 46, of Walcot in Swindon, pleaded guilty to eight counts of fraud by false representation after falsely claiming she was unfit for work between 2017 and 2023, excluding 2020. She received a 12-month prison sentence suspended for 24 months, along with rehabilitation sessions and 150 hours of unpaid work. She was also ordered to pay £7,000 in court costs and a £187 surcharge.

Four men—Leigh Childs, Tyler Holmes, Jack Smith and Sean Drayton—pleaded not guilty at Swindon Crown Court to possessing cocaine and diamorphine with intent to supply. The charges follow a police response to suspected drug use at a Galsworthy Close address, where a man in his 20s had fallen from a window and suffered serious injuries. Drayton remains in custody, while the other defendants are on bail. Their seven-day trial is scheduled to begin on January 6, 2027, with a further case management hearing set for November 2.

Smoke odors reported across Swindon, Gloucestershire and nearby areas are attributed to a significant fire in South Wales, with prevailing winds carrying smoke across the region. Fire and rescue services advised residents to limit opening windows and doors where the smell is especially strong, remain vigilant and call 999 if they see or suspect a fire. Amid dry weather, high wildfire alerts and temperatures reaching 34°C, Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service declared a major incident, while Swindon Borough Council banned all barbecues in its country parks.

A man in his 30s suffered facial injuries in an assault near Okus Road and Sandy Lane in Old Town, Swindon. Wiltshire Police attended at 11:40am, established a cordon while investigating, and said the victim declined medical treatment. The scene has since been cleared, and police are appealing for witnesses to provide information.

The Swindon & Cricklade Railway cancelled events and temporarily closed its Mouldon Hill station because temperatures in Swindon and Wiltshire reached 34°C. The station was due to remain closed on Saturday, August 15, before reopening on Sunday, August 16, when a diesel service from Blunsdon to Hayes Knoll and Mouldon Hill was planned, with child tickets available for £1 when accompanied by a paying adult.

Ian Barton, 55, of Plymouth, has been charged with two counts of sexually assaulting a child under 13 in Swindon. Prosecutors allege the assaults occurred between July 2016 and June 2018, beginning when the girl was seven. Barton has denied the charges and pleaded not guilty; Swindon Crown Court set a trial date for September 1.

Sixteen-year-old Swindon cheerleading coach Abbie Lainton died in a boat accident while on holiday with her family in the Dominican Republic on July 30. Her family received consular support from the UK Foreign Office, while other relatives were reportedly injured. Swindon Lightning Cheerleading Club, former school Tanwood School for Performing Arts, fellow coaches and cheerleading champion Dillon Brandt paid tribute to Abbie’s warmth, talent and dedication. A GoFundMe fundraiser was established to support her family and had raised nearly £17,000 at the time of publication.

Recent hearings at Swindon Magistrates Court resulted in convictions, guilty pleas and sentences involving assault, criminal damage, theft, drug possession, threats to share intimate images, racially aggravated harassment and shoplifting. Penalties included fines, compensation orders, a conditional discharge, a community order with unpaid work and rehabilitation sessions, and conditional bail pending a pre-sentence report.

Visar Rexhepi and Andreea Dinache have been charged with arranging or facilitating the travel of four women to Swindon for alleged exploitation and controlling prostitution for financial gain. Dinache also faces an allegation involving the concealment or transfer of an unknown amount of criminal property. The pair appeared at Swindon Magistrates Court, and the case was committed to Swindon Crown Court for plea and trial preparation.

Festus Onyeakusi pleaded guilty at Swindon Magistrates Court to driving over the legal alcohol limit after losing control of his Seat Altea on Devizes Road, hitting a lamppost and then a kebab shop. He and his passenger escaped without injury, while his blood-alcohol reading was 93 milligrams per 100 millilitres, above the legal limit of 80. He was disqualified from driving for 14 months, with a possible 14-week reduction for completing a drink-driving awareness course, and fined £400 plus £245 in surcharges and costs.

Lauren Bulley, 23, of St Andrews Ridge, Swindon, has been charged with wilful obstruction of highways, causing a nuisance or disturbance at Great Western Hospital, public nuisance, common assault of an emergency worker and assaulting a police officer. The allegations relate to incidents involving the B4019, the hospital and the A419, which was reportedly closed after she ran alongside the carriageway and under a bridge, creating a risk to herself and the public. No pleas were entered at Swindon Magistrates Court, and the case was adjourned to October 26. Bulley was granted unconditional bail.

A serious crash on the M4 eastbound between junctions 15 and 14 caused the motorway to close near Membury Services, creating severe congestion around Swindon, the A419, A420 and routes toward Marlborough. Thames Valley Police had not released many details, while drivers were advised to avoid the area. The disruption followed a separate M4 closure three days earlier caused by an HGV trailer fire.

Shane Porter, 35, has been charged with murdering Jimmy Ward, 36, and possessing a shotgun without a certificate after Ward was shot dead at a traveller site in Calcutt. Porter appeared at Swindon Magistrates’ Court by video link alongside his father, Eddie Porter, 74, and Tammy Brown, 42, who are accused of assisting an offender and possessing a shotgun without a certificate. The three defendants were remanded in custody and were due to appear at Bristol Crown Court on August 7. Police recovered a shotgun after stopping a vehicle near the Hungerford junction of the M4.

Wiltshire Police are appealing for information after a children's pirate ship at Poets Park in Royal Wootton Bassett was damaged at about 8:45pm on May 28. The damage was costly to repair, and police are asking anyone with information to report it using reference 54260064297.

Daniel Groundwater, 48, pleaded guilty at Swindon Magistrates' Court to burglary and theft without violence after entering a property on Wakefield Close in Freshbrook and stealing a pizza. Sentencing was postponed so the probation service could prepare a pre-sentence report. Groundwater was released on conditional bail and warned not to return to the area, with sentencing scheduled for September 3.

Swindon Magistrates Court dealt with several recent cases involving criminal damage, assault, theft, cannabis cultivation, abusive communications and breach of a closure order. Thomas Moore received an 18-month community order and financial penalties after admitting three offences, while Nathan Gough received an eight-month custodial sentence suspended for 18 months for cultivating around 60 cannabis plants. Other defendants were ordered to pay fines, compensation and court costs for shoplifting, theft from Asda, nuisance communications and entering premises covered by an anti-social-behaviour closure order.

Paul Webb, 28, of Haydon Wick, was sentenced at Swindon Crown Court to four years in prison after pleading guilty to attempting to incite two 14-year-old boys to engage in sexual activity and attempting to make a 14-year-old view sexual images. The court also considered his 2018 conviction for sexually communicating with a 13-year-old. Webb must register as a sex offender indefinitely, and a sexual harm prevention order was imposed for 10 years.

Thornsett Group has submitted revised proposals to Swindon Borough Council for the redevelopment of Newspaper House, the former Swindon Advertiser headquarters in Old Town. The plans include 19 residential units in the Grade II-listed building, new access arrangements, commercial units, storage facilities and restoration of historic features. The scheme would provide apartments across the first and second floors, with no additional on-site parking for the listed-building residences. The proposals follow earlier residential-conversion approval and form part of Thornsett Group’s plan to deliver about 45 apartments in Old Town over the next 18 to 24 months.

Several motorists face court action after being recorded by automated cameras exceeding temporary speed limits on the M4 and M5. Fay Stephanie Brown was found guilty in absence for driving at 68mph in a 50mph zone and may face disqualification at a later hearing. Julia Artemis McGiveron admitted driving at 68mph in a 40mph limit and received a fine, surcharge, costs and six penalty points but avoided a ban. Richard German pleaded guilty to driving at 62mph in a 50mph zone and was fined, surcharged and given three penalty points.

James George pleaded guilty at Swindon Magistrates' Court to possession of heroin and cannabis following a police appeal to locate him. He received a £120 fine, and the drugs were ordered to be destroyed. His appearance follows earlier offences, including criminal damage, assaulting emergency workers, cultivating cannabis, and spitting in a police van, for which he previously received a suspended sentence and separate jail term.

A Swindon company director, Daniel Frame, has pleaded not guilty to a charge of raping a woman in March 2024. The case, involving a victim granted automatic anonymity, will proceed to trial on April 12, 2027 at Swindon Crown Court after an earlier date was rescheduled. Frame remains on bail pending the trial.

A 38‑year‑old Swindon man, Gavin Mitcham, pleaded not guilty to charges of child neglect, coercive control toward a woman, and attempting to pervert the course of justice by pressuring her to withdraw support for a police investigation. The alleged offences occurred between January and October 2023, with a specific child‑neglect incident dated August 8. A trial is scheduled for February 1, 2027, at Swindon Crown Court, and Mitcham remains on unconditional bail.

A Highworth man pleaded guilty to producing psilocybin, possessing Class A drugs, and driving with cannabis in his system. He was fined, banned from driving for 12 months, and given a 12‑month community order with rehabilitation sessions. The case was handled at Swindon Magistrates' Court after a pre‑sentence report from the probation service.

A Swindon cake shop, GlamoRose Cakes, has regained a top food hygiene rating after previously receiving one-star and three-star scores attributed to incomplete building work and paperwork issues. Owner Jessie Yeoell expressed relief after a difficult year and thanked customers for their continued support. The shop’s sister business, Ray's Ice Cream, also holds a five-star hygiene rating.

A 23-year-old man, Oliver Timms, pleaded not guilty at Swindon Crown Court to a charge of raping a woman in Swindon, alleged to have occurred between January 19 and 20, 2025. Due to court backlogs, the trial has been scheduled for April 19, 2027 and is expected to last several days. Timms was placed on conditional bail pending the trial.

A Swindon Chinese buffet restaurant received a one‑star food hygiene rating after inspectors found food temperature issues during a late‑day visit. The owner said the problem arose near closing time and has since been corrected, with a re‑inspection requested. The restaurant previously received a zero‑star rating in April due to outdated allergen documentation, prompting staff training and log improvements. It was also fined £80,000 after immigration officers found two illegal workers, though the business says compliance checks now show no issues.

A traffic light at a pedestrian crossing on Purton Road in Swindon was destroyed after being struck by a van, prompting warnings from councillor Vinay Manro for pedestrians to avoid the area. Police located the 36-year-old registered keeper of the vehicle and arrested him on suspicion of drink driving, but he was later released with no further action due to insufficient evidence. Cones and tape were placed around the damaged light while repairs were arranged.

A 39-year-old Swindon man, Tony Seabrook, admitted multiple counts of sexually abusing a 13-year-old girl in 2008 after changing several pleas to guilty at Swindon Crown Court, avoiding trial and awaiting sentencing on September 18 while remaining on unconditional bail.

A Swindon teaching assistant, Alan Pitt, pleaded not guilty to ten sexual offence charges involving four alleged victims, including children and a mentally disordered male, for incidents alleged to have occurred between 2012 and 2024. The charges include abusing a position of trust and inciting sexual activity. A trial is scheduled for June 14, 2027, with a case management hearing set for September 4, while Pitt remains on unconditional bail.

Police responded to reports of an unresponsive man in a Swindon alleyway on Rosebery Street, where a man in his 50s was pronounced dead. Officers cordoned off the area for investigation and confirmed the death was not considered suspicious, extending condolences to his family.

Jason Donovan has withdrawn from headlining the Fulltone Music Festival in Devizes due to an unforeseen personal matter. The Fulltone Orchestra announced the cancellation and asked for supportive responses, noting that the Sunday event will continue as planned. Donovan had been scheduled to perform alongside Mark Shaw in an 80s-themed finale at the longstanding Wiltshire festival.

A damaged traffic light at a pedestrian crossing on Purton Road in Swindon has raised safety concerns after being struck by a vehicle. Councillor Vinay Manro advised residents to avoid the crossing until repairs are completed and requested a repair timeline from Swindon Borough Council. The area has been cordoned off with cones and caution tape, and Wiltshire Police have been approached for comment.

Multiple motorists were prosecuted after being recorded exceeding temporary speed limits on the M4, with penalties including fines and points on their licences. Julia Artemis McGiveron avoided disqualification due to a guilty plea, while Richard German received a smaller fine for a separate offence. Victoria Coll faces sentencing after several speeding violations recorded on the same day and in previous incidents.

Police issued an arrest warrant for Nuno Spinola after he failed to appear in Swindon Magistrates' Court on charges of causing the death of Jonathan Neilan in a 2024 crash. Spinola emailed the court claiming he was in Portugal without a valid passport. Prosecutors said he had been properly summoned. Neilan’s family attended the hearing and were informed of the situation, with magistrates offering them support. Neilan was remembered by relatives as a community‑minded man with many passions and close friends.

Masked suspects on mopeds and e-bikes attempted to steal a man’s e‑bike in Swindon, with one producing a machete before fleeing when confronted. Two teenagers were arrested but later released without action. About an hour afterward, police responded to a separate stabbing of a 15‑year‑old boy in Walcot, with a 21‑year‑old suspect also released with no further action. A temporary stop‑and‑search order was implemented across parts of Swindon, and police continue to seek information on both incidents.

A 34-year-old woman from Somerset, Sylvia Fernandes, has been charged with child neglect and causing unnecessary suffering to a child in Swindon between June and October 2020. The case was heard at Swindon Crown Court, where no pleas were entered, and she is scheduled to return for a plea and trial preparation hearing on July 17. She remains on unconditional bail.

A 29‑year‑old Swindon woman, Alma Hassa, died suddenly at home three days after giving birth by caesarean section, according to details presented at an inquest. She had previously collapsed on two occasions in 2024 and 2025, though medical observations at hospital were normal each time. In the early hours of October 26, 2025, she became unresponsive while caring for her newborn and could not be resuscitated. Specialists were unable to determine a definitive cause of death, leading the coroner to record an unascertained medical cause consistent with sudden arrhythmogenic death syndrome. Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust extended condolences and stated it would work with the family and review processes.

Fire crews from Swindon, Stratton and Cricklade extinguished a blaze involving several domestic garages on Callington Road, where thick smoke and flames were seen shortly after midday. The fire caused significant damage to a garage roof, and the affected family has been moved to temporary accommodation. The fire service considers the cause accidental but undetermined. Witnesses, including a neighbour and a delivery driver, described the scene as alarming, while a local councillor urged residents to give emergency services space to work and expressed hope that no one was injured.

A man has been charged with causing death by dangerous driving following a 2024 crash on Upham Road in Swindon that killed 59‑year‑old pedestrian Jonathan Neilan. The suspect, Nuno Spinola, is due to appear at Swindon Magistrates Court. Neilan’s family paid tribute to him as a devoted volunteer, friend and community member known for his generosity and humour.