Owen Evans

Joseph Gibson, 35, of Ruthin, Denbighshire, was sentenced at Bristol Crown Court to three years and two months in prison after admitting four fraud offences involving three women and a retired superyacht captain. He falsely claimed to be a former Special Boat Service soldier, a multimillionaire, a cancer patient and a successful investor, using fabricated stories and images to obtain £68,000 between July 2020 and October 2021. His victims were left with significant financial losses, debt and emotional harm. The judge rejected Gibson's request to defer sentencing so he could repay more money, ordered proceeds-of-crime proceedings and said he had attempted to mislead the court about his finances.

Demolition preparations are underway for Wrexham’s St Mark’s multi-storey car park, which Wrexham Council bought for redevelopment after its closure in 2020. Work is due to begin in mid-September, with demolition expected to take about 11 weeks before construction of a new coach park with improved access routes and landscaping. The Welsh Government is funding the scheme through its Transforming Towns initiative, which is intended to support the National Football Museum of Wales and Wrexham’s visitor economy. Pedestrian access between Island Green and Regent Street will be closed from 14 September until spring 2027.

A waste transfer site on the Dee Bank Industrial Estate in Bagillt continued operating after Natural Resources Wales suspended its environmental permit, with the site linked to breaches involving excessive waste quantities, unauthorised and hazardous waste, poor drainage and two fires. Former director Oliver Kirkbride pleaded guilty to operating in breach of the permit, ignoring a suspension notice and obstructing NRW officers during a search warrant. He received a £500 fine, a 12-month community order and 50 hours of unpaid work. The permit was later revoked and waste operations have ceased.

A body was found near the beach at Horton's Nose nature reserve in Kinmel Bay on 15 August. North Wales Police said the death is not being treated as suspicious and confirmed that the family and coroner have been informed.

From October 2026, the Department for Work and Pensions will gain powers under the Public Authorities (Fraud, Error and Recovery) Act 2025 to seek court orders revoking the driving licences of certain benefit-debtors. The measure applies mainly to people who owe at least £1,000, can afford to repay, and have failed to do so, although courts cannot impose a ban where driving is essential for work or other vital responsibilities. Orders are initially suspended when repayment terms are maintained and cannot normally exceed two years, though repeated breaches may lead to multiple orders. The DWP will also be able to recover money directly from bank accounts in some cases, while later measures will allow limited financial-data checks to identify incorrect benefit payments. The government says the wider programme could save £14.6 billion over five years, with Labour estimating up to £1.5 billion from the new recovery powers, and is urging affected people to repay or arrange affordable plans before enforcement begins.

A 64-year-old motorcyclist suffered a fractured wrist and pelvis in a two-vehicle crash on Penglais Road near Aberystwyth on August 7. The collision involved a Triumph motorcycle and a Nissan Juke at the junction with the B4572. Dyfed-Powys Police are appealing for witnesses, information and dashcam footage.

A three‑vehicle collision on the westbound A55 between Abergele and Pensarn caused significant queues before being cleared, with Traffic Wales confirming emergency services were on scene and delays easing once the road reopened.

A ward at Glangwili Hospital in Carmarthen has been closed after a case of crusted scabies was identified, amid rising scabies prevalence across the Hywel Dda health board area. All patients and staff who were in contact have been notified and offered treatment, and increased infection control measures are in place. The situation is being monitored, and the ward will reopen once it is considered safe under infection prevention guidance.

Fresh DNA samples have been taken from Michael Stone, who is serving a life sentence for the 1996 murders of Lin and Megan Russell, in a renewed effort to assess whether he may have been wrongly convicted. The attack, which also left Josie Russell severely injured, produced no forensic evidence linking a suspect, and Stone’s conviction relied heavily on disputed prison‑confession testimony. With long‑standing doubts surrounding the case, the Criminal Cases Review Commission is examining whether new evidence could support an appeal, stating there is a real possibility the conviction could be overturned.

A North Wales Police officer, PC Thomas Coppack, was found guilty of assault at Mold Crown Court while being acquitted of intentional strangulation. He is due for sentencing on September 13. North Wales Police stated that he had been suspended during the investigation, with the deputy chief constable emphasizing the importance of supporting victims and confirming that misconduct proceedings will follow.

A Shotton man, Tibor Tompos, was sentenced at Caernarfon Crown Court to four years in prison and given a 15‑year Sexual Harm Prevention Order after attempting sexual communication with what he believed were teenage girls, all of whom were actually decoy accounts set up by paedophile hunters. Police said he sent explicit images, sought sexual photos in return, and posed a danger to children. Investigators found similar communication with additional decoy profiles after seizing his devices. Authorities urged the public to report concerns about online child exploitation.

Police closed Watery Road beside Wrexham Maelor Hospital due to an unspecified ongoing incident, advising the public to avoid the area. Traffic delays occurred on surrounding roads, but sensors later showed conditions improving. No further details about the incident were released before the situation cleared.

Two teenagers aged 16 and 17 were arrested in Llandudno after reports of multiple shop burglaries and disturbances on Mostyn Street. North Wales Police said both suspects remain in custody as enquiries continue and appealed for witnesses or anyone with relevant footage to come forward.