Philip Dewey

The article reviews three disturbing Welsh court cases involving the common-law offence of preventing a lawful and decent burial. Christopher Phillips received a two-year-and-four-month prison sentence after hiding his mother Sylvia Phillips's body in a freezer for more than three years while claiming £78,190 in benefits. Egle Zilinskaite received a suspended two-year sentence after pleading guilty to concealing the births and remains of two newborn sons. Jamie Malcolm Martin Russell was sentenced to two years for concealing Mathew Scott's body in his flat, with police using CCTV and forensic entomology to establish that Scott likely died soon after disappearing. In the cases involving the deceased adults, investigators found no evidence that the defendants caused their deaths.

Craig Larkin, 46, was stopped by police in Bridgend while carrying a large clock and ran away when officers said they intended to search him. He discarded clothing and other items, but officers recovered scales, a phone, cash, pregabalin, 19.2 grams of crack cocaine and 0.9 grams of heroin. Larkin pleaded guilty to two counts of possessing Class A drugs with intent to supply. His defence argued that he dealt drugs at a low level to fund an addiction after losing his job during the Covid pandemic, while the court noted his 43 previous convictions, including six drug offences. Recorder John Philpott sentenced him to five years in prison.

Bradley Mallaney, 19, was sentenced at Cardiff Crown Court to six years in a young offenders institution, followed by two years on licence, after pleading guilty to offences involving the sexual exploitation of two girls, distributing and making indecent images, and possessing extreme images. Police found 1,233 indecent images on his devices, including category A material involving babies. Mallaney had groomed an 11-year-old girl whom he met in person and communicated with a 13-year-old in the United States, encouraging both sexual activity and self-harm. The court heard that the offending caused serious and lasting psychological harm to one victim. Mallaney was also made subject to a restraining order, sex offender notification requirements and a 10-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order.

Wayne Thomas, 50, was sentenced to 12 months in prison after pleading guilty to harassment and breaching an indefinite restraining order by contacting his former partner from HMP Parc. Police found that he had saved her number under another woman's name, and the contact occurred between July and November 2025. The victim described renewed trauma, fear and severe deterioration in her mental health, while Thomas's barrister argued that the contact was mutual and had been encouraged by the victim. The judge said Thomas showed no respect for court orders; the restraining order remains in force.

Former Gwent Dragons academy player Aiden Jones and cocaine dealer Joshua Organ were sentenced at Cardiff Crown Court after police stopped their car in Bargoed and found cocaine. Organ’s phone contained messages arranging cocaine sales, and further drugs were found at his home. Organ, who had 11 previous convictions, received 40 months in prison, while Jones received 15 months consecutively to an existing sentence for domestic violence. Jones’s lawyer said a back injury, his father’s death and cocaine addiction contributed to his decline.

Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli will headline the inaugural Land of Song Festival at Cardiff's Principality Stadium on May 8, 2027, marking his first headline performance in Wales and his return to the country since 2005. The festival will also feature the Cor World Choir, bringing together more than 20,000 singers on May 9. Cardiff Council and festival organizers say the event will celebrate Wales's choral heritage and strengthen Cardiff's musical profile. Presale tickets begin August 12, with general sales opening August 13, 2026.

Fire crews from South Wales and Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service have been fighting a large blaze near Llangynidr Reservoir for two days. The fire covered approximately 300 hectares with a 7km perimeter, prompting the deployment of specialist equipment, national resilience assets and a helicopter. Authorities expect the incident to continue and have asked the public to stay away, avoid flying drones, close windows if affected by smoke and seek medical advice if necessary.

Sam Thompson has backed a campaign to save Tumble Workingmen's Club in Carmarthenshire, pledging a personal donation and promoting the appeal in a video. The 133-year-old club faces closure after severe financial difficulties, including an energy bill increase from £500 to £2,500 a month and the loss of its electricity supply over unpaid debts. Campaigner Scott Flear hopes to establish a community benefit society to run the club, which remains an important part of local family and mining heritage.

Malachy Lothian, 20, was jailed for three years and four months after pleading guilty to possessing heroin, cocaine, crack cocaine and cannabis with intent to supply, as well as criminal property offences. A police raid on his Newport home found drugs valued at about £88,000, £5,764 in cash, mobile phones and drug paraphernalia. Gwent Police said community intelligence had helped bring him to justice and urged residents to continue reporting suspected drug activity.

South Wales solicitor Ben Garvey was convicted at Bristol Crown Court of supplying cocaine and steroids, encouraging drug purchases and attempting to pervert the course of justice by relaying messages between jailed drug dealer Daniel Baker and his runner Jake Blackburn. Baker and Blackburn were also convicted of perverting the course of justice and had previously admitted separate drug-related offences. Garvey wept as the majority verdicts were delivered. Sentencing for all three defendants is scheduled for September 29, with immediate custody among the options under consideration.

Christopher Phillips, 60, kept his mother Sylvia Phillips’s body in a chest freezer at their Porthcawl home for about three years after her presumed death in March 2023. Police discovered the body during a welfare check on February 17, after Phillips began acting suspiciously. He had continued claiming her pension and benefits, receiving a total of £78,190. Phillips pleaded guilty to preventing a lawful and decent burial and two counts of fraud by false representation. He was sentenced at Merthyr Tydfil Crown Court to two years and four months in prison, serving 40% in custody before release on licence. Police footage shows him being arrested and acknowledging the caution without providing a response.

Christopher Phillips was sentenced to two years and four months in prison after concealing his mother Sylvia Phillips's body in a chest freezer at their Porthcawl home for more than three years. He continued collecting her pension and other benefits, receiving £78,190 after her death, while misleading medical professionals and police about her whereabouts. Phillips pleaded guilty to preventing a lawful and decent burial and two counts of fraud by false representation. The court heard he had severe grief and mental health difficulties, but the judge said these did not remove his culpability. He will serve 40% of his sentence in custody before release on licence and faces further Proceeds of Crime Act proceedings.

Tinos Short, 20, pleaded guilty to multiple offences after a series of vehicle thefts and burglaries around Brecon. The court heard that he entered homes, stole keys and cars, drove while disqualified and uninsured, fled from police, and crashed a stolen Volkswagen Scirocco, asking a bystander to help turn it over. Short, who had 15 previous convictions, was sentenced at Merthyr Tydfil Crown Court to four years in prison and was disqualified from driving for five years.

Solicitor Ben Garvey, 38, told Bristol Crown Court he was heartbroken and trying to clear his name while denying allegations that he supplied cocaine and steroids and perverted the course of justice. Prosecutors allege he passed messages between cocaine dealer Daniel Baker and runner Jake Blackburn while Baker was in police custody. Garvey says he believed Blackburn worked for Baker’s scaffolding business and denies carrying messages for a drug operation. Baker has pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply Class A drugs but denies perverting the course of justice, while Blackburn has pleaded guilty to being concerned in the supply of Class A drugs and denies the justice charge. The trial is continuing.

Solicitor Ben Garvey, 38, told Bristol Crown Court that messages and meetings with alleged cocaine dealer Daniel Baker concerned legal advice and buying Dom Pérignon champagne, not cocaine. Garvey denies being concerned in the supply of cocaine and steroids, encouraging drug purchases, and perverting the course of justice. Prosecutors allege he bought cocaine and later passed messages from Baker’s runner Jake Blackburn to Baker while Baker was in police custody. Baker has pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply Class A drugs, while Blackburn has pleaded guilty to being concerned in their supply but denies perverting the course of justice. The trial is continuing.

A man identified as Romal Xavier was sentenced at Cardiff Crown Court to nine years and two months in prison after being found guilty of attempted rape, sexual assault and intentional strangulation. The victim reported fearing for her life as Xavier assaulted and threatened her. Despite the jury’s verdict, he continues to deny the offences. The court heard details of the attack, prior convictions and his immigration status. The judge imposed lifetime sex‑offender registration requirements and a 10‑year restraining order.

A man who attacked his partner during a violent street argument in Cardiff struck her with his car after pulling her to the ground and wielding a baseball bat. Witnesses saw him damage her vehicle and hit her leg before driving away and returning to intimidate her again. He later pleaded guilty to dangerous driving and affray and received an 18‑month suspended sentence, unpaid work, programme requirements and a driving ban after spending four months in custody.

Family members delivered emotional statements at Cardiff Crown Court describing the profound impact of Brad Craven’s death after he was struck by unlicensed and intoxicated driver Teddy Picton, who received a seven‑year sentence for causing death by dangerous driving. Relatives detailed the trauma of witnessing Craven’s injuries, the cascading effect of grief after the recent death of his wife, and the long‑term emotional and practical consequences for the wider family, several of whom later suffered deteriorating health. The court heard evidence of Picton’s impaired driving and lack of evasive action before impact. Craven’s relatives described their ongoing grief and the lasting damage caused by the preventable collision.

A violent pub brawl at the Royal Oak in Cardiff led to severe injuries, including the permanent loss of sight for one victim after Covie Hallam-Rose gouged his eye. Hallam-Rose also repeatedly punched a defenceless woman, while Molly Geoghegan, Jack Trigg and Phillip Kavanagh participated in the wider affray. All four were convicted, with Hallam-Rose receiving a 27‑month prison sentence and the others given suspended sentences alongside unpaid work, fines or rehabilitation requirements. Victim Steven Nicholas described lasting trauma and medical complications following the attack.

A solicitor accused of involvement in cocaine and steroid supply told police the allegations had ruined his career and denied any involvement in drug dealing. Prosecutors allege he purchased cocaine, encouraged friends to buy drugs, and later represented his supplier while relaying messages from a runner during police custody. In interviews he denied wrongdoing, claiming messages referred to champagne and that a WhatsApp group cited by police was joking in nature. His co-defendants face related drug supply and perverting‑justice charges. The trial continues.

A man previously convicted of child image offences travelled from Wales to Scotland to meet an 11-year-old girl he had been grooming online while simultaneously attempting to groom an undercover officer posing as a 12‑year‑old. Police later found thousands of indecent images of children on his phone. He pleaded guilty to multiple grooming and indecent image offences and was sentenced at Newport Crown Court to four years and eight months in prison, along with lifetime sex‑offender notification requirements and a 20‑year Sexual Harm Prevention Order.

A man from Porth was sentenced to 32 months in prison and given a 15‑year restraining order after violently assaulting his partner, threatening to kill her, and damaging property. The court heard he carried out repeated physical attacks, issued threats to dismember and burn the victim, and brandished a knife. The victim sustained significant injuries and reported lasting fear and anxiety. The defendant pleaded guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm and criminal damage, with the judge condemning him as a violent bully during sentencing.

A man in Barry assaulted another man with a beer bottle after the victim threatened to harm his daughter, later leading police on a dangerous high‑speed chase while intoxicated and carrying cocaine, cannabis and a knuckleduster. Jordan Gregory pleaded guilty to multiple offences including attempting to cause grievous bodily harm, dangerous driving and drug possession. He received a suspended 34‑month prison sentence, rehabilitation and alcohol monitoring requirements, and a 24‑month driving disqualification.

A solicitor, Ben Garvey, is on trial accused of buying and supplying cocaine and steroids, participating in an organised crime group led by dealer Daniel Baker, and perverting the course of justice by relaying messages to Baker while representing him. Prosecutors allege Garvey purchased drugs from Baker and his associate Jake Blackburn and encouraged friends to use cocaine in a WhatsApp group. Garvey denies all charges, claiming drug-related messages were jokes and asserting he only met Baker to provide legal advice. Police seized steroids, cash, and electronic devices when arresting him in 2023. The trial continues.

A man who persistently stalked a woman after she rejected a relationship was sentenced to two years and 10 months in prison. His behaviour included following her, confronting her at night, appearing at her home, and making threatening remarks, leading the victim to attempt suicide and suffer severe anxiety. The defendant, who admitted the offence, had a previous stalking conviction and was described by the judge as exhibiting sinister conduct. His barrister cited personal difficulties, substance misuse, and the breakdown of his marriage as contributing factors.

A man who defrauded his partner of more than £5,800 and repeatedly stalked her after their breakup received a suspended 15‑month prison sentence at Cardiff Crown Court. His behaviour escalated to constant messages, letters, unsolicited food deliveries, and waiting near her home, causing the victim significant emotional and financial harm. He pleaded guilty to fraud by abuse of position and stalking and was ordered to complete rehabilitation activities and pay full compensation.

A man who gave police a false name when stopped in his BMW triggered a mistaken raid on an innocent person’s home. Officers found more than £5,000 worth of cocaine along with cannabis and evidence on his phone of an active drugs line. He admitted multiple drug supply offences and perverting the course of justice. The court heard mitigation about personal hardship and addiction, but the judge stressed the seriousness of Class A drug offending. He received a three‑year prison sentence.

A court hearing detailed allegations that boxer Joe Cordina and Jamie O’Brien assaulted each other during an incident at a Cardiff petrol station in February 2026. Both face assault charges, with Cordina additionally accused of threatening a person with an offensive weapon. The case was adjourned, with both men scheduled to appear later in July. South Wales Police confirmed the charges. Cordina recently withdrew from a planned WBO lightweight title fight after being denied a US visa, expressing disappointment over the decision.

A man suffered a fractured skull, eye socket injuries and brain bleeding after being punched unconscious in an unprovoked attack outside a Tredegar bar. Michael Hitchings admitted inflicting grievous bodily harm after CCTV appeals led him to contact police. The victim, Luke Davies, spent time in critical condition and continues to experience lasting health effects. Hitchings received an 18‑month suspended sentence with rehabilitation and alcohol monitoring requirements.

Five additional defendants received sentences for supporting an organised crime group responsible for the shooting of Joanne Penney in Talbot Green. The court detailed roles that included drug running, providing accommodation for drug dealing, acquiring ammunition tied to the killing, and helping one of the killers flee Wales. Sentences ranged from suspended terms to multi‑year prison sentences, concluding all proceedings linked to the murder.

Live sentencing proceedings detail the roles of five defendants connected to the organised crime network responsible for the murder of Joanne Penney in Talbot Green. The killing is described as a reprisal carried out to assert control in a local drug‑dealing dispute. Court evidence outlines organised beatings, firearm acquisition and rival gang confrontations leading up to the shooting. Four defendants attend the hearing while one refuses, as prosecutors describe the broader criminal context and the judge begins sentencing for offences related to assisting offenders and participation in organised crime.

A 14-year-old girl, Lilly Jones, was found dead in woodland in Blaina with multiple stab wounds, leading to the arrest and charging of a 14-year-old boy. An inquest opened in Newport confirmed the cause of death and adjourned further proceedings pending the ongoing police investigation. Gwent Police urged caution regarding online comments and reported continued community cooperation. Tributes and fundraising efforts have been organised by the local community and Brynmawr Foundation School, which described Lilly as kind and warm-hearted.

A disqualified driver under the influence of ketamine and THC led police on a high‑speed pursuit through multiple towns after fleeing an officer who attempted to stop him for a broken tail light. His dangerous driving prompted the National Police Air Service helicopter to take over the chase before he was detained and found over the legal drug-driving limits. With a history of similar offences and further crimes committed afterward, he received a 54‑week prison sentence suspended for two years, along with a four‑year driving ban and rehabilitation requirements, after the judge credited recent progress with probation.

The mother of murder victim Shelley Davies delivered a highly emotional tribute following the conviction of 19‑year‑old Kian Bateman, who deliberately drove into Davies and her partner outside a Cardiff club. Davies sustained severe injuries and died after weeks in hospital. At Bateman’s sentencing to life with a minimum of 17 years, her mother described her daughter as a selfless, vibrant figure who supported others and held the family together. Statements detailed the profound grief and trauma experienced by the family, emphasising Davies’ work helping people in crisis and the enduring impact of her loss.

Kian Bateman received a life sentence with a minimum term of 17 years for killing Shelley Davies by deliberately driving into her outside a Cardiff pub. The court heard details of Davies’ severe injuries and subsequent death in hospital, along with emotional statements from her mother and daughter. The judge acknowledged the family’s loss while noting that Bateman had not intended to kill, and he was taken into custody following sentencing.

A 19-year-old man, Kian Bateman, was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 17 years for murdering reiki healer and mother-of-three Shelley Davies by deliberately driving into her outside a Cardiff social club. Davies died weeks after sustaining catastrophic injuries. Victim impact statements from family highlighted profound grief and criticized the police and prosecution for what they described as a flawed investigation. South Wales Police and the Crown Prosecution Service defended their handling of the case, citing clear CCTV evidence and thorough analysis. Bateman was also convicted of causing grievous bodily harm to Davies’ partner, David Bratcher, who survived the incident.

An 18-year-old man, Idris Ahmed, pleaded not guilty at Cardiff Crown Court to charges including causing grievous bodily harm with intent after a 17-year-old was stabbed in the leg at Barry Island, leading to the victim’s lower leg being amputated. The incident occurred on May 25, and the trial is scheduled for November 2. The court heard that the victim sustained life‑changing injuries from a dangerous weapon, and Ahmed has been remanded in custody.

A woman who launched a prolonged and violent attack on a man at a flat in Abercynon was sentenced to 52 months in prison after pleading guilty to grievous bodily harm and common assault. She repeatedly kicked and stamped on the victim’s head and assaulted a woman attempting to give first aid. The court detailed significant physical and psychological harm to both victims, while mitigation cited trauma, substance misuse and personal instability. Two five‑year restraining orders were imposed in addition to the custodial sentence.

A 67‑year‑old man was sentenced to life imprisonment, with a minimum term of 13 years, for murdering his neighbour during an escalating dispute in sheltered accommodation in St Asaph on Christmas Day. A dictaphone recording captured the fatal assault and the victim’s pleas that he could not breathe. The court heard that the confrontation followed threats made by the victim earlier that morning, but the judge concluded the force used was unreasonable and that the defendant ignored repeated pleas to stop. Police statements highlighted the role of the recording in securing the conviction, and the victim’s family described the profound emotional impact of the killing.

A 68-year-old man from Bridgend received a 15-year prison sentence after being convicted of rape, attempted buggery and indecent assault against a boy, following earlier offences involving indecent images. Court testimony described prolonged abuse that caused severe psychological harm, including suicide attempts and long-term trauma. The court heard that the offender kept weapons at home, claiming to prepare for the end of the world, and had a history of accessing indecent material. He will serve two-thirds of his sentence before parole eligibility and is subject to lifelong monitoring and protective orders.

A man from Caerphilly received a suspended 27‑month prison sentence after assaulting his partner so severely that her eardrum was perforated and her home was damaged. The court detailed repeated punches, property destruction, and ongoing physical and psychological effects on the victim. Despite previous convictions, mitigating factors included the defendant’s lack of reoffending since 2023 and involvement in his son’s life. Additional requirements imposed included alcohol monitoring, rehabilitation activities, and a five‑year restraining order.

A Cardiff man, Nicholas Brown, was sentenced to 12 years in prison, with an additional year on licence, for sexually abusing a 10‑year‑old girl more than a decade earlier. The court heard that Brown ignored the child’s pleas to stop and threatened her to ensure her silence. The victim described long‑lasting psychological trauma, including anxiety, depression and disrupted relationships. The judge highlighted the harrowing nature of the abuse, and Brown was additionally placed under long‑term restraining and sexual harm prevention orders, with indefinite sex‑offender notification requirements.

A drug dealer arrested at Cardiff Central railway station was found carrying cannabis and 2,000 bromazolam tablets and later threatened to kill police officers while detained. He admitted possessing class A and B drugs with intent to supply and received a sentence of two years and six months. Police officials condemned the impact of illegal drugs on communities and warned that trafficking via the rail network will be rigorously targeted.

Police discovered cocaine, amphetamine and cash during a raid on the home of Julie Davies and Alan Morgan in Aberbargoed after intelligence linked them to drug supply. Phone evidence showed they coordinated dealing to repay their son’s drug debt while under threat from an organised crime group. Both pleaded guilty and received suspended sentences at Cardiff Crown Court, along with rehabilitation and unpaid work requirements.

Police found drug-related packaging and paraphernalia at Myah Benskin-Sullivan’s home, linking him to an organised crime group supplying cocaine and cannabis. Messages on his phone showed involvement in wholesale drug distribution, with estimated profits up to £3,200. He pleaded guilty to multiple offences including drug supply, possession of criminal property, and driving without insurance. The court noted his previous convictions and personal circumstances before sentencing him to 70 months in prison.

The Welsh Government is launching up to ten elective care hubs to reduce long NHS waiting times by increasing surgical and diagnostic capacity and separating planned care from emergency pressures. An expert group of clinicians and managers will develop a delivery plan by the end of the year, supported by £145 million in funding. Wales continues to face significant treatment backlogs, with hundreds of thousands waiting and key health targets being missed. The hubs aim to improve system resilience and efficiency through specialist centres focused on planned procedures.

Alan Chadwick, a former chief superintendent central to the formation of South Wales Police, has died at age 93. His 42‑year career included service in the RAF during the Suez Crisis, senior police roles across Cardiff, participation in COBRA planning, and pioneering work on academic qualifications for policing. He declined a senior role in the Metropolitan Police to remain in Cardiff and retired in 1995. He is remembered as a dedicated officer, family man, and influential figure in modernising police education.

A convicted hitman, Mark Fellows, who murdered child killer Kyle Bevan inside HMP Wakefield, is expected to live a permanently segregated life in a close supervision centre due to his extreme risk of violence. Fellows, recently given a second whole‑life order, carried out Bevan’s fatal stabbing in a coordinated attack alongside David Taylor and Lee Newell. Prison officials anticipate heightened security measures as Fellows is believed to pose a significant danger to other inmates. Authorities highlight ongoing efforts to strengthen safety across high‑security prisons, including increased investment and new initiatives aimed at reducing violence.

A 20-year-old man from Barry received a confiscation order of £18,303 after police uncovered his cocaine and cannabis supply operation, along with more than £11,000 in cash. He previously admitted multiple drug, driving, and criminal property offences and is already serving a three-year sentence. A court determined he had benefited by over £20,000 from his crimes but only held £18,303 in assets, which he was ordered to repay.