23 year old Owain Coleman, from the Strand in Swansea City Centre has been charged with robbery and possession of an offensive weapon.

He has been remanded into custody.

It follows an alleged robbery at the Iceland Food Warehouse store in the Parc Tawe Retail Park, on Tuesday 11 January around 8pm where staff where allegedly threatened with a weapon.

Detective Inspector Gareth Jones said: “Robberies of this nature are very rare in Swansea and thankfully nobody was injured during the incident. None the less the staff must have been left feeling incredibly frightened and shaken.

“I would like to commend the officers working on the case for their prompt identification of Owain Coleman which resulted in him being arrested within 25 hours of the incident.”

(Lead image: EJ Hales)

Four people have been sentenced for a total of over 10 years for their parts in county lines drugs supply into Swansea.

The sentence comes as part of a Police crack-down on county lines drug dealers

On 14 May 2021, Police officers noticed a car travelling between Liverpool and Swansea, that was suspected to be involved in drug dealing.

Whilst on its route back to Swansea, officers proactively stopped the car. The driver, Magdalena Lessenew-Lesniakowsk, disclosed that there were drugs inside.

She was subsequently arrested and taken to custody.

The next day, officers witnessed a drug deal take place in Llangyfelach Road, Brynhyfryd, and arrested Neil Williams and Callan Holland.

During investigations, it was revealed that the defendants were involved in running a county lines drugs operation known as ‘Scouse Ryan’.

Crack cocaine, heroin and cannabis were all seized with an estimated street value of £15,000.
Today (16 December), all four were sentenced at Swansea Crown Court.

Neil Williams, 43 years old, from Brynhyfryd, was sentenced to 30 months imprisonment.

Callan Holland, 29 years old, from Cheshire, was sentenced to 49 months imprisonment.

Kelly Brandrick, 37 years old, from Plasmarl, Swansea, received an 18 month suspended sentence, and was ordered to undertake a rehabilitation programme.

Magdalena Lessenew-Lesniakowsk, 36 years old, from Mount Pleasant, Swansea, received a two year suspended sentence, and was ordered to undertake 150 hours of unpaid work.

South Wales Police Detective Inspector Marc Gardner said: “The Organised Crime Team are always working really hard to take drugs out of circulation, and to make our local areas a hostile environment for those who are out to make money through the drugs trade.

“We fully understand the misery inflicted by drugs and we will continue to work with our colleagues, other forces and partners to fight the harm brought by organised crime gangs.”

If you have information about drugs in your area you can contact Police online, by emailing PublicServiceCentre@south-wales.police.uk or calling 101.

(Lead image: South Wales Police)

Four people have been sentenced to a total of over 11 years following on from the assault of two men on Windsor Road, Neath back on 11th March this year.

25 year-old Ricky Morgan (pictured above), has been sentenced to 10 years and six months for Grievous Bodily Harm (GBH) and Burglary. Dafydd Morgan, aged 23, has been sentenced to four months for affray. Both are from Wellfield Square, Neath. 

Lauren Carmichael, aged 25, was given a community sentence, and Luke Meredith, aged 33, sentenced to 19 weeks imprisonment, suspended for 12 months. Both are from St Catherine’s Close, Neath and both have been convicted for affray. 

The two men assaulted were taken to hospital with knife injuries to their faces which were not life threatening. At the time firearms officers were deployed to the area as a precaution. 

Detective Inspector Carl Price from South Wales Police said: “This was a frightening incident which happened in broad daylight in front of terrified passer-by’s.

“Carrying a knife has serious consequences. That is why it is so important for anyone who has information on knife crime in their local community to report it to us. It helps us to build a better picture of the hotspot areas we need to target to keep people safe”.

(Lead image: South Wales Police)