A garage boss, his employee and a long‑time friend have been jailed after a months‑long feud over money escalated into a violent assault and a planned arson attack in Swansea Vale.
A business relationship that turned sour
Police say the trouble began when 44‑year‑old garage owner Gareth Charles, from Morriston, fell out with a former employee over money owed to the business.
What started as a workplace dispute soon turned personal. On 13 May 2025, Charles spotted the man in the street and confronted him. Without warning, he punched him in the face, leaving him bleeding. Officers later described the assault as the first sign of a “revenge‑driven” escalation.
The victim stopped all contact with Charles after the assault — but the resentment didn’t end there.
Car torched outside home in late‑night attack
Four months later, just before midnight in September, the victim’s car — parked outside his home in Swansea Vale — suddenly burst into flames.
Neighbours reported seeing an unidentified man sprinting away from the scene as the fire took hold. The blaze destroyed the vehicle and left residents shocked at the level of escalation.
Detectives quickly arrested Charles. When they examined his mobile phone, they uncovered a series of messages revealing a conspiracy with two other men:
- 32‑year‑old Mathew Membury, from Pentrechwyth
- 47‑year‑old Gareth Rowe, from Clydach
The messages showed the men discussing how the attack would be carried out, including who would be involved and how the fire would be set.
Police say the trio were clearly aware of the risks, with the arson taking place on a residential street close to homes and parked vehicles.
Messages expose the plot
The phone evidence linked all three men to the plan, with discussions about roles, timing and the method of attack. Officers said the messages left little doubt that the fire was a deliberate act of revenge.
All three were charged with conspiring to commit arson with intent or being reckless as to whether life was endangered. Charles also faced an additional charge for the earlier assault.
Jail sentences for all three men
All three defendants pleaded guilty.
- Gareth Charles, 44, was jailed for 36 months for the arson conspiracy, plus two months for the assault.
- Mathew Membury, 32, was jailed for 32 months.
- Gareth Rowe, 47, was jailed for 30 months.
Each man will serve up to half their sentence in custody before being released on licence.
Police: “A stupid and reckless plot”
Detective Sergeant Jonathan Holding, South Wales Police, said:
“This was a stupid and reckless plot to take revenge on a former employee over a monetary grievance.
“The senseless actions of Charles, Membury and Rowe could have got somebody seriously injured, and they will have known this when they were committing the offence.
“They should think long and hard about their actions during their time in prison.”
A neighbourhood left shaken
Police say the attack could easily have caused serious harm, with the fire taking place close to homes where families were sleeping.
Officers described the plot as “dangerous, reckless and entirely avoidable”, adding that the case shows how quickly a personal dispute can escalate into criminal violence.
