Author: Rhys Gregory

A man from Swansea has been jailed after he was caught exchanging sexual messages with a decoy account on social media which he believed belonged to a 14-year-old girl. 58-year-old Gareth Davies, from the Maritime Quarter, took part in the conversations between November and December 2024. He later attempted to make plans to meet the “girl” in person but was confronted by the operators of the decoy account in December before being arrested. Despite pleading not guilty to attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child in January, Davies was found guilty in May. He has been sentenced to…

Proposals were agreed at a meeting of the Council’s Cabinet after it considered additional information on parking patterns gathered by the Authority’s Enforcement Team. That research revealed more people parked on-street than used nearby car parks. It also highlighted examples of people regularly exceeding the on-street parking time limit, and cases of individuals abusing the existing system by moving from one area of on-street parking to another in the same vicinity. This served to reduce the availability of on-street car parking spaces for visitors. Traffic Regulation Order (TRO) proposals will be published shortly, which are subject to a 21-day statutory…

A teenager with autism who discovered a passion for drumming after taking up lessons just a few months ago has had his life transformed by music. Max Thompson, 14, from Ruthin, is one of three sensational young drummers who won a hat-trick of awards from Denbighshire Music Cooperative. He received the organisation’s Special Recognition Award after a remarkable solo performance at the cooperative’s 10th anniversary concert in St Asaph Cathedral. His proud mum, Kelly Thompson, said the whole family were bowled over by his dynamic rendition of the hit Mark Ronson number, Uptown Funk, which brought the house down. During…

David, 20, from Cardiff has won a prestigious award at the King’s Trust and TK Maxx and Homesense Awards National Final.  He scooped the national L’Oréal Paris Rising Star Award which recognises a young person who, having built up their confidence and skills, has overcome barriers to secure and recently start employment or education or training.​ On Wednesday, he also attended a reception at Buckingham Palace to meet His Majesty The King, Founder of The King’s Trust, who congratulated the award winners on their achievements. David was honoured yesterday at the star-studded awards ceremony, hosted by Ant and Dec, and attended by many…

As Wales Tech Week 2025, powered by Technology Connected, prepares to welcome business leaders, policy-makers, investors and innovators from across the globe this autumn (24-26 November) at the International Convention Centre (ICC) Wales in Newport, all eyes are on this year’s keynote speaker Matthew Griffin, a globally renowned futurist and strategist. As a futurist working at the intersection of emerging technologies, global policy and societal change, his perspective offers valuable foresight into the forces reshaping the world. Griffin, often referred to as ‘The Fanatical Futurist’, embraces the title with purpose. “It was a nickname given to me by the people…

Caerphilly County Borough Council is pleased to announce the official opening of a brand new dual use 3G all-weather pitch at Risca School and Leisure Centre, funded by the Welsh Government’s Community Focused Schools capital grant programme. The development represents a significant investment in local sporting infrastructure and supports both the Council’s Sport and Active Recreation Strategy 2019–2029 and wider Place Shaping ambitions. Situated on a education and community campus, the new facility will benefit pupils at Risca Community Comprehensive School during the day and serve the wider community during evenings and weekends. Councillor Chris Morgan, Cabinet Member for Leisure,…

To mark the start of Wales Nature Week, the Deputy First Minister has seen for himself conservation efforts underway to save one of Wales’ most endangered birds – the curlew. As is common across other nations in the UK and elsewhere in Europe, breeding curlew in Wales are in significant decline due to habitat loss, unfavourable habitat management and predator control. On a visit to Bannau Brycheiniog National Park, the Deputy First Minister learned more about the work being carried out in one of Wales’ Important Curlew Areas through Curlew Connections to tackle the key issues driving the low breeding…

Thousands of runners took to Porthcawl in the town’s biggest ever 10K event. More than 6,200 participants signed up to take part in the 2025 Brecon Carreg Porthcawl 10K and supporting junior races, with a new course record set in the women’s race. Despite strong winds and rainy conditions opening up race morning, the sun made an appearance bringing bright and breezy conditions to the seaside town. It was the fifth edition of the race which took runners on a tour of all the beaches in the area – including Newton Bay, Trecco Bay and Sandy Bay before racing through…

Electro pop greats The Human League thrilled a packed crowd as they headlined the final night of TK Maxx presents Live at Llangollen Pavilion 2025. Making their highly anticipated Llangollen debut, the BRIT Award-winners brought a spectacular close to the concert series, which saw global rock and pop stars headline the iconic pavilion in North Wales. The synth-pop pioneers delivered a hit-filled set packed with fan favourites as they whipped the crowd into a frenzy. Opening with Sound of The Crowd, Mirror Man and Heart Like A Wheel, they continued with such hits as All I Ever Wanted, Love Action,…

More than 15 tonnes of end-of-life fishing gear has been recycled since 2023 through Wales’ pioneering nationwide recycling initiative, helping protect marine environments and boost recycling rates. Deputy First Minister with Responsibility for Climate Change and Rural Affairs, Huw Irranca-Davies, today visited a collection station in Aberystwyth to see firsthand how the End of Life (EoL) Fishing Gear Scheme is transforming waste management in coastal communities. The scheme, a partnership between Welsh Government and Odyssey Innovation Ltd, provides dedicated collection points at harbours across Wales where fishers can dispose of used nets, ropes, buoys and other plastic fishing equipment for…