Author: Rhys Gregory

A man who raped his victim whilst she slept has been jailed. Sion Douglas Griffiths (38), of Barmouth denied the charge which related to an incident that occurred at a property in Llanrwst in August 2021. His victim was sleeping when she woke up to Griffiths sexually assaulting her. She told him to stop but he continued despite her trying to push him away. He continued with his attack until she again told him to stop. Griffiths was found guilty of one count of Rape at a trial at Caernarfon Crown Court in March of this year. This week he…

The family of a man who sadly died in a collision in Llandrillo on Sunday 3 May, have paid tribute to him. Bryn Roberts was 56 years old and lived in the Llandrillo area. In a heartfelt tribute his family said: “It’s devastating for us to acknowledge Bryn Roberts’ tragic and sudden death. “Bryn was a caring and loving partner, father, son and brother. He was very popular in the community, and he was always willing to help everyone. “He was extremely diligent and thought the world of his family and friends. I would like to thank the Air Ambulance…

A collision on the M4 westbound is causing disruption for motorists travelling through Cardiff during the Tuesday morning rush hour. According to Traffic Wales, the incident has occurred between Junction 30 (Cardiff Gate) and Junction 32 (Coryton), with lanes two and three currently blocked. Traffic officers are on their way to the scene, and drivers are being warned to expect delays in the area. Motorists are advised to allow extra time for their journeys and consider alternative routes where possible while the incident is dealt with.

Met Office says Wales will see a largely cloudy but mostly dry start to the week, with the chance of drizzle and some brighter spells developing later. Today, Tuesday 5 May, will be mostly cloudy and dry across much of the country. There may be occasional brighter breaks where cloud thins, although thicker cloud could bring a few spots of drizzle. Temperatures are expected to reach a high of around 16°C. Into this evening and overnight, cloud will remain widespread with an increasing chance of patchy drizzle. Temperatures will stay relatively mild for the time of year, with a low…

AN inspirational mother who returned to education after nearly a decade in the UK has been named one of Wales’s top adult learners. Maryam Avazzadeh was crowned Access to HE Learner of the Year by Agored Cymru, winning the “Outstanding Commitment to Study” category in recognition of her determination, resilience and academic excellence. Maryam completed the Access to HE Health Care Diploma at Coleg Cambria Deeside, an intensive one-year course covering subjects including Biology, Psychology, Sociology, Maths and English – achieving distinctions across the board. The qualification is designed to support adult learners aged 19+ with few or no formal…

More than 130 jobs have been saved after Formula One Autocentres completed the acquisition of 35 sites from ATS Euromaster. The family-run business has expanded its network of centres to 170 as part of the deal, rapidly increasing its national footprint and growing specific coverage in Wales, with eight locations in Abergavenny, Bangor, Bridgend, Carmarthen, Cwmbran, Newport, Port Talbot and Wrexham all moving over. All the IT and e-commerce platforms are being transferred over across the Bank Holiday weekend, with refurbishment work, new ‘rebranding’ and other visual identity elements to be completed over the next three months. ATS customers can…

An 18-year-old from Pontypool is celebrating Deaf Awareness Week (4-10 May) after learning to communicate using British Sign Language (BSL) for the first time at Coleg Gwent. Meghan Hillier joined Coleg Gwent in 2024 after leaving school and was immediately supported by the college’s Communication Support Workers. Since then, she has not only learned BSL, but she has also become part of the college’s Deaf community through its dedicated Deaf Club. According to the RNID, there are around 575,000 d/Deaf people in Wales, and approximately, 2,100 d/Deaf children. With more than 90% of d/Deaf children born to hearing parents, many children…

Salisbury’s Chartered Accountants is marking its 40th anniversary with strong growth, a major practice merger and a workforce that has doubled in just two years – marking an exciting new chapter for the firm. The business has expanded into north east Wales with the acquisition of HB Chartered Accountants in Mold, a respected practice previously led by Hilary Baines. The move reflects growing demand for Salisbury’s services and its ambition to build on its presence across the region. As part of the transition, existing team members Vanessa Blanchard, Chartered Accountant, and Accounts Administrator Abigail Bowers-Baines have joined Salisbury’s, providing continuity…

Cardiff Council has confirmed it is aware of reports of stray horses loose on land near Lamby Way, with multiple teams working to address the situation. The authority says efforts are ongoing to resolve the issue as quickly as possible, although details remain limited due to active criminal proceedings linked to previous animal welfare offences. Officials have stressed that while concerns have been raised, many horse owners in the area work constructively with the council and Shared Regulatory Services and care for their animals responsibly. The council’s Animal Health and Welfare Team regularly monitors horses in the area, carrying out…

Pembrokeshire County Council is set to appoint a new Leader later this month, with three councillors nominated for the role. The decision will be made at the council’s Annual General Meeting, which is due to take place on Friday, May 15. Under the council’s constitution, the Leader is elected every two years. Current Leader, Cllr Jon Harvey, has confirmed he will not be standing for re-election, bringing his time in the role to a close. Three nominations have been received for the position, with Cllr Di Clements, Cllr Tessa Hodgson and Cllr Anji Tinley all in the running to become…