In court from Newport, Ebbw Vale, Chepstow and Cardiff – South Wales Argus
In court from Newport, Ebbw Vale, Chepstow and Cardiff South Wales Argus
Latest South Wales News
by Staff
South Wales Guardian death notices placed December 28 | South … South Wales Guardian
HERE are the death notices placed in the South Wales Guardian on Wednesday, December 28.
To place a notice, click here.
Alun Thomas (Glanaman)
Peacefully on Monday, December 12 at Prince Philip Hospital, Llanelli, Alun of Rhodfa Bryn Rhos, Glanamman. Beloved husband of Valerie, dear brother of the late Malcolm, devoted uncle of Cally and Sasha and a cherished great-uncle of Sebastian and Reuben.
Funeral on Thursday, January 12. Service for family and friends at Llanelli Crematorium at 2pm. Family flowers only. Donations in lieu, if so desired, to Cancer Research Wales will be kindly received by Keith Morgan and Hywel Griffiths, Funeral Directors, 40a Cwmamman Road, Glanamman, Ammanford SA18 1DJ.
Roy Lewis (Ammanford)
On Sunday, December 11, Roy passed away at his home at Teglan Park, Tycroes, Ammanford. Loving husband of Sue, dad of Jonathan and Timothy, father-in-law of Stacy and Kendalle, Gu of Logan-Jay, Talie and Theo and brother of Averil.
The funeral was held on Friday, December 30, service for family and friends at Llanelli Crematorium at 12noon. No flowers but donations in lieu, if so desired to Mesothelioma UK will be kindly received by Hywel Griffiths & Son, Funeral Directors, Bwtrimawr, 39 Betws Road, Betws, Ammanford, SA18 2HE or via https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/roy-lewis-mesothelioma
by Staff
In court from Newport, Ebbw Vale, Chepstow and Cardiff South Wales Argus
A ROUND-UP of recent cases heard at Newport Magistrates’ Court and Cwmbran Magistrates’ Court.
EVAN SMITH, 20, of Broadleaf Way, Newport, was banned from driving for 12 months after he pleaded guilty to drug driving with a cannabis derivative in his blood on Newport Road, Bedwas, Caerphilly, on June 1.
He was fined £80 and ordered to pay £85 costs and a £34 surcharge.
MORGAN WESTON, 22, of Tothill Street, Ebbw Vale, was banned from driving for 12 months after he pleaded guilty to drink driving with 45 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath on November 30.
He was fined £160 and ordered to pay £85 costs and a £64 surcharge.
CONNER MYERSCOUGH, 22, of Gilfach Street, Bargoed, Caerphilly, was banned from driving for 12 months after he admitted drug driving with a cannabis derivative in his blood on Church Place on September 9.
He was fined £80 and ordered to pay £85 costs and a £32 surcharge.
RICHARD CONNORS, 38, of Ringwood Place, Newport, was banned from driving for four years after he admitted drug driving with cocaine in his blood on September 15.
He was fined £200 and ordered to pay £85 costs and an £80 surcharge.
JOSEF COOPER, 22, of Fairoak Avenue, Newport, was ordered to pay £720 in a fine, costs and a surcharge for speeding at 56mph in a 30mph zone on the A468 in Trethomas, Caerphilly, on August 12.
His driving record was endorsed with six points.
PAUL ILLES, 47, of Edmundsbury Road, Duffryn, Newport, was sentenced to a 12-month community order and banned from driving for four years after he pleaded guilty to drink driving with 54 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath, driving without due care and attention, failing to stop and driving without a licence on Partridge Way on November 28.
He was ordered to complete a 10-day rehabilitation activity requirement, fined £120 and ordered to pay £85 costs and a £114 surcharge.
MARK ANTHONY NEALE, 37, of Vachell Road, Ely, Cardiff, was banned from driving for six months for driving while using a hand-held mobile telephone on the M4 motorway in Newport at Junction 26 on May 12.
He was ordered to pay £344 in a fine, costs and a surcharge.
GARETH IAN VINCENT, 47, of Laburnum Way, Bulwark, Chepstow, was banned from driving for six months for failing to give information relating to the identification of the driver of a vehicle who was alleged to have been guilty of an offence.
He was ordered to pay £1,014 in a fine, costs and a surcharge.
by Staff
Ffoto Newport relocating from Market Arcade to Newport Arcade South Wales Argus
A PHOTOGRAPHY shop in the centre of Newport is moving – but it’s not going far.
Ffoto Newport is relocating to Newport Arcade from its current location in Market Arcade.
The self-funded and independent gallery now has an upstairs business called 35mm creative agency, where they can restore old photos as well as transfer VHS to DVD Transfer.
Ieaun Berry, founder of Ffoto Newport said: “The building is split into two parts the downstairs is a relocation of Ffoto Newport from the Market Arcade.
“The upstairs is 35mm creative agency these two businesses are set up by three local people and born and bred in Newport, we teamed up a year ago to bring this to tuition for January.
“We decided to re-located the store, to offer more services as we were finding we were getting more people attending our events.
“We were getting people all over the UK and Europe to visit and being able to bring international photographers to Newport for people to enjoy we decided a bigger space we would benefit from.”
The new shop will benefit from a dark room, for customers who would like to attend workshops to use analogue cameras and to develop their images – these will start in the New Year.
Mr Berry believes the arcade is the perfect location for the new businesses, due to it being independent traders only.
He added: “There is a massive increase in people wanting personal prints, we believe this new trend coming through of personal ownership, and shopping local going into these arcades is something that the people of Newport do want to support.
“People may say that the town centre obviously looks empty and it doesn’t benefit from these redevelopments, but we strongly disagree with that as the support we have had over the last year has allowed us to expand.
“That shows that there is increase in the city centre of Newport and the Market has done a wonderful job of bringing new people from wider a field in which has done a great thing for the people of Newport. “
by Staff
Edinburgh’s Hogmanay celebrations return for first time in three years South Wales Argus
Thousands of people will attend Edinburgh’s traditional Hogmanay celebrations as they return for the first time in three years.
The event was cancelled as a result of Covid-19 restrictions for the last two years.
All events hosted in the capital to mark the traditional Hogmanay celebrations in Scotland were sold out, organisers confirmed.
Celebrations kicked off on Friday evening with the night afore party, headlined by pop superstar Sophie Ellis-Bextor with special guests Altered Images.
The Pet Shop Boys will headline the concert in the gardens in Princes Street Gardens while those attending the annual street party will be treated to DJ sets.
Fireworks will lift off every hour between 9pm and 11pm, counting down to the traditional midnight display.
City of Edinburgh Council leader Cammy Day said: “Edinburgh’s Hogmanay is the place to be to send off the 75th anniversary of Edinburgh as the festival city and kick off 2023 with a stellar musical line-up featuring a unique talent pool of Scottish acts and world-renowned artists.
“We are immensely proud that so many people choose to share their New Year with us and enjoy everything our city has to offer.
“The celebrations include a festival of ceilidhs, family-friendly events in sprogmanay and a candlelit concert at St Giles’ Cathedral.
“Whether you join the magic of the night afore disco party, spend your midnight moment at the world-famous street party, have a ticket for the concert in the gardens with the Pet Shop Boys or start the year enjoying some of the scores of Scottish musical talent in final fling or first footin’ – I hope you enjoy being part of it.”
Al Thompson, director of organisers Unique Assembly, said the worst of expected bad weather should have passed but he urged party-goers to wrap up warm for the festivities.
He said “It’s outdoors in Scotland in winter but I’m really pleased that we’re coming to the tail end of some unsettled weather this week, so from Saturday right through to New Year’s Day we have got a clear run.
“It’s going to be cold but it’s going to be dry, and that’s the main thing.
“We’re just telling people to make sure that they wrap up warm and dress for the weather before they come out because the majority of the events are outdoors.”
As the clock strikes midnight and 2023 begins, the Met Office is predicting temperatures of 1C, with it dropping to 0C come 3am.
Lothian Buses have launched a special Hogmanay fare to get people home safely and Edinburgh Trams will be running services until 5am.
by Staff
Music Video from South Wales made in Madeira Madeira Island News Blog
c-bloc Productions, a music video production company from South Wales UK, has travelled to Funchal to shoot the debut music video for the singer/songwriter also from South Wales, Hugo T.
Will Langley, the Director of the company founded at the beginning of 2022 decided to round off a really successful year with an outstanding location shoot in and around Funchal
Hugo T and Will flew to Madeira began the video plan in Bar Sabor Tropical over a few Coral Beers and a couple of Bolo do Caco, they captured the spirit and joy of Madeira and its people as they filmed around the centre, old town and seafront.
Everywhere they went people joined in with the music and the happiness of the song. The debut single will be released in February captured the vibrancy of Funchal.
c-bloc Productions socials: https://linktr.ee/
Hugo T socials: https://instagram.
Some images from the shoot on the link below.
https://photos.app.goo.gl/E7WeSTykhfZyNbSB8
by Staff
The full list of Welsh people in the King’s New Year’s Honours list Wales Online
A young entrepreneur whose company has a turnover of £70million is one of the many people from Wales who have been recognised in the first King’s New Year’s Honours list for more than 70 years.
Special honours are given to people who make outstanding contributions to their community and the country, with the New Year Honours acknowledging 1,107 people in the UK this year. They range from politicians, musicians and actors to senior diplomats at the forefront of the UK’s response to the war in Ukraine and members of the England women’s football team, which won Euro 2022.
Wrexham-based businessman Alex Lovén has described his MBE for services to the economy as a “huge honour” and said that it was something that had made him “very proud”. It all started with a eureka moment after buying a cricket bat on eBay as a 13-year-old. Years of hard graft later and the businessman who built his firm from the ground up is now selling products across the globe.
The 35-year-old was only 22 when he launched Net World Sports from his parents’ family home, with his dad as the only employee helping out with packing and shipping customer orders. Read his inspirational story here.
In 2013, he launched Net World Sport’s range of football goals under his own brand, Forza, which is now the UK’s number 1 football goal and equipment supplier.
Alex has built Net World Sports into an international sports equipment provider, servicing a wide range of clients from professional sports teams’ equipment to equipment for home use. In 2020 Net World saw an annual turnover of £44m, and the current turnover is £70m.
In 2021, Net World Sports committed their future to Wrexham in announcing a £25m investment in building their new headquarters and warehouse. The new facility, which opened in August 2022, offers a significant number of new job opportunities for local people. Net World Sports also strive to support Wrexham through providing local schools with equipment and in their involvement in the Wrexham Civic Leadership Group which strives to accelerate the regeneration of the newly-named city.
For Alex, the MBE is a huge honour, as he prepares to move his businesses into the new headquarters in the next couple of weeks.
“I am not someone who cases accolades, but being given this honour is really exciting,” he said. “I received an email with the news about six weeks ago. At first, I thought it was spam and had to read it a couple of times for it to sink in.
“It arrived about the same time as the news broke that the last survivor of the Dambuster bouncing bomb raids of 1943, George Johnson, had died at the age of 101. He had also received an MBE so to get one myself felt very overwhelming and left me questioning if I was worthy of it.
“But this is not just for me, it is for all the people who have helped build the business. Seventy per cent of people we employ are from Wrexham, and we couldn’t do it without them. So this is not just a person award, it is a celebration if everything that we have all achieved.”
Other recipients from Wales in the 2023 list include Wales captain Sophie Ingle, awarded an OBE for her services to football, and Professor Colin Riordan, President and Vice-Chancellor of Cardiff University who has been honoured with a CBE for services to higher education.
From the world of politics, there are Knighthoods for Rhondda MP Chris Bryant and Swansea-born New Forest East MP Julian Lewis, both for political and public service.
Both proved to be thorns in the side of Boris Johnson. Sir Julian, MP for New Forest East, confounded Mr Johnson’s plans to install former transport secretary Chris Grayling as ISC chairman when he secured the backing of opposition members of the committee to get elected to the post instead.
He was punished for his refusal to toe the party line by having the Conservative whip withdrawn – although it was later restored. While, Sir Chris was chairman of the Standards Committee when it recommended that Tory Owen Paterson should be suspended from the Commons for 30 days for breaking the rules on paid lobbying by MPs.
He was also a fierce critic of the former prime minister over lockdown parties in Downing Street, subsequently recusing himself from the chairmanship of the Privileges Committee after it launched an inquiry into whether Mr Johnson lied to Parliament.
Sir Chris said he was “very shocked” when he learned he was to be knighted, describing it as an honour for the whole committee.
“I was surprised. I have no idea how this comes about,” he told the PA news agency. Everybody told me that that Standards Committee would be a quiet backwater. It hasn’t felt like that. I try, as does the whole committee, to set party allegiance to one side.
“Obviously the Owen Paterson moment threw a massive boulder in the middle of an icy pond, but I hope the new code of conduct we agreed just before Christmas will set Parliament back on the straight and narrow.”
Sir Chris added that he hopes the honour will help highlight work he is doing on acquired brain injury, chairing a national strategy board which is due to report by the summer.
Other people from across Wales have been honoured include Bill Carne from Haverfordwest (BEM for services to sport and charity in Pembrokeshire), June Lovell from Mold (BEM for services to the NHS), Nancy Thomas from Monmouth (BEM for services to the NHS) and Major Derek Monroe from Brecon who receives an MBE for services to the Army Cadets.
The 61-year-old Major, from Powys, has mentored and developed adult volunteers to become youth instructors and in addition to his normal duties, he has raised in excess of £100,000 and maintained support throughout the pandemic.
Musical director Dr Michael Gary Thomas, 63, has been awarded an MBE for services to the Welsh Male Voice Choirs of the Pelenna Valley and the Cynon Valley
He spends five evenings a week at choir practice with 160 choristers across the Pelenna, Cwmdare and Cwmbach choirs, and during the pandemic he arranged ‘virtual’ events.
Dr Thomas has also planned and directed Caradogfest, a local town festival for more than 400 choristers, and raised almost £100,000 for many charities, in particular Epilepsy Research, British Heart Foundation, the NSPCC, the Air Ambulance Service and Rainbows Hospice among many others.
This year’s list, which is the first published since the Queen’s death and the first to be signed off by her son the King, includes a total of 1,107 recipients – 50% of whom are women. The youngest to be honoured is Dara McAnulty, 18, from Annalong, County Down, who receives a BEM for his environmental work and work with people with Autism Spectrum Disorder. And the oldest is 100-year-old Peter Davies, from Bollington, in Cheshire, who is also be awarded a BEM for his work as a reading volunteer at Dean Valley Community Primary School.
Themes reflected in the list of recipients include sustained public service, youth engagement and support for environmental and climate change action.
The list for Wales:
Carmarthenshire
Medallists of the Order of the British Empire (BEM)
Euryl Howells. Senior Chaplain, Hywel Dda University Health Board. For services to the Chaplaincy in NHS Wales. (Carmarthen, Carmarthenshire)
Ceredigion
OBE
James Richard John Furse. Lately Non-Executive Director, National Savings and Investments. For Public Service. (Llechryd, Ceredigion)
MBE
Katharine Margaret Fay Francis. For services to the Welsh Food and Drink Industry. (New Quay, Ceredigion)
Clwyd
MBE
Alexander Christian Per Lovén. Founder, Net World Sports. For services to the Economy and to the community in Wrexham. (Wrexham, Clwyd)
Dewi Owens. For Political and Public Service in North Wales. (St Asaph, Clwyd)
BEM
June Lesley Lovell. Psychiatric Nurse Manager. For services to Mental Health in North Wales. (Mold, Clwyd)
Gwent
OBE
Felicity Catherine Jane Bennee. Deputy Director and Co-Chair, Welsh Technical Advisory Group, Welsh Government. For Public Service. (Abergavenny, Gwent)
Philip Terence Fiander. For voluntary and charitable services in Wales. (Newport, Gwent)
Andrew John Rose. Director, The National Lottery Community Fund Wales. For services to Civil Society. (Caerphilly, Gwent)
Sian Isobel Stockham. Member for Wales, National Executive Council, UNISON. For Political and Public Service. (Abergavenny, Gwent)
MBE
Helen Joanne Humphrey. For services to Women in Sport Leadership. (Cwmbran, Gwent)
BEM
Nancy Thomas. Bank Nurse, Aneurin Bevan University Health Board. For services to the NHS in Wales. (Monmouth, Gwent)
Gwynedd
OBE
Dr Bridget Anne Emmett. Head of Soils and Land Use, UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology. For services to Soil and Ecosystem Science. (Beaumaris, Gwynedd)
MBE
Veronica Snow. National Programme Lead, End of Life Care Wales. For services to Palliative Care in Wales. (Barmouth, Gwynedd)
Mid Glamorgan
KNIGHTHOOD
Christopher John BRYANT MP – Member of Parliament for Rhondda and Chair, Commons Committee on Standards. For Political and Public Service (Porth, Mid Glamorgan)
OBE
Paula Ann Holland. Deputy Director, Work and Health Decision Making, Department for Work and Pensions. For Public Service. (Porth, Mid Glamorgan)
MBE
Aurfron Roberts. Member, Rhondda Cynon Taff County Borough Council. For Political and Public Service. (Porth, Mid Glamorgan)
Dr Michael Gary Thomas. Musical Director. For services to the Welsh Male Voice Choirs of the Pelenna Valley and the Cynon Valley. (Aberdare, Mid Glamorgan)
BEM
Albert John Evans Phillips. For services to Association Football and to Young People in South Wales. (Bridgend, Mid Glamorgan)
Pembrokeshire
BEM
William Edward Carne. For services to Sport and to Charity in Pembrokeshire. (Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire)
Yvonne Clare Evans. Lately Parish Clerk, Marloes and St Brides Community Council. For voluntary services to the community in Pembrokeshire. (Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire)
Powys
OBE
Ian Richard Green. Chief Executive, Terrence Higgins Trust. For services to Charity and to Public Health. (Builth Wells, Powys)
MBE
Major Derek John Munro. Cadet Executive Officer, Gwent and Powys Army Cadet Force. For services to the Army Cadet Forces in South Wales. (Brecon, Powys)
Karen Lesley Williams. Administrative Officer, Welshpool Magistrates’ Court, HM Courts and Tribunals Service. For services to the Administration of Justice and to Charity. (Welshpool, Powys)
BEM
Dr Andrew David Raynsford. General Practitioner, Arwystli Medical Practice, Powys. For services to the NHS in Wales. (Llanidloes, Powys)
South Glamorgan
CBE
Professor Colin Bryan Riordan. President and Vice-Chancellor, Cardiff University. For services to Higher Education. (Cardiff, South Glamorgan)
Professor Keshav Singhal MBE. For services to Medicine and to the community in Wales. (Wenvoe, South Glamorgan)
OBE
Jo-Anne Daniels. Director, Test, Trace and Protect Service, Wales. For services to Public Health and Education in Wales. (Cardiff, South Glamorgan)
Professor Peter Ghazal. Sêr Cymru II Professor of Systems Medicine, Cardiff University. For services to Systems Immunology. (Cardiff, South Glamorgan)
Sophie Louise Ingle. Captain, Wales Women’s National Football Team. For services to Association Football. (Epsom, Surrey)
Andrea Street. Deputy Director, Welsh Government. For services to Health and Social Care in Wales. (Cardiff, South Glamorgan)
MBE
Stephen Michael Barry. Senior Executive Manager, Health Protection, Welsh Government. For services to Public Health in Wales. (Cardiff, South Glamorgan)
Claire Helen Bevan. Chair, Audit Committee, Older People’s Commissioner for Wales. For services to Nursing and Patient Care. (Cardiff, South Glamorgan)
Professor Helen Margaret Sweetland. Clinical Professor, School of Medicine, Cardiff University. For services to Patient Care and Medical Education. (Cardiff, South Glamorgan)
West Glamorgan
CBE
Simon Phillip Tse. Chief Executive, Crown Commercial Service. For services to the Public Sector and to Race Equality. (Swansea, West Glamorgan)
MBE
Dr Mohammed Qasim. Lecturer and Welfare Officer, Gower College, Swansea. For services to Academic Research and to Young People. (Swansea, West Glamorgan)
Read next:
by Staff
Everything we know about man found dead in Crosskeys South Wales Argus
A man was found dead today in Crosskeys, Caerphilly.
According to Gwent Police the 45-year-old’s death is being treated as unexplained.
Gwent Police attended the scene alongside paramedics from the Welsh Ambulance Service.
A spokesperson for Gwent Police said: “We received a call reporting a man had been found unresponsive in the Crosskeys area of Caerphilly at around 3.40pm on Friday 30 December.
“Officers attended, along with paramedics from the Welsh Ambulance Service who confirmed the 45-year-old man was dead.
“The man’s next of kin have been informed and are being supported by officers.
“The death is being treated as unexplained at this time and a report has been submitted to the coroner.”
by Staff
Game of Thrones creator updates fans as future projects are … South Wales Argus
The novelist, 74, gave a disappointing update to followers of the Song of Ice and Fire books and the following hugely successful TV series.
The author informed his fan base earlier this week that planned shows had been ‘shelved’ after HBO’s parent company Warner Media merged with Discover earlier this year.
The news follows the major success of the prequel series House of The Dragon which brought in the highest amount of viewers to HBO since the original Game of Thrones.
How the House of the Dragon came to life.
Watch every episode of The House That Dragons Built on @HBOMax: https://t.co/71vm1v3d6l pic.twitter.com/5XwziLQycE
— House of the Dragon (@HouseofDragon) November 7, 2022
Writing on his blog on December 28 under the entry ‘Stuff and Nonsense’, George R.R.Martin told his readers that he had taken some time off for the holidays.
However, he added: “But now I am back in the salt mine, working… working on so many b***** things, my head may soon explode.
Teasing future projects, Martin confirmed: “Yes, WINDS OF WINTER, yes, yes. And HOUSE OF THE DRAGON, season two. And several of the other successor shows that we’re developing with HBO.”
But it was not all good news for fans as Martin explained that some projects are “moving faster than others, as is always the case with development”.
READ MORE: Netflix ‘secret’ codes that could help you find ‘hidden’ content
READ MORE: Make House of The Dragon star Emma D’Arcy’s TikTok viral Negroni Sbagliato cocktail
The screenwriter and TV producer explained: “None have been greenlit yet, though we are hoping… maybe soon.”
In a devastating blow, he added: “A couple have been shelved, but I would not agree that they are dead. You can take something off the shelf as easily as you can put it on the shelf. All the changes at HBO Max have impacted us, certainly.”
It is unclear which projects exactly have been shelved by HBO or whether they would be picked up again.
There have been reportedly six Game of Thrones spin-offs in the works at HBO.
These include a prequel series titled Tales of Dunk and Egg, 10,000 Ships as well as a project that focuses on Jon Snow and is said to already involve actor Kit Harrington.
The bloodline continues.
Discover more: https://t.co/DhLl006BQr pic.twitter.com/AJ0eWDrY2L
— House of the Dragon (@HouseofDragon) October 10, 2022
Looking into 2023 and awards season, Martin also sent his congratulations to the House of The Dragon stars nominated at the Golden Globes and Critics Choice awards.
The author posted: “Congratulations are due to House of The Dragon and Emma d’Arcy for their Golden Globes nominations, and to Milly Alcock, Matt Smith, and the show for the Critic’s Choice Award nods. Well deserved. Finger and toes crossed for all of them.
He added: “But hey, when the Emmy nominations come out, I will be hoping that Paddy Considine, Steve Toussaint. Olivia Cooke, and Emily Carey get some love as well. They were all extraordinary.”
by Staff
‘Greedy’ young cocaine dealer found supplying wholesale quantities of drugs Wales Online
A young cocaine dealer was supplying “wholesale quantities” of coke to dealers for onward supply to addicts, a court has heard. Cameron Isaac was involved in selling large quantities of the Class A drug over a two-year period until one of his customers was caught following a high-speed police chase, and his number was found on a mobile phone. Sending the 22-year-old Ammanford man to prison, a judge said it was clear he had been in business selling an “insidious” drug which was a blight on communities.
Swansea Crown Court head Isaac was arrested at his partner’s house in the Townhill area of Swansea on December 5 this year by officers who were following information gleaned after the arrest of drug dealers Kerry Hearne and Sophie Webster. Hearne and Webster had been arrested following a high-speed police chase through Swansea on the night of September 16 which resulted in drugs and phones being seized. You can read more about that case here. Dean Pulling, prosecuting, told the court that stored in one of the phones was a person called Cam who had been in contact with the pair in the hours shortly before their arrest. Intelligence identified Cam as the defendant.
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At Isaac’s partner’s house police found weighing scales, cocaine, two kilos of bicarbonate of soda – a substance commonly used for cutting or mixing with cocaine – and almost £1,000 in cash in a washbag. The defendant had another £648 in his wallet. The prosecutor said a subsequent investigation into Isaac’s phone, Facebook, WhatsApp, Instagram, and Telegram communications showed he had been involved in supplying “wholesale quantities” of cocaine over the previous two years, along with dealing in ounce and smaller amounts of the drug. He said it was clear from the messages Isaac was supplying to other dealers as well as to “runners” who were delivering on his behalf. The court heard in one conversation with an as-yet unidentified contact the defendant talked about sourcing kilos of cocaine and ketamine from a new supplier in London, and discussed the logistics of transporting the drugs back to south Wales with the contact telling Isaac he had a “hell of a hiding place” in his vehicle.
In his police interview Isaac answered “no comment” to all questions asked, and refused to reveal the PIN for his phone – police, however, were able to get access to the device. Isaac, of Betws Road, Ammanford, Carmarthenshire, had previously pleaded guilty to being concerned in the supply of cocaine and to possession of criminal property – the money found when he was arrested – when he appeared in the dock for sentencing. He has previous convictions for driving with excess alcohol and for the simple possession of cocaine.
Vince Williams, for Isaac, said after losing his job in 2020 the defendant had turned to drugs, and as his cocaine habit developed he had found himself with considerable debts and then becoming involved in supplying the substance. The barrister said Isaac had a young son, and appeared to be genuinely remorseful for what he had done.
Judge Huw Rees told the defendant his “business” had been the supplying of wholesale quantities of cocaine to dealers, and he said his “greed” had led him to dealing the “insidious” drug of cocaine which was a blight on the community. With a one-third discount for his guilty pleas Isaac was sentenced to seven years and four months in prison. He will serve up to half that period in custody before being released on licence to serve the remainder in the community.
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by Staff
Jeff Banks made director of Vivienne Westwood’s fashion company … South Wales Guardian
Fellow fashion designer Jeff Banks was made a director of Dame Vivienne Westwood’s fashion company two weeks before her death.
The Welsh designer and TV presenter, 79, a close friend, was appointed to the role on December 16, according to filings at Companies House.
Dame Vivienne, known as the Godmother of Punk, died on Thursday “peacefully, and surrounded by her family in Clapham, south London”, her representatives said.
The pre-tax profits of Vivienne Westwood Limited were £3.9 million at the end of 2020, and revenues were £42 million.
Filings also show her husband and creative partner Andreas Kronthaler was made a director and secretary of her property business on December 6.
In a tribute on Friday, Banks said: “It is with great sadness I recognise the passing of my dear friend Vivienne. My heart goes out to her family and husband Andreas.
“This is a moment in history. Someone who forced fashion forward in a crucible of heat combined with an unswerving dedication to fairness, justice and the salvation of our planet.
“A true originator who will forever stand head and shoulders above her contemporaries and take her place forever in the highest echelons of her craft.
“Rest in peace Vivienne. You did us all a great and everlasting service.”
29th December 2022.
Vivienne Westwood died today, peacefully and surrounded by her family, in Clapham, South London.
The world needs people like Vivienne to make a change for the better. pic.twitter.com/YQwVixYUrV
— Vivienne Westwood (@FollowWestwood) December 29, 2022
Tributes also came from Sir Paul McCartney and his fashion designer daughter Stella, both also environmental and animal rights activists.
Former Beatle Sir Paul wrote: “Goodbye Vivienne Westwood. A ballsy lady who rocked the fashion world and stood defiantly for what was right. Love Paul.”
Stella, who founded her own eponymous luxury fashion house in 2001, added: “I cannot believe I am writing this… Today, we lost one of the most rare British icons of fashion ever.
“Vivienne Westwood inspired my career as a designer with bravery and bollocks. She invented punk.”
Supermodels Naomi Campbell and Bella Hadid, who both walked during shows by the late designer, also paid tribute.
Campbell described her as “the Original Queen of Fashion” and a “wife, mother, grandmother and friend”.
She added: “YOUR LEGACY IS JUST BEGINNING, and it will be etched in stone for Forever, as your contribution to our industry is immeasurable.
“They could not make enough awards of what you truly deserved.”
Hadid hailed the designer as the most “epic human being that has walked this earth… my inspiration and idol in all things”.
The Pretenders’ frontwoman Chrissie Hynde, who worked at Westwood and Malcolm McLaren’s boutique in punk’s early days, sent her love to her friend.
“Vivienne is gone and the world is already a less interesting place. Love you Viv,” Hynde tweeted.
In an earlier statement, Dame Vivienne’s husband Kronthaler said: “I will continue with Vivienne in my heart.
“We have been working until the end and she has given me plenty of things to get on with. Thank you darling.”
The statement from her representatives added: “Vivienne continued to do the things she loved, up until the last moment, designing, working on her art, writing her book, and changing the world for the better.
“She led an amazing life.
“Her innovation and impact over the last 60 years has been immense and will continue into the future.”
It also said that The Vivienne Foundation, a not-for-profit company founded by Dame Vivienne, her sons and grand-daughter in late 2022, will launch next year to “honour, protect and continue the legacy of Vivienne’s life, design and activism”.
Dame Vivienne, who was born in Cheshire in 1941, is largely accepted as being responsible for bringing punk and new wave fashion into the mainstream with her eccentric creations.
Her designs were regularly worn by high-profile individuals including Dita Von Teese, who wore a purple Westwood wedding gown to marry Marilyn Manson, and Princess Eugenie, who wore three Westwood designs for various elements of the wedding of the then Prince William and Kate Middleton.
Dame Vivienne was vocal in her support of a number of social and political initiatives, including campaigning for the release of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, who is fighting to avoid being sent to the US to face charges under the Espionage Act.
