Wales breaking news plus weather and traffic updates (Saturday, December 27)

Burglar caught looking through children's Christmas presents

An intruder was caught rifling through a family's Christmas presents.

North Wales Police said it received a report of a burglary in the early hours of today.

A male had broken into a home and was "rooting through children's Christmas presents" when he was confronted by the homeowner, said the force.

Full story here.

Man who broke girlfriend's eye socket gets out of jail and attacks her again

A man was jailed for wounding his girlfriend then came out of prison and assaulted her again. Carl Thomas was initially imprisoned in February last year after drunkenly knocking his partner out with a punch that broke her eye socket.

Caernarfon crown court heard the victim was left with a visible dent to her left cheek. A bone in her eye socket had to be popped back into place. Thomas, 44, admitted wounding and was jailed for 14 months plus one month activated from an earlier suspended sentence.

The assault led to the end of the relationship, but when Thomas came out of prison he continued to terrorise his ex.

Full story here.

The shoplifters spending Christmas behind bars after police 'crackdown'

Three serial shoplifters have been jailed after a "crackdown" from neighbourhood police.

Matthew Moore, Matthew Hatherill and Jamie Colburn are spending Christmas behind bars after targeting shops in Barry and Talbot Green.

Full story here.

Man disappeared on Boxing Day.

Police are appealing for urgent help to find a 35-year-old man from Pontypool. Gareth Llewellyn-Lloyd was last seen at around 11am on Boxing Day in Griffithstown.

Full appeal here.

'Gap years' in the military

In an attempt to address long-term recruitment and retention issues in the military, the UK Government has unveiled a “gap year” scheme offering young people short-term paid placements in the Army, Royal Navy and RAF.

The initiative is designed to give school and college leavers the opportunity to experience life in the military without requiring a long-term commitment to the armed forces. Applications for the first intake of 150 recruits will open in the spring, with plans for the scheme to expand to 1,000 participants per year in the future.

Read more here.

The latest tax dodgers caught in Wales

The latest tax evasion list names and shames a range of deliberate defaulters from Wales. A person or business appears on the list if they have intentionally defaulted on more than £25,000 in tax.

HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) updates its list roughly every three months. It says the purpose is "influencing behaviour by encouraging defaulters to engage with HMRC". Before updating its list the authority gives each defaulter an opportunity to argue why their details should not be published.

Read the full list here.

A55 partially shut after crash

An accident has led to traffic a closure on the A55, eastbound at J32 near Holywell. There is queueing traffic and one lane closed due to recovery work on A55 Eastbound from J32 A5026 (Holywell) to J32A A5026 (Pentre Halkyn).

Horrific stories emerge from mental health unit

Just before he was voluntarily admitted to the Hafan y Coed mental health unit, Dean Upson got some ominous advice. "Keep a diary of everything that happens to you in there," said the police officer who dropped him off.

"That doesn't bode well," Dean remembers thinking. Hours earlier the former soldier had been close to taking his own life. He desperately needed help for the post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) that had plagued him since his service in Afghanistan and Iraq.

The 45-year-old says Hafan y Coed not only failed to give him that help but placed him in a damp room strewn with chunks of plaster, and left him in vomit-covered clothes for three days while a wound became infected. By the time he left, he felt his dignity had been stripped away.

Read the full story here

All traffic held on A55

All traffic is being temporarily held on the A55 in Flintshire, leading to long traffic delays due to broken down vehicle and crash on A55 Eastbound at J32 A5026 (Holywell).

Man hospitalised after crash

A man has been hospitalised after a crash between a car and wall on Boxing Day.

Police shut the A4059 in both directions between Junction of Church Road, and junction of Ty Newydd Hotel at around 10.30pm on December 26.

A South Wales Police spokesperson said: "A car collided into a wall at Trebanog Terrace at around 10.30pm last night.

"The driver of the vehicle, a 41-year-old local man, is in hospital."

'Heavier than normal' traffic on M4

Traffic monitoring systems show there is heavy traffic on the M4 around Newport. The latest update from Inrix said: "Traffic heavier than normal on M4 Eastbound at J27 B4591 Glasllwch Crescent (Highcross)."

Update on Cardiff police incident

A man has been charged with a series of offences following an incident on Bute Street yesterday.

A spokesperson for South Wales Police said: "Following an incident in Bute Street yesterday, one man has been charged with assault, criminal damage and using threatening words or behaviour.

"David William Fisher, 44, from Butetown, is due to appear at Cardiff Magistrates’ Court today."

Police remain at scene of Cardiff incident

South Wales Police remain at the scene of an incident on Bute street, Cardiff. The road is currently closed in both directions between Callaghan Square and Maria Street.

It is expected to remain closed for some time. Members of the public are asked to avoid the area and use alternative routes where possible.

UK news: Three people missing after Boxing Day house fire

Emergency services are investigating a serious Boxing Day house fire in the Cotswolds, where three individuals remain missing and one person is being treated in hospital following the early-morning incident. Here's everything you need to know.

Road reopens after serious crash

Police have reopened the A4059 after a serious crash. Officers closed the road in both directions between Junction of Church Road, and junction of Ty Newydd Hotel on A4059 at around 11pm on December 26.

It remained closed until around 7am on December 27.

Third man arrested after assault in Cardiff

A third man has been arrested in connection with an assault in Cardiff. Police were called to a report of an assault in Pentyrch Street, Cathays, at around 6.15pm on Monday, December 22.

The victim, a 37-year-old man from Heath, remains in a critical condition at the University Hospital of Wales, police said tonight (Dec 26).

Three men have now been arrested as part of the investigation: A 51-year-old man from Mychandy was arrested today, December 26, and remains in custody along with a 47-year-old man from Adamsdown. A 60-year-old man from Cathays has been released on bail pending further enquiries.

Read more

Family lose everything in fire

A family had to flee their home after fire ripped through it on Christmas Day. Sherieanne Wood said she and her two sons Evan, 13, and Blake, six, had just settled down after a "perfect Christmas Day" when disaster struck.

Sherianne, 41, said they were lucky to get out alive when their flat in Caerwent, Monmouthshire was engulfed by flames on December 25.

Read the full story here

Weather forecast for Wales

A sunny start but turn ing cloudy across Wales today.

A Met Office spokesperson said: "Sunny spells to start today but skies will turn increasingly cloudy from the east later. A few spots of drizzle, mainly over higher ground. Brisk easterly winds continue to make it feel cold. Maximum temperature 7 °C."

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