Newport woman traumatised after being injured by car thief
On returning to her parked car, she was ambushed by a car thief who jumped into the driver side and drove off while her arm was still trapped in the car door.
Speaking about the frightening experience Angie told the Argus: 'A guy came from behind me pushed me into my door grabbed my door handle jumped into my car and drove off when I was hanging off my door.'
Angie Johnson with husband Kelvin (Angie was the victim of a terrible car theft) (Image: Kelvin Johnson) Angie's personal belongings were inside the vehicle, including her phone and purse containing all her bank cards.
She says has been shaken up by the experience and has been left with mental and physical trauma.
She said: 'I've done nothing but dream about this and it's torturing my head I'm annoyed at the fact my cars been taken and I've got to pay for the locks to be changed it's going to cost me £600 and I'm not in the best place right now.'
Infuriated by the experience Kelvin ,Angie's husband, sought help from the local community.
He posted online: 'Absolutely fuming someone stole my wife's car tonight bruised her arm and dragged her down the road took her bag purse phone money found the car in Crosskeys at the bottom of Tredegar Terrace.
'Angie is ok but I'm reaching out.'
Islwyn Road Wattsville where Angie was the victim of a terrible car theft (Image: NQ) The car was later found in the Crosskeys area where the thief had fled the scene.
Police are still searching for the thief, and no arrests have been made yet.
A spokesperson for Gwent Police said: 'We received a report of the theft of a car in Islwyn Road, Wattsville, Caerphilly borough, at around 9.30pm on Sunday 10 August.
'An unknown man is alleged to have entered the unlocked blue Audi A1 and driven away.
'Officers attended and located the car in St John's Terrace, Crosskeys, at around 10.50pm.
'A handbag, containing a quantity of cash; a hoover, cleaning equipment and a mobile phone are believed to have been stolen from inside the car.
'Enquiries are ongoing to establish the full circumstances.'
Anyone who saw the theft or has relevant CCTV or dashcam footage that could help police is asked to contact them via the Gwent Police website or call 101 quoting log reference 2500256088.
Alternatively, the Crimestoppers, can be contacted anonymously, on 0800 555 111 with information or online.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Wales Online
3 hours ago
- Wales Online
Gang member who made £1.8m from crime to pay back just £10
Gang member who made £1.8m from crime to pay back just £10 Jade Strutt, 36, was involved in the enterprise by directing drug couriers and storing cash. Jade Strutt, 36, was jailed for nine years for her part in an organised crime gang based at a Newport hotel (Image: Gwent Police) A member of an organised crime gang (OCG) which stored £135,000 worth of Class A drugs at a hotel has been ordered to pay back just £10 despite benefiting by almost £2m. Drugs including heroin, cocaine, and MDMA were stored at two hotels. Ihtesham Ali Hassan, the manager of the Box Hotel in Newport, became involved in a drugs conspiracy headed by Nicholas Yhnell, 38. The OCG was involved in the supply of heroin, cocaine, and MDMA which was stored at the Box Hotel and its sister hotel the Box Guest House. Jade Strutt, 36, was also involved in the enterprise by directing drug couriers and storing cash. For the latest court reports sign up to our crime newsletter. The couriers based at the hotel would travel throughout the UK, delivering and collecting huge quantities of drugs and cash. An operation was launched by Gwent Police which saw five warrants executed in September last year at buildings in Newport and Cardiff involving 80 firearms officers and 100 supporting officers and staff. Among the items seized were five cars including a Range Rover and multiple phones. Article continues below Also seized was heroin with a street value of up to £9,000, cocaine with a street value of up to £74,000, MDMA powder with a street value up to £49,000, and MDMA tablets with a street value up to £6,000. More than 1.1m lignocaine tablets and paracetamol tablets were also seized. Further members of the OCG were arrested including Yhnell's wife Kelly Balchin, 39, David Watkins, 38, Richard Connors, 40, and Kayla Grubb, 32. The latter three were employed as "professional" couriers. Connors, partner of Strutt, was arrested in May last year in his car and was found in possession of 965,000 paracetamol tablets to be used as an agent to make heroin. Yhnell, of Newport was sentenced to 15 years and nine months imprisonment. Watkins, of Newport, was sentenced to six years imprisonment. Strutt, of Newport, was sentenced to nine years imprisonment. Connors, of Newport, was sentenced to six years imprisonment. Grubb, of Newport, was sentenced to six years imprisonment. Balchin, of Newport, was sentenced to 10 years imprisonment. Article continues below At a Proceeds of Crime (POCA) hearing at Cardiff Crown Court on Thursday Strutt was said to have benefited to the tune of £1,891,409 for her part in the enterprise but it was heard she has no available assets. Judge Simon Mills ordered the defendant to pay a nominal sum of £10.
South Wales Argus
5 hours ago
- South Wales Argus
XL Bully ban failing says RSPCA after Gwent dog attacks
The charity argues that the ban, introduced in 2023, under the Dangerous Dogs Act, has not reduced attacks or fatalities, and is instead leading to the unnecessary euthanasia of many dogs. The call for reform comes nearly four years after the death of 10-year-old Jack Lis from Caerphilly, who was killed by an XL Bully named Beast in November 2021. The dog's owner was later jailed, but the RSPCA says breed-specific legislation is not protecting the public and is urging the UK Government to review its approach. Jack Lis was killed by an XL Bully named Beast in 2021 (Image: NQ) Dr Samantha Gaines, head of companion animals at the RSPCA, said: "This data paints a predictable and depressing picture – with the change in legislation meaning high numbers of XL Bully dogs are being seized and put to sleep. "Many of these dogs will have been much-loved family pets; their existence made illegal by a change of legislation focussed purely on how a dog looks rather than their behaviour." The charity says the current law, which focuses on the appearance of a dog rather than its temperament or actions, is ineffective. In September 2023, the UK Government announced its intention to ban the XL Bully breed. By December 2023, it became illegal to breed, sell, advertise, or give away an XL Bully, and as of February 1, 2024, ownership without an exemption certificate became a criminal offence. Since the ban, police forces across England and Wales have seized large numbers of suspected banned dogs. Of the 1,035 dogs seized in 2024 by 19 police forces, 674 (more than 65 per cent) were identified as XL Bullies. XL Bullies have been banned in the UK since late 2023 (Image: PA)The charity says this figure is likely much higher across all 43 police forces. The impact on the animal welfare sector has also been severe. Figures from the Association of Dogs and Cats Homes show that 693 dogs were euthanised in 2024 because of the legislation—more than three times the 201 in 2023, and more than eight times the 80 in 2022. Despite the ban, dog-related fatalities have not decreased. There were ten reported deaths in 2024, higher than in any full year before the ban was first announced. Dr Gaines said: "It is absolutely heart breaking that dog fatalities and serious bite incidents are continuing and in very concerning numbers – which underlines that the Dangerous Dog Act simply isn't working, and hasn't been for 34 years. "The UK Government urgently needs to adopt a different approach; focussed instead on preventing dangerous behaviours rather than focussing on the dog's individual breed. "The law has been failing dogs and, crucially, public safety too for long. "It's time for decision makers to review the current dog control situation and commit to measures which effectively protect public safety and safeguard dog welfare." The RSPCA is calling for a full review of the Dangerous Dogs Act and the introduction of measures that prioritise responsible ownership and behaviour-based controls. The charity says the current "patchwork" of data highlights the need for more consistent and complete information to inform public safety and animal welfare strategies. Dr Gaines said: "The patchwork of data provided by police forces shows an increase in the numbers of dogs being seized, and put to sleep – but this is not the only area where data is lacking. "We clearly need far more consistent, detailed recording about dog bites, and monitoring of dangerous dog incidents. "In the absence of this information we are unable to fully understand the scale of dog bites and their causal factors, nor to inform effective public health and safety strategies. "Given the importance of this issue, we urgently need a more complete picture." In Gwent, where 10-year-old Jack Lis was killed, police have only been able to provide dog control figures dating back to 2018. Ruth Jones has said dangerous dog data in Gwent is incomplete (Image: NQ) There have also been concerns raised by Newport West and Islwyn MP Ruth Jones about the lack of consistent and accessible data. The MP argued that the data "is inconsistent and incomplete". Other incidents in Gwent have also raised concerns about dangerous dogs. Yuki was left with injuries that required nearly £20k of treatment after an attack by an XL Bully (Image: NQ) A Pomeranian Japanese Spitz named Yuki was attacked by an XL Bully, leaving her with injuries that required £20,000 in veterinary treatment. The RSPCA and other members of the Dog Control Coalition are calling for laws that focus on dog behaviour and responsible ownership, rather than breed. XL Bullies can only be legally kept if owners obtained an exemption certificate by the end of January 2024, and if the dog is muzzled in all public places. For more information on the RSPCA's campaign against breed-specific legislation, visit the RSPCA website.
South Wales Argus
12 hours ago
- South Wales Argus
Severn Bridge weight limit is being enforced say officials
The body responsible for the suspension bridge that connects Wales and England, via the M48 from Chepstow to Aust, was responding to the latest photograph of a lorry that appears to be over the 7.5 tonne limit crossing it emerged. National Highways has said it working with police and other bodies to uphold the ban introduced at the end of May and says it has installed automatic number plate recognition, ANPR, cameras and held a recent enforcement day on the crossing. Chris Pope, of National Highways, said: 'The numbers of vehicles breaching the ban is a small percentage and we are working with local police, through Operation Wolverine, as well as the DVSA and The Traffic Commissioner to prevent infringements and ensure that HGV drivers flouting the ban are dealt with.' He was responding after a photograph of a building supplies tanker crossing the bridge, from Chepstow, was taken on Monday, August 4. Before the temporary weight limit was put in place it was estimated around 10 per cent, or just over 3,200, of the 32,000 vehicle that cross it every day were HGVs over 7.5 tonnes. An enforcement day to support the implementation of the 7.5 tonne weight limit on the M48 Severn Bridge. Picture: National Highways. Drivers failing to abide by the restriction face a potential three penalty points and a £100 fine. Chepstow Bulwark and Thornwell councillor Armand Watts, who has constantly raised concerns over the impact of the weight restriction and how it is being managed, said the photograph raises doubts over its enforcement. He has been seeking information on the use of the ANPR cameras, while in July Monmouthshire councillors were told the cameras are in use but 'success' would depend on the back office capacity of Avon and Somerset Police which has responsibility for the Severn Bridge and the second Severn Crossing Prince of Wales Bridge. Labour's councillor Watts, who also raised his concern policing the restriction could be an additional burden on police, said: 'I've not seen any police at the bridge the last couple of weeks but they've probably got crimes to solve.' Officers from Gwent Police and vehicle licensing agencies were part of the enforcement day. Mr Pope, of the UK Government agency National Highways, said it has installed ANPR cameras, with enforcement supported by Avon and Somerset, while Gwent Police is conducting patrols to catch drivers who ignore the weight restriction. 'Operation Wolverine with Gwent Police is running for three months, and ANPR cameras have also now been installed at either end of the structure. We continue to work at pace with Avon and Somerset Police as we transition from physical enforcement to predominately digital via ANPR cameras,' said Mr Pope. 'There is extensive signage on the approach to the bridge and we have worked hard to raise awareness of the need for the ban including briefing hauliers, Logistics UK and the Road Haulage Association. The weight restrictions are essential to future-proof the bridge and hauliers must observe the signs and take an alternative route if their HGV is over 7.5 tonnes.'
