Latest news with #SwindonCrownCourt
BBC News
3 days ago
- BBC News
Wiltshire man jailed after stealing £52k from elderly parents
A man who stole almost £52,000 from his elderly parents before bullying them in a bid to get the allegations dropped has been Conway claimed the money he withdrew from his parents' account was for mortgage payments and building work on their home, which he owned, but instead spent it paying off debt and going on father had dementia and his mother became so traumatised she had to go into a care home. Both have since 66, formerly of Bouverie Park in Stanton St Quintin, was jailed for six years and four months at Swindon Crown Court on Wednesday after two trials by jury. The court heard Conway took the money out of his parents' joint bank account between December 2017 and June mother challenged him over the missing money and he accepted it was him, but refused to reimburse his Wiltshire Police investigation found a lot of the money was used for his £75,000 credit card debt as well as a lifestyle that included multiple holidays abroad a year. After his arrest, Conway became obsessive and bullied his parents and ex-partner, who had provided a witness statement, in an attempt to get the case Con Rachael Fairbairn said Conway's "brazen" behaviour made things worse for his victims."In desperation, they even told him he could keep all the money if he simply left them alone. He didn't and they realised a criminal investigation was the only way to stop him."They couldn't quite believe what was happening and it just went on and on, subjecting his elderly and vulnerable family to a seemingly endless campaign of bullying." 'Manipulative' Det Con Fairbairn described Conway as a "manipulative individual", and said: "The financial loss in this case, as with many fraud investigations, came second to the emotional trauma he inflicted."Police said action was under way to recover the money after Conway was found guilty of two counts of theft and one count of perverting the course of justice.
BBC News
17-06-2025
- BBC News
Swindon drug dealer jailed after cuckooing victim
A drug dealer who was caught with Class A drugs worth more than £100,000 has been jailed for four years. Simon Huckvale, 36, of White Castle, Toothill, who was arrested in December at a house in Toothill, West Swindon, was also accused of 'cuckooing' - where the home of a vulnerable person is taken over by a criminal. During the arrest Swindon Crown Court heard he initially tried to run at police officers, before attempting to flee instead. He eventually pleaded guilty with intent to supply crack cocaine, cocaine and cannabis, being concerned in the supply of heroin, and for possessing criminal property. Searches of the property he was arrested at uncovered more than 200g of cocaine, 500g of crack cocaine, nearly 400g of heroin and more than a kilo of cannabis - an amount that could have yielded more than £120,000. Huckvale was jailed for four years at a sentencing hearing at Swindon Crown Court on 9 June. Speaking on behalf of Wiltshire Police PC Thomas confirmed his crimes had involved cuckooing for the purpose of supplying drugs, adding: "This practice often involves the most vulnerable in our society, who are then controlled by the criminal through the use of threats, leaving them feeling trapped in their own homes." "We also know from speaking to members of the public that Huckvale's arrest has had a significant impact on the supply of drugs within the community," he added.
BBC News
06-05-2025
- BBC News
Former Wiltshire Police officer sentenced over indecent images
Former officer sentenced over indecent images The offences included category A images, the most serious abuse material A former police officer has been given a suspended prison sentence after admitting making indecent images of children. Former Wiltshire Police officer Callum Denley, 20, from Malmesbury, appeared at Swindon Crown Court on 2 May. The offences included category A images, the most serious abuse material, police said. Denley, who was suspended as soon as the force became aware of the charges and has since resigned, was also ordered to do 40 days of rehabilitation activities and was put on the sex offenders' register for 10 years.
Wales Online
28-04-2025
- Wales Online
He was driving at 90mph on the M4 during a storm, aquaplaned and killed a mother and daughter
He was driving at 90mph on the M4 during a storm, aquaplaned and killed a mother and daughter The mother and daughter from Caerphilly were stopped on the hard shoulder when Firas Zeineddine lost control of his Tesla and hit an HGV, which then fell on the women's Volkswagen Firas Zeineddine, 46, of Bluebell Drive, Keynsham (Image: Wiltshire Police ) A man who was speeding at 90mph on the M4 during a storm killed a mother and daughter when he aquaplaned across the motorway. The two women from Caerphilly were declared dead at the scene. Firas Zeineddine, 46, pleaded guilty to two counts of death by careless driving after his "reckless" speeding led to his Tesla Model Y colliding with an HGV which fell on top of a Volkswagen containing Cheryl Woods, 61, and Sarha Smith, 40. The incident happened during Storm Babet. Swindon Crown Court heard that on October 23, 2023, at around 9am, the mother and daughter were stopped on the M4 hard shoulder eastbound. They had halted near junction 17, for Chippenham, after a minor collision and were with a National Highways vehicle. On the outside lane, Zeineddine aquaplaned whilst driving at 90mph. He collided with the front offside bumper and steering axel of an HGV in lane 1. The HGV subsequently collided with and fell on Cheryl and Sarha's Volkswagen T-Roc, only narrowly avoiding the Highways officer. The two women were declared dead at the scene. Article continues below Cheryl Woods, 61, and Sarha Smith, 40, were both declared dead at the scene (Image: Wiltshire Police ) Zeineddine, of Bluebell Drive, Keynsham, was sentenced to 12 months in prison and has been disqualified from driving for 18 months. Don't miss a court report by signing up to our crime newsletter here . Investigating officer DC Sean Williams, from the Serious Collision Investigation Team, said: "This is an utterly tragic and needless incident which has seen two women lose their lives. "Zeineddine's speeding in the conditions was completely reckless and he admitted having impaired vision due to the amount of mist and spray that was coming off the road. "Despite this, data from his Tesla showed his speed was in excess of 90mph. Once his vehicle started to aquaplane in the standing water, due to the speed he was driving, he lost complete control. "I'm pleased he has pleaded guilty which has prevented the victims' family from having to relive the details through a trial. Article continues below "Cheryl and Sarha's deaths sadly provide a clear illustration of why it is vital to drive to the conditions, no matter where you are. "Any mistake or unforeseen incident, particularly at the speeds Zeineddine was driving, can have fatal consequences."
