Latest news with #Weale
Powys County Times
8 hours ago
- Powys County Times
Llandrindod Wells dad stabbed after drug deal went wrong
A Powys dad is lucky to still be alive after being stabbed multiple times after a drug deal went wrong, police say. Scott Weale suffered four stab wounds to the chest and lower back near his family home during the lead-up to Christmas. Ricco Douglas, 25, was jailed for more than five years after pleading guilty to wounding with intent to do grievous bodily harm using Weale's own knife which he grabbed during a scuffle. The horrifying attack unfolded in a residential street in Llethyr Bryn, Llandrindod Wells on December 14 which led to armed police attending, and the area cordoned off by crime scene investigators who were treating the incident as an attempted murder. Dyfed-Powys Police said it would "always" respond to community concerns in Llandrindod Wells, adding that Douglas' sentencing proves that their officers "will not tolerate violent on our streets". Newport Crown Court was told that Ricco Douglas travelled from his home in Birmingham on the day of the stabbing to meet with Mr Weale in order to obtain or exchange cocaine. Within 14 mins of being in Llandrindod Wells, Douglas had stabbed his victim. It was believed the attacked took place after as a result of the drug deal going wrong. Douglas was arrested three days later after police used a stinger to stop his car in the Birmingham area. An abandoned vehicle, belonging to Douglas' stepmother, was found on the night of the stabbing with traces of the victim's and the defendant's blood inside. Dyfed-Powys Police Detective Chief Superintendent Ross Evans said: 'This was a violent incident which occurred on a residential street, just before Christmas last year. "It was highly fortunate that there was no loss of life which would have deprived a family of a loved one. 'We know this incident has been a shock for the local community, in particular for those most affected. 'We welcome the sentencing of Ricco Douglas and hope it provides clear reassurance to everyone that we will not tolerate violence on our streets." DCS Evans added: "I would like to thank all the first responders and the staff at the University Hospital of Wales, Cardiff, on the night for the level of care and treatment provided to the victim, which may well have saved his life. "I would also like to thank our police officers and staff, who demonstrated great determination to bring the offender to justice on behalf of the victim and his family and the wider community.' DCS Evans appealed to the public to report any suspicious activity and crimes which can help officers gain vital intelligence, which ensures perpetrators of crime are caught and brought to justice. He added: 'To help us prevent such incidents, I am appealing to anyone with information about any type of serious crime to let us know. "You can speak to local officers, report online or do so completely anonymously via Crimestoppers. 'We will always respond to community concerns, and it is important to remember that we rely on the support of the public of Llandrindod Wells and Powys to keep our local area safe'.
South Wales Argus
10 hours ago
- South Wales Argus
Birmingham man jailed for stabbing Powys man four times
Ricco Douglas, 25, took a knife being held by Scott Weale and stabbed him twice in the front and twice in the back after an argument in a car in Llethyr Bryn in Llandrindod Wells last year, a court heard on Monday (June 9). Mr Weale managed to stagger home before collapsing and being rushed to hospital in Cardiff with "life-threatening" stab wounds, including a collapsed lung. Douglas, of Edgbaston, Birmingham, was jailed for five years and three months by a judge at Newport Crown Court on Monday (June 9) after admitting wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm. He had initially been charged with attempted murder and conspiracy to commit murder, but no evidence was offered on those charges. The court was told that at around 8pm on December 14, Douglas and Mr Weale had been in a car arguing over a drug deal. The pair were not known associates but knew Brecon drug dealer Callum Samuel, who served prison time with Douglas, and was in contact with the 25-year-old before and after the stabbing, the court was told. The argument continued outside the vehicle which led to Mr Weale chasing Douglas with a knife before the pair grappled and Douglas disarmed the other man. READ MORE: Police make arrest in Llandrindod attempted murder case He then stabbed him four times with his own knife. Mr Weale managed to run home where his friend Liam Langley had been waiting to collect his wages, and threw his keys to him and "in a panicked and shaken voice" told him to lock the door, prosecuting barrister Mr Jones told the court. Mr Langley saw his friend's shirt was soaking with blood, and was told 'I don't feel good. I think I've been hit" before passing out in the kitchen. Mr Langley called 999 and Mr Weale's family while applying pressure to his wounds fearing that he was watching his friend bleeding out and struggling to breathe. Emergency services received a 'red call' and rushed Mr Weale to Cardiff in a land ambulance on blue lights, arriving an hour-and-a-half later. Surgeons removed a one-litre blood clot from his chest, fixed a collapsed left lung and closed his stab wounds, which measured from two to five centimetres in length. Mr Weale spent eight days in hospital before going home in time for Christmas. He did not engage with the court proceedings, the judge was told. Dyfed-Powys Police officers who secured the scene found blood in the street, bank notes and traces of cocaine. Newport Crown Court (Image: Archive) Douglas fled immediately after the stabbing in a black Ford Kuga, which was seen by police in Worcestershire at 9.50pm before driving off at speed. The car, Douglas' stepmother's, was later found abandoned in Birmingham with the keys still inside. Red staining on a handle was found to be the victim's blood, and Douglas' fingerprints and blood were also found. Three days after the stabbing, on December 17, police stung Douglas' Audi A3 along Coventry Road in Birmingham before handcuffing and arresting him on suspicion of attempted murder. On his fifth and final interview at Newtown Police Station, Douglas provided a prepared statement claiming the stabbing was in self-defence. Newport Crown Court was told that Douglas had convictions for robberies during a ten-year period which started when he was 15 years old. The stabbing in Llandrindod Wells happened months after he was released from prison on licence for robbery at knifepoint. Defence barrister Michael Mather-Lees told the judge that the "intelligent lad" was initially unarmed when Mr Weale chased him in the street. "He disarms Mr Weale amid a violent struggle. He was defending himself, but he went over the top," the barrister said. "They were plainly excessive actions, and he accepts that. He added: "You have got a victim who has a dubious background and substantially armed. There is credence for [Douglas'] version of events. It doesn't excuse it, and we know why they were there. "He accepts that he has behaved excessively and is looking at a substantial sentence. "He says in a very intelligent letter that he accepts his immaturity and has made very substantial mistakes behaving badly in the past." Judge Daniel Williams told Douglas that that the prosecution didn't challenge his version of events. "Scott Weale was found bleeding and with a collapsed lung; wounds which could be life threatening and required immediate treatment," he said. "The harm caused to Mr Weale was particularly grave or life-threatening with severe stab wounds to the chest." After reflecting Douglas' age and positive references, the judge sentenced him to five years and three months in custody, which half will be spent behind bars.
Powys County Times
18 hours ago
- Powys County Times
Birmingham man jailed for stabbing Powys man four times
A drug dealer stabbed a Powys man four times near his home days before Christmas, leaving him with life-threatening injuries. Ricco Douglas, 25, travelled from his home in Birmingham to Llandrindod Wells on December 14 last year. But an argument over a drug deal with Scott Weale led to a scuffle and unarmed Douglas managed to disarm Mr Weale who had a knife. Douglas then stabbed Mr Weale twice in the chest and twice in the back before fleeing home to the West Midlands where he was caught by police days later. Mr Weale was rushed to hospital in Cardiff with 'life-threatening' stab wounds and needed four hours of surgery. Douglas, of Edgbaston, Birmingham, was jailed for five years and three months by a judge at Newport Crown Court on Monday (June 9) for wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm. He had initially been charged with attempted murder and conspiracy to commit murder, but those charges were dropped and he pleaded guilty to the wounding with intent offence.
Voice of America
16-02-2025
- General
- Voice of America
With metal detectors, treasure hunters unearth pieces of British history
When Malcolm Weale saw the tiny, dirt-covered object he'd unearthed in an English field, he knew it was something special. In his hand was a silver penny minted during the reign of Guthrum, a Viking commander who converted to Christianity and ruled eastern England in the ninth century as Athelstan II. For Weale, finding the first silver coin minted by a Viking ruler in Britain was the pinnacle of decades of hunting with his metal detector in the fields and forests near his home in eastern England. "I was shaking," Weale said at the British Museum, where the coin was displayed Tuesday alongside other items unearthed by amateur history hunters in 2023 and 2024. "I knew that it was a life-changing, incredible, historical find. "I'd watched the series 'Vikings' on Netflix, and about a week later I've got the Guthrum penny in my hand," he said. The thrill of finding fragments of history beneath our feet drives detectorists like 54-year-old Weale, who was introduced to the pastime at the age of 7 and "was hooked." His find was on show as the museum released its annual report on the Portable Antiquities Scheme, a government-funded project that records thousands of archaeological discoveries made by the public each year. The coin sat alongside a set of 3,000-year-old bronze metalworkers' tools, a seventh-century gold and garnet necklace, and a gold signet ring with an intriguing link to Queen Elizabeth I. They have been officially classed as "treasure" by a coroner, meaning they will be independently valued and offered to local museums. Discoveries by detectorists, as well as beachcombers and mudlarkers — who search for items on riverbanks — shine new light into corners of British history. The necklace of glittering gold and garnet pendants found in Lincolnshire, central England, reveals the sophistication of Anglo-Saxon craftsmanship, and is surprisingly global. Archaeologist Helen Geake, who serves as a "finds liaison officer" for the antiquities program, said that it was likely made in England — "English craftsmen were by far the best in Europe" — with garnets from Sri Lanka. Andy Akroyd, 49, also struck gold when he was out metal detecting near his home in Bedfordshire, central England. "When I first saw it, I thought 'Oh it's a coin.' Then I saw it's a ring, I was thinking 1980s, cheap sovereign ring," Akroyd said. It turned out to be a 16th-century signet ring engraved with a phoenix, a mythical bird symbolizing rebirth that was associated with Elizabeth I. Found in an area used as a royal hunting ground in Elizabethan times, it was likely worn, and lost, by one of the queen's supporters. "When you find it, your journey is just beginning," Akroyd said. Then come the questions: "What is this, how is it here?" When items are declared treasure, their value is split between the finder and the owner of the land where it was found. Detectorists occasionally strike it rich — last year, a hoard of 1,000-year-old coins found in southwest England sold for 4.3 million pounds ($5.3 million). But the vast majority are in it for the thrill of discovery, not the money, Weale said. "You could be a multi-multi-millionaire, but you could never buy that feeling that you feel when you find something," he said. Both he and Akroyd say that they will soon be back out tramping the fields, in the mud and — this is England, after all — the rain. "You always find the best stuff when the weather's terrible," Weale said. Both men extol the mental health benefits of the methodical, slow-paced hobby, popularized to a wider audience by the gentle BBC sitcom "Detectorists." "All I'm thinking about when I'm out metal detectoring is history," Weale said. "Kings, queens — I'm totally in the zone. I'm not worried about bills, or even keeping warm. Sometimes I forget to eat." Akroyd said that some days he just sits, watching hares leap and birds of prey soar in the sky. "I lost my dad last year. I'll have a chat to my dad when I'm out in the field. 'Come on, Dad — what way now?'" Akroyd said. "He never finds me anything."
Yahoo
11-02-2025
- General
- Yahoo
With metal detectors and patience, amateur treasure hunters unearth pieces of British history
LONDON (AP) — When Malcolm Weale saw the tiny, dirt-covered object he'd unearthed in an English field, he knew it was something special. In his hand was a silver penny minted during the reign of Guthrum, a Viking commander who converted to Christianity and ruled eastern England in the ninth century as Athelstan II. For Weale, finding the first silver coin minted by a Viking ruler in Britain was the pinnacle of decades of hunting with his metal detector in the fields and forests near his home in eastern England. See for yourself — The Yodel is the go-to source for daily news, entertainment and feel-good stories. By signing up, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy. 'I was shaking,' Weale said at the British Museum, where the coin was displayed Tuesday alongside other items unearthed by amateur history hunters in 2023 and 2024. 'I knew that it was a life-changing, incredible, historical find. 'I'd watched the series 'Vikings' on Netflix, and about a week later I've got the Guthrum penny in my hand," he said. The thrill of finding fragments of history beneath our feet drives detectorists like 54-year-old Weale, who was introduced to the pastime at the age of 7 and 'was hooked.' His find was on show as the museum released its annual report on the Portable Antiquities Scheme, a government-funded project that records thousands of archaeological discoveries made by the public each year. The coin sat alongside a set of 3,000-year-old bronze metalworkers' tools, a seventh-century gold and garnet necklace, and a gold signet ring with an intriguing link to Queen Elizabeth I. They have been officially classed as 'treasure' by a coroner, meaning they will be independently valued and offered to local museums. Discoveries by detectorists, as well as beachcombers and mudlarkers — who search for items on riverbanks — shine new light into corners of British history. The necklace of glittering gold and garnet pendants found in Lincolnshire, central England, reveals the sophistication of Anglo-Saxon craftsmanship, and is surprisingly global. Archaeologist Helen Geake, who serves as a 'finds liaison officer' for the antiquities program, said that it was likely made in England – 'English craftsmen were by far the best in Europe' – with garnets from Sri Lanka. Andy Akroyd, 49, also struck gold when he was out metal detecting near his home in Bedfordshire, central England. 'When I first saw it, I thought 'Oh it's a coin.' Then I saw it's a ring, I was thinking 1980s, cheap sovereign ring,' Akroyd said. It turned out to be a 16th-century signet ring engraved with a phoenix, a mythical bird symbolizing rebirth that was associated with Elizabeth I. Found in an area used as a royal hunting ground in Elizabethan times, it was likely worn, and lost, by one of the queen's supporters. 'When you find it, your journey is just beginning,' Akroyd said. Then come the questions: 'What is this, how is it here?' When items are declared treasure, their value is split between the finder and the owner of the land where it was found. Detectorists occasionally strike it rich – last year, a hoard of 1,000-year-old coins found in southwest England sold for 4.3 million pounds ($5.3 million). But the vast majority are in it for the thrill of discovery, not the money, Weale said. 'You could be a multi-multi-millionaire, but you could never buy that feeling that you feel when you find something,' he said. Both he and Akroyd say that they will soon be back out tramping the fields, in the mud and — this is England, after all — the rain. 'You always find the best stuff when the weather's terrible,' Weale said. Both men extol the mental health benefits of the methodical, slow-paced hobby, popularized to a wider audience by the gentle BBC sitcom ' Detectorists.' 'All I'm thinking about when I'm out metal detectoring is history,' Weale said. 'Kings, queens — I'm totally in the zone. I'm not worried about bills, or even keeping warm. Sometimes I forget to eat.' Akroyd said that some days he just sits, watching hares leap and birds of prey soar in the sky. 'I lost my dad last year. I'll have a chat to my dad when I'm out in the field. 'Come on, Dad — what way now?'' Akroyd said. 'He never finds me anything.'
