Issue 151

Swansea News in Brief: Issue 151

29th January 2007

News in brief from Swansea and the surrounding areas. In this issue: A mysterious light is seen across Wales, a student is killed in a car crash and Harry Potter charity books are stolen.

Mystery light seen

Last Wednesday saw a flashing light "streaking" through the skies across much of South Wales. The light was reported coming from the Lleyn Peninsula, through to Swansea.

The light was first seen at 07:30 GMT, with one eye witness describing it as a "long line, thicker at one end, bluey-green and flashing". Jay Tate, from Spaceguard UK said it was most likely to be a piece of space debris entering the earth's atmosphere. "Without having seen it myself I can't be certain, but from the description it sounds like a fireball, which is a big shooting star". Swansea coastguards logged a call by someone who had seen the light.

Student killed in car crash

A student has been killed in a car crash on the A483 in Swansea. A man three times over the drink drive limit crashed into the teenager's parked car. Domenic Hopkins, a sixth form student from Port Talbot had parked after breaking down. Richard Griffith Davies, 22, denies causing death by driving under the influence of alcohol. James Jenkins the prosecutor of the case has said, "Any sober driver paying attention, whatever traffic was on that road, could not have failed to see the Tigra parked at the side."

Police Official denies rape claim

A senior police official, Gregory Jones, 39, head of personnel at South Wales Police, has told Swansea Crown Court that the sex he had with the alleged victim was "consensual".

Mr Jones of Sketty, Swansea, denies three charges of rape and one assault causing actual bodily harm.

He met the woman at a bar in Swansea in September. Mr Jones and a friend had paired off with the alleged victim and her friend, and took a taxi back to the friend's house. Mr Jones told the court last Wednesday that he and the woman had "consensual" sex three times at the friends' house.

The woman has also denied lying about the alleged rape to explain away her absence to her boyfriend.

Harry Potter charity books stolen

Thousands of Harry Potter books written by JK Rowling for Comic Relief which had been due to be recycled were stolen last Wednesday.

Two Pallets containing 3,000 copies were taken from the recycling company at Port Talbot's docks.

Fantastic Beasts and Quidditch through the Ages were written to raise funds for the BBC Red Nose Day appeal, and had been sold in shops, with the proceeds going to the appeal. Thieves gained access to the premises by forcing the shutters open. Police are appealing for anybody with information to get in touch.

Swansea Police: 01792 456 999, Crimestoppers: 0800 555 111

Delays after train catches fire

Rail services in the Swansea area faced severe delays last Thursday, after the engine of a passenger train caught fire whilst approaching Neath Station .

A passenger alerted fire crews just before 06:30 GMT.

Waterfront Online