Patrick Joyce, a father-of-four who was subject to a serious crime prevention order for his role in one of Wales's most notorious burglary gangs, has been jailed for 24 months after carrying out a brazen daylight burglary while on the run. The 28-year-old removed his electronic monitoring tag and moved to an undisclosed address before stealing £3,000 worth of power tools from a landscaping depot in Port Talbot on December 11, 2025, because he was 'desperate' for money for his children's Christmas presents.
Background of the Offender
Joyce, of Millstream Way travellers site, Swansea Vale, Swansea, has five previous convictions for 12 offences, including burglaries, theft, handling stolen goods, and fraud. In December 2019, he was sentenced to eight years in prison for conspiracy to commit burglary as part of a family-based organised crime group. The group carried out scores of burglaries across South Wales, using the cover of scrap metal dealers to conduct surveillance and identify targets. The four-year serious crime prevention order, designed to allow police to monitor his behaviour, came into effect upon his release in July 2024.
Breach of the Order and Burglary
Prosecutor Regan Walters told Swansea Crown Court that within weeks of his release, Joyce removed his electronic tag and moved to a new address without notifying police. On December 11, 2025, he and an unidentified accomplice drove a white Ford Transit van into the yard of Principality Landscaping in Port Talbot. They backed up to the warehouse doors, entered, and stole six chainsaws and other equipment worth approximately £3,000. Joyce acted as a lookout while his accomplice loaded the items.
The theft was discovered later that day, and police identified Joyce from CCTV footage. He was located and arrested on January 8, 2026. In his police interview, Joyce admitted breaching the order, stating he knew he would fail an upcoming drugs test and removed his tag to see his children. He also admitted the burglary, citing desperation as a father-of-four with no money.
Previous Criminal History
Joyce's criminal history includes a 2017 suspended sentence for fraud, where he used counterfeit £20 notes to buy small items at dozens of shops and businesses across South Wales, becoming aggressive when challenged. In 2019, he was part of a family-based gang that carried out over 70 'professionally planned and organised' burglaries across Llanelli, Swansea, the Swansea Valley, Neath, the Afan Valley, Port Talbot, Porthcawl, and Maesteg. The gang used stolen cars with cloned plates, weapons to intimidate witnesses, and bleach to destroy forensic evidence. Their primary target was jewellery; in one burglary in Skewen, they stole gold items worth £70,000. Much of the stolen jewellery has never been recovered, believed to have been laundered through criminal contacts.
Sentencing and Impact
Defence barrister Kevin Seal said Joyce had been candid with police and realises he must comply with the order upon release to avoid further time away from his children. He described the burglary as a 'smash and grab' of unsophisticated nature. Judge Catherine Richards told Joyce he was guilty of a persistent breach of a court order designed to prevent such offences. With discounts for guilty pleas, Joyce was sentenced to 13 months for burglary and 11 months for breaching the serious crime prevention order, to run consecutively, totaling 24 months. He will serve 40% in custody before release on licence.
