Owain Williams-Bates, 39, of Heol Camlas, Cwmavon, Afan Valley, pleaded guilty to theft and criminal damage after trashing his partner's flat in Neath town centre. The incident occurred on February 1, 2026, when the victim went away for a few days. Upon returning, she found her Windsor Road flat had been vandalized.
Details of the Damage
Prosecutor Brian Simpson told Swansea Crown Court that the defendant had thrown pasta sauce over the walls, scattered flour on the floor, poured paint over the sofa, cut corners off cushions, emptied rubbish bags onto the bed, and cut the cables of all electrical items, including the kettle, television, and microwave. An Alexa smart speaker was thrown into the toilet. The victim's clothes were cut up, and items including her passport and a memory box containing keepsakes of her son were stolen.
Impact on the Victim
In a statement read to the court, the victim said her home had been her safe place and what Williams-Bates did had destroyed her and left her completely broken. Judge Paul Thomas KC noted that the defendant had set out to cause as much hurt and distress as possible, advising him to have a very long, hard look at his character.
Court Proceedings and Sentence
CCTV showed Williams-Bates coming and going from the flat five times on February 2. He initially denied the offences, claiming the victim had thrown food and rubbish around her own flat. However, he later pleaded guilty. The judge described the case as very badly prepared by the prosecution, noting that if the value of the damage had been properly investigated, a longer custodial sentence could have been imposed. With discounts for guilty pleas, Williams-Bates was sentenced to 26 weeks in prison, effectively time served as he had been on remand since March 7.
