Three prolific shoplifters from Merthyr Tydfil have been jailed after being arrested on the same day. Brandon Kelly received 12 weeks, while Julian Jones and Sam Thomas were each sentenced to four weeks.

A retired vicar from Brecon has been jailed for 12 months and 12 weeks after police found prohibited images of children on his laptop during a spot check. Andrew Robinson pleaded guilty to possessing a prohibited image of a child and breaching a sexual harm prevention order.

Shannon Wilce, 29, was sentenced to four months’ imprisonment at Merthyr Tydfil Magistrates’ Court after a string of retail thefts and breaching a Criminal Behaviour Order banning her from Cyfarthfa Retail Park.

Jodie Clark, 38, has been sentenced to 24 weeks in prison after pleading guilty to stalking involving serious harm or distress. Clark posted threatening videos on YouTube targeting his victim over a week-long period.

Geoffrey Williams, 63, of Aberbran, was ordered to pay £1,800 at Merthyr Magistrates’ Court after pleading guilty to failing to protect a pony from pain, suffering and injury through an unacceptable handling method.

David Tasker, of Bargoed, has been banned from keeping animals for 18 months after failing to seek veterinary treatment for his paralysed dog Benji, whose open leg wound had been festering for over a year.

A 44-year-old repeat offender has been sentenced to six months in prison after carrying out a series of shoplifting offences at businesses on the Pengarnddu Industrial Estate in Merthyr Tydfil.

Daniel Giles, 30, has been jailed for 11 months and barred from Pengarnddu Industrial Estate after repeatedly targeting retailers including ASDA and B&M.

Anthony Evans, 42, and Leah Evans, 37, were each sentenced to three months in prison after pleading guilty to outraging public decency and criminal damage at Merthyr Tydfil Magistrates’ Court.

Raymond Weatherley, 50, was sentenced to a year in prison after admitting to two burglaries in the Merthyr Tydfil and Mountain Ash areas.

Nathan Lewis, 32, was sentenced to four months in prison and given a five-year restraining order after pleading guilty to racially aggravated assault at a Morrisons Daily store in Gurnos.