Nicky Blackwell (Image: South Wales Police)
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A 35-year-old man has been sentenced to 24 weeks in prison after admitting to a string of thefts and fraud targeting businesses in the Maesteg area.
Nicky Blackwell, of Maesteg, appeared at Cardiff Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday, 25 March 2026, where he pleaded guilty to seven counts of theft, two counts of fraud by false representation and three counts of burglary other than dwelling.
The offences
Over a seven-month period between August 2025 and February 2026, Blackwell carried out thefts from shops across the area, stealing goods worth more than £1,500 in total.
He targeted Asda in Maesteg on three separate occasions, taking items worth a combined £750. In a further theft from Tesco in Maesteg, Blackwell stole alcohol valued at around £800.
He also stole approximately £100 worth of goods from Tesco in Cimla and carried out two incidents at Filco stores – one in Caerau and another in Maesteg – where he took £40 from each through deception.
The sentence
Blackwell was handed 24 weeks’ imprisonment for the offences.
Maesteg Neighbourhood Policing officer Daryl Waddell said: “This was a thorough and in-depth investigation run by our neighbourhood policing teams, businesses in our community deserve to be able to trade without worrying about theft.
“Following the investigation, we were able to prosecute Blackwell for several crimes, and he will now spend time in prison for his actions.”
