Newport burglar jailed for luxury watch theft

A Newport man has been jailed for two years and four months after stealing luxury watches and causing thousands of pounds of damage to a city estate agents.

Alan Watkins, 37, appeared at Cardiff Crown Court to be sentenced for three separate offences.

The court heard that Watkins entered an address on Cambria Close in Newport as a trespasser and stole a Rolex watch and a Seiko watch worth a total of more than £10,000.

He was also charged with affray and criminal damage following an incident in Newport between 12 and 15 December last year.

Prosecutor Abdallah Barakat said it was alleged that Watkins “used or threatened unlawful violence which would have caused a person of reasonable firmness to fear for their personal safety.”

The defendant also caused more than £5,000 of damage to the roof of Bluestone Sales and Lettings on Caerleon Road.

Watkins, of Caerau Road in Newport, pleaded guilty to all three charges.

Judge Tracey Lloyd-Clarke sentenced him to a total of two years and four months – made up of one year and four months for the burglary and a further year for the December 2024 offences.