Serial Church Burglar Jailed for South Wales Crime Spree

A man who carried out a six-month “campaign” of burglaries targeting dozens of churches across south Wales has been jailed for over three years.

Raymond Weatherley, 48, from Riverside, Cardiff, broke into 39 places of worship between June and November last year, stealing electrical items and causing thousands of pounds worth of damage. ⚖️

Newport Crown Court heard Weatherley typically gained entry by smashing windows – including stained glass windows – before conducting untidy searches and stealing iPads, projectors, and sound systems. On some occasions, he also took money from collection boxes.

The defendant sold stolen items at CEX shops across south Wales, where his loyalty card was recovered at one crime scene. He was also linked to the crimes by DNA from a discarded cigarette and CCTV footage.

Among the 39 churches targeted were Our Lady of Lourdes in Mountain Ash, Temple Baptist Church in Pontypridd, and Salem Eglwys in Canton, Cardiff. During one break-in at Merchants Hill Baptist Church in Pontypool, Weatherley even ate a plate of cakes he found inside.

Judge Carl Harrison noted that Weatherley was already on licence from prison for previous burglary offences when he committed these crimes. The defendant has 36 previous convictions for 84 offences, including 47 burglaries.

With a one-third discount for his guilty pleas, Weatherley received a sentence of three years and two months. He will serve up to half in custody before being released on licence. 🔒