Merthyr Tydfil Magistrates' Court Sentencing Results

Richard James Pugh, a 41-year-old science teacher at Llangatwg Community School in Neath, Wales, gave inappropriate gifts to an underage female pupil, including a can of Malibu and pineapple, biscuits, iced coffees, a Nando's voucher, and a vape, placed in a gift bag in her school bag in early January 2025. He also gave her a Christmas card signed 'your best buddy' with a kiss. The pupil felt anxious, isolated, and unsafe due to his unwanted attention, including Instagram messages. Pugh initially denied the charges but changed his plea to guilty, claiming the items were taken from classroom discards.

Ruth Catlow, 61, of Aberdare, was caught illegally using a blue badge belonging to a deceased person, which was displayed in a vehicle in Rhondda Cynon Taf. This misuse involved the fraudulent use of the badge, and she was interviewed under caution, admitted the offence, and was prosecuted.

Kim Mullen, 67, of Mountain Ash, was caught illegally using a blue badge belonging to a deceased person, which was displayed in a vehicle in Rhondda Cynon Taf, specifically in the council-owned Gas Road car park in Pontypridd. She was interviewed under caution, admitted the offence, and was prosecuted.

Gareth Farr, 73, of Church Village, was caught illegally using a blue badge belonging to a deceased person, which was displayed in a vehicle in Rhondda Cynon Taf, specifically in the council-owned Gas Road car park in Pontypridd. He was interviewed under caution, admitted the offence, and was prosecuted.

Ivor Bowler, 58, of Rhydyfelin, was caught illegally using a blue badge belonging to a deceased person, which was displayed in a vehicle. This misuse occurred on two separate occasions in Rhondda Cynon Taf, denying parking spaces to those who genuinely need them. He was interviewed under caution, admitted the offence, and was prosecuted.

Corey Coleman, a 26-year-old volunteer at Ynyscrug livery yard in Tonyrefail, Rhondda Cynon Taf, was caught on CCTV engaging in acts of sexual abuse towards horses. He abused a bay stallion named Bear and a palomino stallion named Benny by masturbating them and inserting fingers into their anus on multiple dates in June and July 2024. He also failed to ensure the welfare of these stallions and exposed a bay mare named Nala to the risk of injury from the stallions. The abuse likely occurred over many months, with children present nearby at the busy stables, and the horses appeared conditioned to the behaviour.

Alex Hicks, 31, of Haven Drive in Hakin, was driving a Renault Trafic at 30mph in a 20mph limit on the A4102 Swansea Road in Merthyr Tydfil on July 21.

Iwan Edwards was caught speeding in a Ford Fiesta at 35mph on a 20mph limit on Berw Road in Pontypridd on August 6, 2023.