Gwarchod Wyesham Watch

08/10/2026

08/10/2026

23/09/2026

SENTENCED | A tractor driver has today (Tuesday 22 September) been sentenced to eight years for causing the death of a motorcyclist on the A40 in Herefordshire in 2022.

Philip Baker, 61, of Wonastow, Monmouth, Gwent, was found guilty of causing death by dangerous driving when he appeared at Worcester Crown Court on Tuesday 28 July following a trial.

Today at the same court he was sentenced to eight years in prison and disqualified from driving for nine years.

Baker’s sentencing follows a fatal road traffic collision which happened at 9.50pm on 11 August 2022, whereby motorcyclist Dr Steven Lee sadly lost his life on the A40 near Ganarew, Ross on Wye.

Baker had been drawing straw from a field and was travelling from Walford in the direction of Monmouth on the A40 in the moments before the fatal collision.

However, the tractor and trailer he was driving had numerous dangerous defects, including the lack of an amber beacon which should be in place to alert other road users as to the potential hazard of its presence and slower speed.

This was identified by officers from our Serious Collision Investigation Unit (SCIU) as the main causal factor for the collision, as it meant Steven had no warning as he approached it on his motorbike at normal speed.

The tractor and trailer were also in a poor condition and overloaded with straw bales. The brakes on the trailer did not work and were not connected to the tractor cab. The hydraulic line between the two was poorly maintained and the lights cable was held on by baler twine.

The lack of amber warning light, verified by several eyewitnesses, resulted in the collision between Baker’s tractor and trailer and Steven’s motorcycle as Baker was travelling at a speed significantly lower than the posted speed limit.

Steven, who was 26 years old, sadly passed away at the scene.

Police Sergeant Michael Straughan, the Road Death Lead Investigator from SCIU, said: “We are pleased to get this sentence for Baker whose tractor and trailer were not only in a poor condition but crucially were also not displaying the amber hazard beacon.

“The lack of that beacon meant Steven was not properly alerted to its presence on the road, nor able to judge its speed properly which would have been less than 25mph on a road which has a maximum of 70mph for most road users. This neglect resulted in the fatal collision and the needless loss of life.

“We know that no sentence can ever make up for the loss they have suffered, but we hope today’s result will help Steven’s family and friends at what remains an incredibly difficult time, with this incredibly tragic loss of life for a bright young man who has his whole life ahead of him.

“Steven’s family and friends have since launched a foundation in his memory which aims to reduce the number of fatalities on the roads in England and Wales caused by motorcycle accidents to support new riders and enhance their road safety - https://orlo.uk/uTmnO .”

17/09/2026

Beware this company, currently posting fliers in the area. They could end you up in hot water as they don't obtain licensing and permissions to work.

06/09/2026

Are you a compassionate person looking for a rewarding new career❓

We’re on the lookout for people to in our Force Contact and Control Centre (FCC).

The FCC is a fast-paced environment where you’ll work as part of a team to:
✅ deal with phone and digital contact
✅ evaluate the urgency of incidents and crimes
✅ dispatch frontline officers to calls
✅ and much more!

You’ll be the first point of contact for people when they need us most.

Interested❓

Apply via the link in our comments today 🤩🔗

30/08/2026

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=1517893550385751&id=100064953601343

‼ The road has now reopened. Thank you for your patience. ‼

⚠️🚧 Road closed 🚧⚠️

ℹ Redbrook Road is currently closed between Redbrook and Wyesham. ℹ

Diversions are in place which may cause congestion.

Please avoid the area if possible and find alternative routes for your journey.

Thank you.

27/08/2026

Stay alert: romance fraud cost UK victims £102M last year.

Victims of romance fraud lost more than £102 million last year, as criminals continue to exploit online relationships to manipulate people into transferring money.

Analysis shows people aged 55 to 74 experienced the greatest financial losses, accounting for almost half of the total amount stolen. Although men submitted a higher number of reports overall, women experienced higher individual losses, making up just over 40 per cent of the total value reported.

Romance fraud remains closely linked to online platforms, particularly social media and dating sites, where offenders can create convincing false identities. Investigators are also seeing increased use of AI‑generated images and messages to support these profiles. In many cases, it is also linked to fake investment opportunities, including cryptocurrency, increasing the financial risk to victims.

As part of this campaign, we are urging the public to stay cautious when forming relationships online and to recognise the warning signs:
Be cautious of individuals who develop relationships very quickly or express strong feelings early on
Be wary of excuses not to meet in person or to avoid live video calls
Never send money, cryptocurrency or gift cards to someone you have not met face‑to‑face
Be alert to requests linked to investments, medical emergencies or travel costs
Speak to a trusted friend or family member if something feels unusual or pressured
If you think that you have been targeted, please report it to Report Fraud at www.reportfraud.police.uk or by calling 0300 123 2040.

If money has already been transferred, you should contact your bank immediately.

Report Fraud UK is the place to report, prevent, and learn about cyber crime & fraud

19/08/2026

ttps://canva.link/ab8nnsijd4gxinc

15/08/2026

Dear residents,

Your local Safer Neighbourhood Team will be at Monmouthshire Show, Redbrook Road, Monmouth on Sunday 16th August 2026 from 10:00-17:00 hrs.

Please take this opportunity to raise any concerns you may have and to find out what we are doing to tackle the issues that matter to you.

When and Where?
Sun 16 Aug 2026 10:00 - 17:00
Monmouthshire Showground, Redbrook Road
NP25 4LG

///intelligible.valuables.kindness

19/06/2026

Fraud alert: Scam calls using ‘spoofed’ phone numbers
City of London Police is urging the public to be sure of who they are talking to following a spike in reports of calls from ‘spoofed’ phone numbers.


Criminals use ‘spoofing’ software to intentionally cover up their real caller ID and instead, mirror the phone number of a legitimate organisation. They do this to make it appear that calls or text messages are coming from a trusted organisation like the police, banks or government agencies.

These scam calls may be automated, or from a real person. Their main goal is to trick you into sharing personal information or to transfer money.

This week, the City of London Police launched its courier fraud campaign to raise awareness of this type of fraud as it evolves across the UK, with criminals using increasingly sophisticated and persistent tactics.

Courier fraud typically begins with an unexpected phone call from someone claiming to be a police officer or bank employee. Victims are told their account is at risk or that they are assisting with an investigation, before being instructed to withdraw money, purchase items, or disclose sensitive information. A courier is then sent to collect the items such as jewellery, cash, bank cards and PINs. In reality, this is the work of criminals, and anything handed over is lost.

Report a suspicious phone call

If you've lost money or have been hacked as a result of responding to a phishing message or scam call, you should report it to Report Fraud.

In England, Wales or Northern Ireland, visit https://www.reportfraud.police.uk/ or call 0300 123 2040. In Scotland, report to Police Scotland by calling 101.

You should also report suspected scam calls by sending a text to 7726 with the word ‘Call’ and the caller's number.

If you’ve shared personal information with a suspicious caller

Learn how to protect yourself if you think you’ve shared personal information.
If you’ve visited a website you think is suspicious, you can report a scam website or link to us.

Report Fraud UK is the place to report, prevent, and learn about cyber crime & fraud