Key Points
- Samantha Baker, 40, received an 18-month community order, a 12-month drug rehabilitation program, 25 days of rehabilitation activity, an £85 cost order, and a £40 fine after pleading guilty to possessing a police baton in a public place.
- Andrew Smith, 64, was convicted of assault by beating and using threatening or abusive words or behaviour, resulting in a £180 fine, £650 in court costs, a £144 victim surcharge, and a two-year restraining order protecting the victim.
- Charlie-Anne Lloyd, 27, admitted to using a handheld mobile device whilst operating a motor vehicle, receiving a fine of £80, £130 in costs, a £32 victim surcharge, and six penalty points.
- Javed Abdul, 26, pleaded guilty to driving without a valid driving licence, receiving a £40 fine, three penalty points, and a £16 surcharge.
- Robert Cummins, 71, was found guilty in his absence of driving without due care and attention, resulting in a £440 fine, £400 in costs, a £176 surcharge, and four penalty points.
Cardiff (Cardiff Daily) August 17, 2026 – A series of criminal cases involving residents of Barry have recently concluded at Cardiff Magistrates’ Court, resulting in community orders, financial penalties, driving licence endorsements, and restraining orders across multiple summary offences.
- Key Points
- What Sentence Did Samantha Baker Receive for Weapon Possession?
- Why Was Andrew Smith Issued a Restraining Order Following His Conviction?
- Which Driving Offences Were Addressed at Cardiff Magistrates’ Court?
- What Penalty Was Imposed for Driving Without a Valid Licence?
- How Was the Careless Driving Allegation Against Robert Cummins Resolved?
- Background of These Legal Developments
- Prediction: How These Court Outcomes Affect the Local Community and Drivers
The proceedings covered a range of matters brought before the bench, including the possession of an offensive weapon in a public setting, violent conduct, abusive behaviour, and multiple road traffic violations committed within Barry and the surrounding South Wales area.
What Sentence Did Samantha Baker Receive for Weapon Possession?
Regarding the proceedings involving offensive weapons on public thoroughfares, court records document the sentencing of local resident Samantha Baker following a formal guilty plea.
Baker, aged 40, of Cardiff Road, Barry, appeared before magistrates to face a single charge of possessing an offensive weapon in a public place.
The charge related to an incident on 17 March, during which Baker was found in possession of an extended police baton on Holton Road in Barry.
Upon entering a guilty plea at Cardiff Magistrates’ Court, Baker was sentenced to an 18-month community order.
Under the terms of the sentence, she is required to undertake a 12-month drug rehabilitation program alongside 25 days of rehabilitation activity requirements. The court further ordered Baker to pay £85 in prosecution costs and imposed a £40 fine.
Why Was Andrew Smith Issued a Restraining Order Following His Conviction?
In a separate matter involving violent and public order offences, the court heard allegations against Andrew Smith regarding an incident that occurred in Dinas Powys on 9 May.
Smith, aged 64, of Peterswell Road, Barry, was formally found guilty of assault by beating and using threatening or abusive language with intent to cause distress.
Following the finding of guilt, magistrates at Cardiff Magistrates’ Court ordered Smith to pay a fine of £180, prosecution costs amounting to £650, and a victim surcharge of £144.
To ensure the future protection of the individual involved, the bench granted a two-year restraining order in favour of the assault victim.
Which Driving Offences Were Addressed at Cardiff Magistrates’ Court?
A significant proportion of the recent list comprised motor vehicle violations, including mobile phone usage, driving without a valid licence, and careless driving.
Charlie-Anne Lloyd, aged 27, of Buttrills Road, Barry, appeared in connection with a traffic offence recorded on 15 April. Lloyd pleaded guilty to operating a handheld mobile phone whilst driving a Ford Fiesta along the A4231 Barry Docks Link Road.
Cardiff Magistrates’ Court penalized Lloyd with an £80 fine, £130 in court costs, and a £32 victim surcharge. In addition to the monetary penalties, six penalty points were endorsed on her driving licence.
What Penalty Was Imposed for Driving Without a Valid Licence?
Javed Abdul, aged 26, of Rhodfa’r Gwagenni, Barry, stood before the bench to answer charges regarding a traffic stop conducted on 18 May on Ffordd y Mileniwm in Barry.
Abdul admitted to driving a Kia Picanto on a public road without holding a valid driving licence. Magistrates imposed a £40 fine, a £16 victim surcharge, and endorsed three penalty points on his driving record.
How Was the Careless Driving Allegation Against Robert Cummins Resolved?
In a trial conducted in the defendant’s absence, Robert Cummins, aged 71, of Clos Llawhaden, Barry, was found guilty of driving without due care and attention.
The charge originated from an incident on 31 December 2025, during which Cummins was alleged to have driven a Citroen vehicle carelessly on Richmond Road in Cardiff.
Following the proof of the allegation in his absence, Cardiff Magistrates’ Court fined Cummins £440, ordered him to pay £400 in prosecution costs alongside a £176 surcharge, and placed four penalty points on his licence.
Explore More Local Cardiff News
Police Officer Hospitalised After E-Bike Crash in Caerau, Cardiff 2026
Historic Cathays Cemetery Toilet Block Set to Become Cafe, Cardiff 2026
Background of These Legal Developments
Summary justice in Wales is routinely administered through the Magistrates’ Court system, which handles the vast majority of criminal cases, including summary offences such as minor assaults, public order breaches, traffic violations, and low-level weapons charges.
Magistrates’ Courts operate under established statutory sentencing guidelines set by the Sentencing Council for England and Wales.
These guidelines mandate specific financial penalties, rehabilitation requirements, driving record endorsements, and ancillary measures—such as restraining orders—based on the culpability of the offender and the degree of harm caused.
Prediction: How These Court Outcomes Affect the Local Community and Drivers
These judicial outcomes directly impact residents of Barry, road users across Vale of Glamorgan, and the wider local community in several distinct ways:
- Road Safety and Motorists: The imposition of strict financial penalties and licence points for mobile phone usage and driving without due care serves as an ongoing deterrent against non-compliant driving practices on key routes such as the A4231 Barry Docks Link Road and Richmond Road.
- Public Order and Community Safety: The execution of court-ordered drug rehabilitation programs and rehabilitation activity days aims to address underlying factors in offensive weapon possession, reducing the likelihood of reoffending in public shopping zones like Holton Road.
- Victim Support and Protection: The granting of a two-year restraining order provides legal enforcement mechanisms to ensure individual protection and deter future abusive or violent encounters within local residential areas.
