Twelve months in Barry: Review of the Year Part One

The perpetrator stole four computers and a flat screen TV from the home, but following a police appeal for information, Sean Kells, 31, from Barry, later pleaded guilty to the offence and was jailed for 30 months.

The local community rallied around the family of Barry teenager Morgan Ackerman, after the 16-year-old was tragically killed.

Morgan, or ‘Morgie’ as he was known, died after being hit by a taxi on the evening of Tuesday, January 3.

Grandfather Philip McSparron, from Barry, laid claim to a world first after his successful colonoscopy became the first ever operation to be live broadcast on national television.

Lacey-Mae Spong, the young girl who had a brain tumour successfully removed by medical staff at the Children’s Hospital for Wales, was declared well enough to return to school.

Residents at the care home were left distraught after the burglary

FEBRUARY
Thousands-of-pounds worth of damage was caused to the Barry Community Water Activity Centre after it was broken into – for the 10th time in 18 months.

Two teenage girls were expelled from Ysgol Bro Morgannwg after their assault of a fellow pupil was filmed and uploaded online, where it was viewed by thousands of people.

And a man who threatened police officers with a knife was given a 12 month jail sentence.

One officer described how he had “never felt such fear” when confronting 25-year-old Bradie Shkensberg, who had also smashed car windows during a drink and drugs-fuelled rage.

Barry Community Water Activity Centre was targeted by thieves yet again

MARCH
A £44-MILLION investment was approved to support a merger between Barry Comprehensive School and Bryn Hafren Comprehensive.

The old public convenience buildings at Nell’s Point were put on the market for the third time, with housing and holiday homes mooted as possible uses for the site, but again no buyer was found.

And weeks after Barry Town Council approved funding to look into the perceived health risks of the Biomass ‘incinerator’ planned for Barry Docks, Vale of Glamorgan Council leader Neil Moore blasted critics of the plant for “scaremongering”.

Cllr Neil Moore said that many of the rumours regarding the proposed 'incinerator' were untrue

APRIL
Cllr Moore’s statement did nothing to dispel fears however, as hundreds of protesters gathered outside Barry’s Memorial Hall for a mass demonstration the following week.

The RNLI’s Barry Island Visitor Centre opened its doors for the first time, while a benefits cheat was caught out after posting photos on Facebook.
Chanice Bowen had been posing as a single mother to claim benefits, but was caught out by fraud investigators who came across her wedding pictures on the social media site. She was made to repay nearly £22,000 but escaped an immediate jail sentence.

Barry Community Water Activity Centre was broken into yet again, but this time there was better news for staff as newly installed CCTV helped police track down those responsible.

The youths had broken into the building to take kayaks on a late-night paddle, before residents concerned for the teenagers’ safety called the police.

Finally, Newydd Housing Association had to offer an apology after around 40 bags of rubbish went uncollected for four months.

Tenants at the Liddicoat Court properties had complained after bin bags began piling up outside the apartment block.

The RNLI visitor centre opened earlier this year

MAY
An inquiry into Morgan Ackerman’s death determined the incident was a “tragic accident.”

Results from the Vale of Glamorgan Council elections saw Labour suffer a heavy defeat as they lost control of the council, which they had run in coalition with Llantwit First. Conservative group leader Cllr John Thomas replaced Cllr Neil Moore as council leader, while independent councillor John Penrose agreed to prop up a new Tory administration.

May 13 marked 10 years since the first airing of BBC sitcom Gavin and Stacey, with Barry traders reflecting on the benefits the show brought to the town.

Cllr Nic Hodges became the first Plaid Cymru mayor of Barry Town Council, with his wife and town councillor Shirley Hodges as his consort.

A 15-year-old boy was up in court after attempting to rob a Barry newsagents with a fake gun, and a fire ripped through Skomer Road chip shop The Master Fryer, causing £20,000 worth of damage.

Teenager Morgan Ackerman was tragically killed in a traffic collision in January

JUNE
The Conservatives’ start to life as the dominant force on the Vale of Glamorgan Council didn’t go quite to plan, as their new cabinet was labelled “a hammer blow for diversity” by the Electoral Reform Society.

The seven-strong cabinet were criticised by the pressure group as being “pale, male and stale,” but the council defended the move, pointing to the appointment of Vale mayor Cllr Janice Charles and her young deputy Cllr Leighton Rowlands as proof of their diversity.

Thrillseekers at Barry Island Pleasure Park were left suspended in the air when the ‘Megaspin’ ride broke down with 25 people on board. Rescue services took two hours to return people safely to the ground.

And just a fortnight later, Pleasure Park owner Henry Danter found himself in hot water again as the Vale of Glamorgan Council began enforcement proceedings against Mr Danter over an unlicensed development to the theme park’s exterior wall.

Alun Cairns was re-elected as MP for the Vale of Glamorgan in the General Election, but saw his majority slashed to 2,000 votes.
Barry Tourist Railway’s plans for a new museum were crushed after a break-in caused £6,000 worth of damage.

Bank worker Anne Peterson was jailed for two years, after she abused her position to steal £17,000 from elderly customers.

Peterson raided money from the accounts in stages, including making one withdrawal two weeks after one her victims had died. Peterson tried to divert blame to her colleagues, but was described as a “wicked, dishonest woman” by Judge Stephen Hopkins QC at Cardiff Crown Court.

Anne Peterson was jailed for stealing thousands of pounds from elderly bank customers