Cameron Rees, an 18-year-old with a long list of previous convictions, finally learned the hard way that crime doesn’t pay. A judge at Swansea Crown Court informed him bluntly that his “luck has run out,” following his latest offence where he and an accomplice stole an electric bike from a residential care home in Neath. Just a few months prior, Rees was handed a community order for burglary, but that didn’t stop him from getting into more trouble.
Caught on CCTV, a masked Rees and his friend were seen making off with the bike, only for it to later be found damaged at Rees’s house. Confronted by police and infuriating the victim’s family, it seemed inevitable that Rees would have to face the consequences eventually. With ten previous convictions for 14 offences including thefts from cars and garages, Rees has a history of not making the most of second chances. His legal team argued that his age, neurodiversity, and vulnerability should be taken into account. They warned of the potential negative influences of a custodial environment. Still, the judge felt it was time for Rees to truly understand the repercussions of his actions.
Acknowledging that Rees had repeatedly breached the terms of previous community sentences, the judge decided enough was enough. He handed Rees a 16-month sentence in a young offenders’ institution, with the possibility of release after serving half, but only under strict licence conditions.
As for Rees’s accomplice, who because of his age remains unnamed, he was dealt with separately by the youth court. This is a strong reminder that actions have consequences, and it seems that for Cameron Rees, it’s time to pay the piper.