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Man Fined More than £4,700 for Illegal Gold Panning in North Wales River
Brian Wright was convicted after NRW officers caught him twice gold panning illegally, and magistrates imposed more than £4,700 in fines and costs.
- On Monday, September 14, 2026, Llandudno Magistrates Court convicted repeat offender Brian Wright for illegal gold panning, ordering him to pay fines and costs totaling more than £4,700.
- Natural Resources Wales officers caught Wright illegally panning at Pont Wen in Coed y Brenin Forest Park on October 4, 2024, and December 16, 2024, continuing a history of similar offences dating to May 2022.
- Officers discovered gold panning equipment including a gravel pump in the Afon Wen river; Wright admitted to finding "a few flakes," though the activity is prohibited due to potential damage to river ecosystems and spawning fish.
- Richard Berry, NRW Land Management Team Leader in North West Wales, stated illegal panning causes "significant damage to river habitats and wildlife" and confirmed the agency will prosecute those violating the Freshwater Fisheries Act.
- District Judge Gwyn Jones found Wright guilty of removing land from the forestry authority, reflecting the courts' commitment to protecting Wales' sensitive river environments despite widespread public unawareness of these environmental protections.
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Coverage Details
Total News Sources11
Leaning Left0Leaning Right1Center8Last UpdatedBias Distribution89% Center
Bias Distribution
- 89% of the sources are Center
89% Center
C 89%
11%
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