SIX TEENS ARRESTED AFTER DEATH OF ‘TRUE GENTLEMAN’ LANDLORD
SIX teenage boys have been arrested after a 58-year-old mandied following an alleged assault.
Father-of-one Mark Winchcombe died as a result of his injuries after an incident at 12.55am on September 1 in Main Road, Neath Abbey, Skewen.
South Wales Police has confirmed that six males – two aged 14 and four aged 16 – have been arrested in connection with the incident and are in police custody.
Police were called to the scene by ambulance crews. A police cordon was in place around the Smiths Arms in Main Road on Sunday while police investigated.
Initially, it was reported that a man in his 50s had been taken to hospital.
It was yesterday confirmed that he had died as a result of his injuries.
Yesterday Mr Winchcombe, who ran the Smiths Arms pub with his wife Christine, 55, was described as a “true gentleman”.
Businessman Tudor Williams, who runs a car dealership opposite the Smiths Arms, said: “I’ve known Mark all my life and he is a very tidy guy.
“He is very hard working and has been trying to build up the pub for
years. It is a terrible shock to everyone and our thoughts are with his family.”
Local councillor Martyn Peters described Mr Winchcombe as “a true gentleman”.
He added: “He was a very genuine man who would stop in the street to have a chat. He was well liked and well thought of and I understand he put a lot of his own money into the pub and made a success of it. He cleaned it up and did a lot of work to it to make it what it was.”
One shocked regular said: “Mark was the landlord and our community absolutely loved Mark and his partner. They refurbished that pub and put their heart and soul into it. They have very high standards of behaviour and as such there was never any trouble in their pub. To hear he has died, it has rocked our community. People are in shock and just keep thinking of his lovely partner and family.”
Katrina Mears, 64, who lives across the road from the traditional pub said: “Mark was brilliant. Very lovely.
“He ran a very respectable and superb pub. It’s so sad he’s gone.”
Detective Chief Inspector Darren George, of South Wales Police, said: “As a result of an incident during the early hours of Sunday, a 58-year-old male has sadly passed away. The victim’s family are being supported by specially trained officers.
“I am keen to speak to anyone who may have witnessed the incident or who was driving down Main Road, Skewen, between midnight and 1.30am who may have dashcam footage. This investigation is very much ongoing and I would like to remind the public of the importance of not speculating on the circumstances or naming of people they believe may be involved.”
■ Anyone who witnessed the incident or has any other information is asked to contact South Wales Police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111, quoting occurrence 1900322546.