Garage boss in 'revenge' plot to torch vehicle

A CAR was firebombed in the street in a “revenge attack” over money, a court has heard.

- JASON EVANS

Garage owner Gareth Charles plotted with Mathew Membury and Gareth Rowe to torch the vehicle over a grievance he had with a former employee who had taken money from the business.

Sending the three defendants to prison, a judge at Swansea Crown Court told them they had become involved in an enterprise “which was born out of stupidity” and said while there was a lack of sophistication about the arson attack, that did not make it any less dangerous.

Georgia Donohue, prosecuting, said the complainant, Anthony Marmont, was a former employee at a garage owned by the defendant Charles.

She said Mr Marmont began working at the business in 2023 and in early 2025, the employee began misusing drugs and ran into financial difficulties.

The prosecutor said Charles was aware of Mr Marmont's problems, and lent him money from his wages. The court heard that in April of last year, the complainant began taking money from the business to fund his drug habit, and then failed to turn up for work.

On May 13, Charles and his employee Membury were driving in Swansea when they happened upon Mr Marmont in the street - Charles got out of the BMW and punched Mr Marmont to the face, causing his nose to bleed, while Membury said words to the effect of “You are f*****”. The court heard Charles asked the injured man about the money he was owed, and Mr Marmont returned a sum of cash.