We provide high quality independent legal advice in police stations, magistrates’ and Crown Courts for those facing investigation and prosecution in criminal cases.
We cover Merthyr Tydfil, Pontypridd, South Wales and West Wales
The Pontypridd Office of the Public Defender Service (PDS) opened in 2002, moving to Merhtyr Tydfil in 2023, and is one of four PDS offices providing high quality, independent legal advice in police stations, magistrates and crown courts for those facing investigation and prosecution in criminal cases across the South Wales and West Wales area.
We have a very experienced and competent team of criminal defence solicitors operating out of the Merthyr Tydfil Office who deal with the full range of criminal cases. Our team of duty solicitors, solicitors, police station representatives, solicitor advocates, barristers, and support staff are here to help you every step of the way.
Our contact details
Welsh Government Offices
Rhyd-Y-Car
Merthyr Tydfil
CF48 1UZ
Telephone: 01443 629724
Email: PDSPontypridd@justice.gov.uk
Suspected of committing a crime?
Events at the police station are critical. The earlier you receive good advice, the better. It might even mean you avoid prosecution.
If you’re arrested or asked to attend a police station for questioning, our police station representatives and criminal defence solicitors are here to help you, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Alternatively, if the police want to interview you as a volunteer or the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) want to interview you about a suspected crime, please call us for assistance.
Meet your local Merthyr Tydfil solicitors
Dan Williams, Head of Office
Dan qualified as a Solicitor in April 2001, and has worked in criminal defence since 1999. Dan previously worked within the private sector in Cardiff & Gwent areas. Dan has been with the PDS since 2003.
He specialises in all aspects of Criminal Defence Practice from the Police Station, through the Magistrates courts to the Higher Criminal Crown Courts. He is also an experienced Duty Solicitor & has been a member of the panel since 2003.
Dan is a dedicated legal aid practitioner committed to excellent client care and sensitivity is afforded at all stages of his cases. He is passionate when representing clients for all types of criminal offences whether prosecuted by the police or other authorities.
Duty Solicitors
Leah Griffiths
Leah is a Duty Solicitor and has been employed with the Public Defender Service since September 2019. Prior to joining Leah worked independently as a Criminal advocate, representing clients at the Police Station, Court and at Interviews under Caution for benefit fraud, Trading Standards offences etc. She qualified as a solicitor in 2009 specialising in Crime and became a Duty solicitor in 2012.
Throughout her career Leah has represented clients accused of offences varying from Robbery, Offences under the Terrorism Act to Murder. In addition to advising clients at the Magistrates Court and police station, Leah also prepares cases for the Crown Court. Leah has vast experience in Prison Law having dealt with many discipline adjudication cases before Prison Governors and hearings before the Parole Board where clients early release has been successful.
Anthony Ormond
Anthony qualified as a solicitor in 2004 and has worked exclusively in criminal defence since that time. He is an experienced Duty Solicitor and he specialises in representing clients in the Magistrates’ Court.
Anthony is also a fully accredited Police Station Representative and he regularly advises clients who are detained at the Police Station.
Since qualification Anthony has acted in cases across the broad spectrum covered in this diverse area of law. He has represented clients in cases from relatively simple public order or theft matters, to those which involve more complex legal issues and serious matters such as murder and conspiracy to supply controlled drugs.
Gareth Thomas
Gareth is a duty solicitor and accredited police station representative. He qualified in 1991 and has worked for the PDS since 2011. He is part of a committed and friendly team of solicitors, paralegals and administrators who are based in Merthyr Tydfil but serves in courts and police stations throughout South Wales and sometimes beyond.
Gareth is an experienced advocate and represents people in all stages of Magistrates and Youth Court Proceedings including duty solicitor work.
He has represented people detained in police stations arrested for every sort of offence from the most trivial to serious multi handed drug conspiracies, firearms offences, rape and murder.
See Gareth’s profile on LinkedIn
Matt Thomas
Matt qualified as a solicitor in June 2001 and has practiced exclusively in Criminal work since 2002. He qualified as a duty solicitor in 2002 and secured his qualification to practice in the higher courts in 2004. Matt has dealt with a comprehensive range of offences and has experience of advising on offences of attempted murder, causing death by dangerous driving and other offences involving fatalities.
Matt continues to represent people accused of crimes when detained at the police station and when appearing before the Magistrates’ and Crown Court.
Trainee Solicitor
Rhian Wyatt
Rhian is a Trainee Solicitor and has been employed with the Public Defender Service since August 2024. Before joining the PDS, Rhian graduated university with a First-Class Honours degree in Law with an International Year.
Rhian has a keen interest in criminal defence and will being undertaking the Police Station Representative Accreditation Scheme Qualification and the Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE) as part of her role.
Crown Court Case Progression Officer and Accredited Police Station Representative
Sarah Port
Sarah worked in private practice for 31 years with the same company and was a dedicated loyal team member. Sarah joined the Public Defender Service in January 2019 as a new role was developed within the service of Crown Court Case Progression Officer.
Sarah previously undertook this role in private practice and ran a successful Crown Court Department dealing with many serious and high profile cases, including murder, sexual offences, fraud, drugs conspiracies and Proceeds of Crime Act (POCA).
On a personal level Sarah has been an Accredited Police Station Representative since the scheme commenced in 1995. Sarah regularly attends the Police Station to represent clients and then prepares their cases for Crown Court Hearings.
See Sarah’s profile on LinkedIn
Useful information
Coming soon…
From the A470 take the ‘Merthyr Tydfil / Rhydycar’ exit & follow the road down the hill towards Merthyr town centre ‘under the blue bridge’. Go straight on at the next roundabout at the bottom of the hill and then at the next roundabout take the first left towards the town centre. Follow the road around and past the college . At the traffic lights take a right and then an immediate left and the civic buildings / law courts are directly visible on your left hand side. There is an NCP directly opposite.
From the A470 take the ‘Merthyr Tydfil / Rhydycar’ exit & follow the road down the hill towards Merthyr town centre ‘under the blue bridge’. At the next roundabout at the bottom of the hill take the first exit left and go right to the top of the hill past the Welsh Assembly Buildings and the police station is on your right. The police station has a few parking spaces available to the public.
We cover all of the following police stations and courts around South Wales:
- Bridgend Police Station, Brackla Street, Bridgend, CF31 1BZ
- Merthyr Tydfil Police Station, Rhydycar Business Park, Merthyr Tydfil, CF48 1DL
- Merthyr Tydfil Combined Court Centre, The Law Courts, Glebeland Place, Merthyr Tydfil, South Wales, CF47 8BH
- Swansea Police Station, Grove Place, Swansea, SA1 5DB
- Swansea Magistrates Court, Holly St, Pontardawe, Swansea SA8 4ET
- Swansea Crown Court, The Law Courts, St Helen’s Road, Swansea, South Wales, SA1 4PF
- Cardiff Police Station, King Edward VII Avenue, Cathays Park, Cardiff, CF10 3NN
- Cardiff Magistrates Court, Fitzalan Place, Cardiff CF24 0RZ
- Cardiff Crown Court, Law Courts, Cathays Park, Cardiff CF10 3PG
- Newport Police Station, 3 Cardiff Road, Newport, NP20 2EH
- Newport Magistrates Court, Usk Way, Newport, Gwent, NP20 2GE
- Newport Crown Court, The Law Courts, Faulkner Road, Newport, Gwent, NP20 4PR
We also cover courts and police stations outside of South Wales.
Please contact us to see if we can help you.