A TORFAEN man has been arrested and bailed on suspicion of criminal damage following a tyre slashing spree near Pontypool.

On Wednesday, November 30, Gwent Police received more than 30 reports of tyres being damaged on Gelli Rhwy Road and Penylan Road, in Garndiffaith and surrounding streets.

Police confirm that a 54-year-old Talywain man was arrested and bailed, pending further enquiries until January 18 next year.

The criminal damage affected many residents living in the area, including Curtis Burke, 47, of Penylan Road, who had his van’s front tyres punctured.

Due to the damage, Mr Burke waited hours to have his tyres changed and wasn’t able to take his son to nursery on the morning.

He added some cars on the street had all four tyres slashed while another family had three cars damaged.

He added: “It’s not good at all. I’m upset about it and also concerned.

“It gets quite dark around here and this means there’s someone walking around in the evening carrying a sharp item.

“Who knows what could happen? What if they stabbed someone?”

Torfaen inspector David Morgan also referenced to the slashing spree in his monthly online crime blog, published on Friday, December 2.

He said: “This is the sort of crime that is so infuriating for any car owner and one has to question the mind-set of the offender as to why they would do this.

“I’d urge any resident from Garndiffaith who knows who has committed these crimes to get in touch.”

Cllr Wayne Tomlinson, of Abersychan ward, described the crimes as “horrendous” and said “it was a shock” when he first heard about it.

Mr Tomlinson, who is also a community councillor for the Garndiffaith and Varteg areas, described the crime as “horrible” because of the damage costs to car owners.

“I was a victim of crime a few months ago when my house was burgled and car was stolen so I can imagine what residents are feeling,” he said.

“It will be interesting to see what the motive of (the offender) is. It’s very worrying”.

A Gwent Police spokeswoman added: “If your vehicle has been damaged, please keep the tyres safe as these may hold vital evidence."

"If anyone notices criminal damage of this nature to their vehicle, or has any information about this, please call 101, quoting log: 1600461931."