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Lifting the lid on the damage of David Stanley Lewis

"Dishonest" and convicted fraudster becomes Director of Ffos-y-fran coal mine

In 2015, David Stanley Lewis took over operations at the sprawling Ffos-y-fran opencast coal mine from the previous operator, Miller Argent. The company became 'Merthyr (South Wales) Ltd' with a complicated corporate structure of parent companies and subsidiaries. After mining illegally for around 15 months beyond the end of its planning permission, Lewis's company declared it was unable to fund the devastated site's restoration. This is despite earning windfall revenue on the illegal coal mining and most recent annual accounts showing £91.2m allocated to the site's restoration.

Convicted of fraud to feed gambling habit

In 2003, David Lewis was described by judge Jonathan Durham-Hall as "a pathological gambler who demonstrated pathological dishonesty." David Lewis, then 46, defrauded a bank of more than £88,000 in respect of gambling debts. Lewis's only Barrister said "What he did was unlawful, crass, stupid and dishonest."

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Gambling with lives 17 years on

In 2020, David Lewis was convicted of a serious speeding offense - caught driving at 99mph at the wheel of a Lamborghini Aventador. He was also charged with driving without due care and attention, although the Court later dropped this charge. Lewis was made to pay over £500 and slapped with 6 penalty points, only narrowly keeping his license.

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Probed for illegally burying waste at coal mine

In May 2025, an ex-worker whistle-blows on David Lewis's company for illegally burying toxic waste at the coal mine site. Natural Resources South Wales has launched a probe into the accusation.

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Back in court, this time for violent assault

In June/July 2025, David Lewis was cautioned by police for physically assaulting Robert Davies, 75, chairman of the Robert Davies Partnership LLP outside his office in Newport, causing actual bodily harm. However, Lewis subsequently broke the terms of the caution and has now been summoned to court to answer for the violent offense.

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Birds of a feather - close family member also convicted in court

In June 2025, Mr Stacey Lewis was hauled into court over offenses by his company - S L Recycling - which led to a massive fire breaking out in September 2024. The recycling site fire caused £79,000 worth of damage, polluted land and killed fish in a nearby river. "S L Recycling committed a number of breaches which hindered the fire service putting out the major fire", including a "flagrant safety breach". This prevented fire services putting out the fire more quickly, wasting the time of essential firefighters who spent over 24 hours engaged at the site - potentially risking the lives of others who may have had to call on the fire service in that time.

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Published 18. 07. 2025

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