Incident in Neath town centre prompts court hearing
A 42-year-old man has appeared at Swansea Crown Court accused of entering a mosque in Neath, urinating on the building’s door and threatening to kill an elderly worshipper and to burn the place down, a hearing has been told.
Prosecutors say the incident occurred on the evening of 15 June and involved behaviour that left members of the local Muslim community shaken. The defendant, Michael Campfield, of Mile End Row, Melin, Neath, was arrested the following day, the court heard.
Allegations and courtroom account
At the hearing, the prosecution described how a witness saw Campfield in company with others opposite the Windsor Road mosque in Neath town centre. The witness told police the defendant then stumbled across the road and urinated on the mosque’s doors while shouting over his shoulder, apparently addressing the group he had been with.
“I'm p*g on them,”
the court was told the defendant boasted to friends before entering the building.
Once inside, the prosecution said Campfield was asked by a man in his 70s, preparing for evening prayers, to remove his shoes in line with custom. The barrister said the defendant became angry and began shouting a series of threats.
“I will f*g kill you! I will burn down this mosque! Trust me, I will burn this place down!”
After making the threats, the defendant left the building and continued to shout from across the road, prosecutors added. He was arrested the next day and later answered “no comment” in a police interview, the court heard.
Background and local context
Court documents presented at Swansea Crown Court note that Campfield has an extensive previous record, described in court as comprising more than 100 offences, including two earlier incidents of racially‑aggravated public disorder. The alleged behaviour in June will intensify local concern about safety and community cohesion in Neath.
Religious buildings are often central to community life in towns across Wales, and incidents that target places of worship can have an outsized impact on feelings of security among congregations and neighbours. Local representatives and faith leaders typically call for calm and for full investigation by police in such cases.
What happens next
The case has been heard at Swansea Crown Court where preliminary details were given to the judge. Further hearings will determine the formal charges and the progress of any prosecution. Police inquiries into the incident took place after the matter was reported and resulted in Campfield’s arrest.
- Date of alleged incident: 15 June
- Location: Windsor Road mosque, Neath town centre
- Defendant: Michael Campfield, 42, of Mile End Row, Melin, Neath
- Allegations: Urinating on mosque door, entering building, making threats to kill and burn down the mosque
| Date | Item | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| 15 June | Alleged act | Urinating on mosque door; entering mosque; threats to an elderly worshipper |
| 16 June | Police response | Defendant arrested following report |
| Hearing date | Court | Swansea Crown Court – preliminary hearing reported |
For residents concerned about safety or wishing to raise information with investigators, South Wales Police remains the appropriate contact. The local Muslim community in Neath, like faith communities across the region, relies on cooperation with police and community leaders to address incidents that threaten communal harmony.
Further reporting will follow as the case progresses through the courts and as official statements are issued by police or community representatives.
