Just one criminal faced court for an offence committed in Machynlleth in 12 months, the Cambrian News can reveal, despite more than 300 crimes being recorded - included scores of violence and sexual offences and 11 burglaries.

Official figures show that 309 crimes were recorded between April 2018 and March 2019 in Machynlleth and the surrounding areas.

While 13 per cent of those crimes remain under investigation, more than half of investigations have been dropped due to “no suspect being identified” or police being “unable to prosecute the suspect”.

Figures show that serious offences recorded in the area in those 12 months included 90 violence or sexual offences, 11 burglaries, 11 drug offences, three robberies, 35 thefts and two of possessing a weapon.

Despite the seriousness of some of the reported crimes, only one person was brought to court charged with an offence. And that person received a conditional discharge, data shows.

Another 12 crimes were dealt with by police, with six local resolutions being made.

Two offenders were given a drugs possession warning, two were given a penalty notice and two offenders were handed a caution.

See this week’s Machynlleth & Llanidloes paper for the full story, available in shops and as a digital edition now