Repeat offender fined for searching for gold in protected river

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Brian Wright was caught panning at Afon Wen river near Dolgellau, Gwynedd

ByPaul PigottBBC Wales

Published45 minutes ago

A gold panner caught illegally searching for gold in a protected river has been ordered to pay fines and costs totalling more than £4,700, a regulator has said.

Brian Wright, 68, had been caught panning at Afon Wen river near Dolgellau, Gwynedd, in October and December 2024.

He was found guilty of environmental offences at Llandudno Magistrate's Court on Monday.

Environment body Natural Resources Wales (NRW) said Wright had been caught disturbing the "protected and valued environment" of Coed y Brenin Forest, which the river runs through, and was a repeat offender.

"Activities such as illegal gold panning can cause significant damage to river habitats and wildlife," said NRW's Richard Berry.

"This case should serve as a reminder that illegal gold panning is not permitted on NRW-managed land and those who ignore the rules may face prosecution."

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Gold panning is not permitted on NRW-managed land because of the potential damage to river ecosystems.

The environment body said the excavation of gravel and the removal of minerals could disturb riverbeds, impacting habitats that wildlife rely on.

It said that although many were unaware of the repercussions, gold panning could lead to prosecution and sentencing "where it risks disturbing spawning fish and impacting river habitats".

It also said Wright, from Henley On Thames, Oxfordshire, had been sentenced for similar offences in May 2022.

NRW manager for north-west Wales, Euros Jones, told BBC Radio Wales Breakfast that gold panning was "damaging" and could lead to a "concerning environmental cost".

Jones said Dolgellau "has a history of gold mining" and very small specks of gold could be found among "a lot of gravel".

"There is a romance around the gold, and it does attract people to the river because it is known for this," he said.