Key Points
- Craig Winter faces two withdrawn criminal charges at Llandudno Magistrates’ Court because he lives in Trefnant which lies near Denbigh at age 55.
- The charges alleged impersonation of a police officer and possession of an imitation law enforcement badge.
- The prosecution team under Grace Carson’s leadership decided to drop the case because they did not see any chance of winning a conviction.
- Bench chairman Huw McKee granted the prosecution’s request and told Winter he was free to go.
- Winter expressed his happiness about the situation while he refused to admit he wanted to present himself as a North Wales Police officer.
- He said he was a “law enforcement officer” for the political movement Save Us Now, which campaigns on traffic-light safety and Covid-19 vaccines.
- Winter must undergo his trial during the upcoming year because the court needs to decide if he caused damage to a Denbighshire County Council traffic signal; he maintains his innocence regarding the charge.
Wales (Wales Times) November 06, 2026 — A man accused of impersonating a police officer has had the charges against him dropped after a prosecutor told magistrates there was no realistic prospect of conviction.
Craig Winter, 55, of Trefnant near Denbigh, had faced allegations that he impersonated a special constable or member of a police force and possessed an imitation law enforcement badge. The case was withdrawn at Llandudno Magistrates’ Court after the Crown Prosecution Service said it could not proceed.
As reported by David Powell of North Wales Live, prosecutor Grace Carson told the court:
“I am not satisfied there is a realistic prospect of conviction.”
She therefore asked for the charges to be withdrawn, and the magistrates agreed.
What Were the Charges Against Craig Winter?
According to the court document cited by North Wales Live, Winter was alleged to have committed the offences in Trefnant on August 26. The first allegation stated that he “with intent to deceive” impersonated a special constable or a member of a police force, contrary to the Police Act 1996.
The second allegation said that, not being a special constable or police officer, he had in his possession “an article of police uniform”, described in the document as an imitation law enforcement badge. Both allegations related to the same date and location.
The prosecution did not proceed with either charge. Bench chairman Huw McKee granted the request to withdraw the case. As reported by North Wales Live, he told Winter: “All the charges are withdrawn and you are free to go.”
Why Were the Charges Withdrawn?
The decision followed the prosecutor’s assessment that the evidence did not provide a realistic prospect of conviction. Grace Carson, prosecuting, made the application on behalf of the prosecution, and the magistrates accepted it.
No conviction was recorded and no findings of guilt were made. The withdrawal of the charges means the allegations will not be tested at trial.
What Did Craig Winter Say?
After leaving court, Winter told North Wales Live that he was “very pleased” with the outcome. He said he had never intended to claim that he was an officer of North uk/police/">Wales Police.
Winter said he was instead a “law enforcement officer for a political movement called Save Us Now”. According to North Wales Live, the movement works on issues including traffic-light safety and the Covid-19 vaccine.
What Happens Next in the Traffic Light Case?
Winter continues to face a separate criminal damage allegation. As reported by North Wales Live, he is accused of causing criminal damage to a traffic light belonging to Denbighshire County Council on June 29 this year.
He denies the allegation. A trial is scheduled to take place at Llandudno Magistrates’ Court next year.
In an earlier hearing reported by North Wales Live, Winter pleaded not guilty to the criminal damage charge. District Judge Gwyn Jones listed the trial for February 9 next year and granted Winter conditional bail.
Background of the Development
The impersonation allegation arose from an incident said to have occurred in Trefnant on August 26. Court documents described an alleged attempt to deceive by impersonating a special constable or police officer, alongside possession of an imitation law enforcement badge.
The case was heard at Llandudno Magistrates’ Court, where the prosecution applied to withdraw both charges after concluding that a conviction was not realistically achievable. The magistrates granted that application, ending the proceedings on those allegations.
Winter remains connected to a separate case involving an alleged offence against a Denbighshire County Council traffic light. That matter, which he denies, is due to be determined at trial in February next year.
Prediction: How This Affects Local Residents
For residents of Trefnant, Denbigh and the wider North Wales area, the withdrawn charges mean that no court has found Winter guilty of impersonating a police officer or possessing an imitation badge. The outcome may reduce public concern arising from the original allegations, while the separate traffic-light trial remains outstanding.
For people who encounter individuals claiming law-enforcement authority, the case highlights the importance of verifying identity through official channels rather than relying on clothing, badges or verbal claims. North Wales Police and other forces generally advise the public to ask for identification and, where there is doubt, to contact the force directly.
For the Save Us Now movement and its supporters, the withdrawal may be viewed as removing a legal obstacle for Winter, although it does not resolve the pending criminal damage allegation. The February trial will determine that separate matter, and any further public impact will depend on its outcome.
