Crime

Suspended sentence following serious threats to a 14-year-old child

Published

2 years ago

October 29, 2024

A 58-YEAR-OLD man has been spared a jail sentence despite terrifying a 14-year-old child by threatening to ‘put him into the ground’.

John Jenkins was brought before Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court for sentence after admitting assaulting and ill treating the child at a previous hearing, causing him unnecessary suffering.

“You shouted aggressively in the child’s face and you terrified him,” said District Judge Mark Layton when imposing sentence.

“You called him a bully which was ironic, because this is what you were at the time.”

The assault took place in the early hours of November 26, 2022 at a property in Jameston where the child lives with his mother.

Jenkins, of Quoits Mill Ponds, Hundleton and the child’s mother had spent the evening drinking at a local pub, and at approximately 10pm, the child went to the pub alone, looking for his mother, as he wanted her to return home. The couple declined.

They eventually returned the property at 2am, however the defendant became angry when he discovered the child wasn’t in bed.

Jenkins chased him upstairs and when the boy fell over, the defendant pinned him down by putting his arms on either side of him, preventing him from moving away.

“At the same time, the defendant made some very damaging comments towards the child in the nature of threats,” said Crown Prosecutor Nia James. “These were captured on the child’s mobile phone.”

Jenkins could be heard shouting at the child, “If you don’t change, I’ll put you in the ground.

“I’m not putting up with your s***, do you understand?

“Who’s the boss? Your mother is. So f*** off.”

Throughout the harrowing incident, the child could be heard crying and repeatedly saying, ‘Yes John.’

At one point he could be heard saying, ‘Mum, help me!’ while a woman’s voice could be heard saying ‘No’.

Jenkins was represented in court by solicitor Mr Tom Lloyd who said the defendant was deeply remorseful for the offence.

“The loss of control at the time was something that he deeply regrets,” he said.

Jenkins was sentenced to 24 weeks in custody suspended for two years. He must carry out 20 rehabilitation activity requirement days and was ordered to pay £154 court surcharge and £85 costs.

“If you commit any further offences, particularly towards this child, then you will be sent to prison. I want to be absolutely clear about that,” said Judge Layton.

He awarded no compensation to the 14-year-old victim.

“Given the age of the victim, the compensation will doubtlessly go to the mother,” he said. “I can’t see it going to the child, so there will be no compensation.”

Crime

Dock woman given mental health treatment order after supermarket thefts

Published

14 hours ago

June 24, 2026

Sarah Jane Absalom

A PEMBROKE DOCK woman has been placed on a mental health treatment requirement after repeatedly stealing meat, cheese and other grocery items from local supermarkets.

Lisa Stewart, 45, admitted three theft offences when she appeared before Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court this week.

The first offence took place on March 11, when Stewart stole Vanish, Lenor and three packs of Persil capsules from Home Bargains in Pembroke Dock, with a total value of £58.41.

The following month, she stole four small beef joints, four steaks and three blocks of cheese from Asda in Pembroke Dock, worth £55.68.

Seven days later, she stole four legs of lamb from Farmfoods in Pembroke Dock, valued at £99.96.

Stewart, of Truscott House, London Road, Pembroke Dock, also pleaded guilty to failing to surrender to police bail on or around May 26.

She was represented in court by solicitor Alaw Harries, who told magistrates the thefts involved items of relatively low value and were not the result of “sophisticated offending”.

“The defendant has had an exceptionally difficult time, as last year she lost her partner to cancer and has struggled profoundly to process that grief,” said Ms Harries.

“Instead, she has attempted to cope by taking more of her prescribed medication than she should. And this is what has led her to be here today.”

Ms Harries said Stewart is now motivated to address her issues.

Magistrates sentenced Stewart to an 18-month community order. She must complete 15 rehabilitation activity requirement days, a 12-month mental health treatment requirement and a 12-month drug rehabilitation requirement.

The order will include monthly reviews in court.

Stewart must also pay £214.05 compensation to the supermarkets, together with a £114 surcharge and £85 costs.

Crime

Grandmother banned after cocaine drug-drive offence

Published

14 hours ago

June 24, 2026

Sarah Jane Absalom

A GRANDMOTHER has been banned from the roads after being caught behind the wheel with 800 mcg of a cocaine metabolite in her system.

Eleri Phillips, 57, was stopped by police in the early hours of December 18 as she drove her Audi Q5 along Derwent Avenue, Steynton.

A roadside drugs swipe proved positive, and further blood tests carried out at the police station showed she had 45 mcg of cocaine in her system and 800 mcg of benzoylecgonine, a cocaine metabolite.

The legal limits are 10 mcg and 50 mcg respectively.

Phillips, of Brook Close, Steynton, Milford Haven, pleaded guilty to two drug-driving charges when she appeared before Haverfordwest magistrates. She was legally represented by solicitor Michael Kelleher.

“She is absolutely ashamed of what has happened,” Mr Kelleher told the court.

“She had been out with friends that evening and someone offered her cocaine. Very foolishly, she took it.

“As a result, she is now going to be disqualified from driving, which is going to cause problems not only for her but for her family, as she regularly helps look after her grandchildren with general pick-ups from school.”

Phillips was disqualified from driving for 12 months and fined £120. She must also pay £85 court costs and a £48 surcharge.

Crime

Milford Haven builder banned for second drug-driving offence

Published

15 hours ago

June 24, 2026

Sarah Jane Absalom

Court hears cannabis reading was five times the legal limit

A SELF-EMPLOYED builder has been banned from the road after committing his second drug-driving offence in ten years.

Robert Duncan, 44, was stopped by police at around 6:00pm on January 31 as he drove a Ford Focus along Steynton Road, Milford Haven.

Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court heard this week that officers had been observing the vehicle before requesting it to stop.

Duncan provided a positive roadside drugs wipe, and later blood tests showed he had 10mcg of Delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol in his system. The legal limit is 2mcg.

Crown Prosecutor Sian Vaughan told magistrates that this was Duncan’s second drug-driving offence within ten years.

Duncan, of Meyler Crescent, Milford Haven, pleaded guilty to drug-driving.

He was represented by solicitor Michael Kelleher, who said Duncan had believed the drug would have left his system by the time he got behind the wheel.

“He believed the drug would have been out of his system when he was driving, but it can take a considerable length of time to go,” said Mr Kelleher.

“In fact, this is the drug that takes the longest amount of time.”

Mr Kelleher said Duncan worked as a self-employed builder, but was currently unable to work large amounts of time because of family commitments.

Magistrates disqualified Duncan from driving for three years. He was also fined £80 and ordered to pay £85 court costs and a £32 surcharge.