Crime

Haverfordwest man jailed after violent attacks on partner

Published

2 months ago

October 2, 2025

A HAVERFORDWEST man who subjected his partner to hours of violence, including stubbing a lit cigarette into her face, has been jailed for 16 months.

Night of violence

Michael Simms, aged 43, turned up at his partner’s address in Haverfordwest on the evening of August 24, despite being barred from contacting her under a domestic violence protection order imposed just ten days earlier.

Over the course of four hours, Swansea Crown Court heard, he pursued her between different locations, turning up at a friend’s house, then following her home, before launching a series of assaults.

Prosecutor Regan Walters said Simms was believed to have been under the influence of drugs when he arrived. After returning with alcohol and cigarettes, he stubbed a burning cigarette into his partner’s cheek when she attempted to smoke.

The victim tried to escape, but Simms forced his way into her home, using his foot to stop the door closing and punching her in the face. Later, when she refused to hand over another cigarette, he hit her twice to the head.

Victim injured

The court heard the woman eventually fled to a neighbour’s house, where the neighbour saw swelling around her eye and a burn mark to her cheek. She called police, who attended at around 9:40pm and confirmed visible injuries.

Around 20 minutes later, Simms returned to the property, denying he had assaulted her and claiming instead that his “life was in danger” from the victim.

Previous history

The court was told that police had received almost 30 separate reports of domestic violence involving Simms in the previous twelve months, but no charges had been brought in those cases.

Simms also had a lengthy criminal record: 44 previous convictions for 69 offences, including a 2013 assault on a former partner who was pregnant at the time.

Defence plea

In mitigation, Emily Bennett said her client had begun using cannabis at the age of 15 before progressing to harder drugs including heroin and crack cocaine. She described his record as “unenviable,” but argued he had managed to stay out of trouble for five years before this incident.

She told the court that Simms had not been to prison for a decade and described the present sentence as a “sharp shock” that had left him “unhappy he had placed himself in this position.”

Sentence imposed

Judge Catherine Richards said the violence was aggravated by Simms’ previous record and the fact he was already subject to a court order when he carried out the attacks.

She sentenced him to 16 months in custody after he admitted assault occasioning actual bodily harm, three charges of assault by beating, and stalking involving fear of violence.

Crime

Two Milford Haven men sent to Crown Court on GBH charges

Published

10 hours ago

November 18, 2025

Court Reporter

The incident stems from a violent incident outside The Vibe public house, Milford Haven involving three men – a woman was also wounded in the incident

TWO Milford Haven men have been sent to Swansea Crown Court charged with section 18 wounding after an alleged incident in the town on November 15.

David McCallum, 41, of Plas Peregrine, Steynton, appeared before Haverfordwest magistrates court on Monday (Nov 17). He is accused of unlawfully and maliciously wounding a woman in Milford Haven with intent to cause her grievous bodily harm, contrary to section 18 of the Offences Against the Person Act 1861.

McCallum also faces a second section 18 charge alleging that, on the same date in Milford Haven, he unlawfully and maliciously wounded a man with intent to cause him grievous bodily harm.

He was represented by solicitor Tom Lloyd, with the prosecution conducted by Nia James.

On Tuesday (Nov 18), Nathan Abbott, 31, also of Plas Peregrine, Steynton, appeared before District Judge Mark Layton at Haverfordwest magistrates court.

Abbott is charged with unlawfully and maliciously wounding a man in Milford Haven on November 15 with intent to cause him grievous bodily harm, contrary to section 18 of the Offences Against the Person Act 1861.

He was represented by Mike Kelleher, of Welch & Co.

Abbott also gave no plea, and his case was likewise sent to Swansea Crown Court under section 51 of the Crime and Disorder Act 1998.

Both McCallum and Abbott were remanded on conditional bail.

McCallum’s bail conditions include a curfew from 7:00pm to 7:00am, to be electronically monitored, not to contact directly or indirectly witnesses, and not to enter any public house, licensed club or off-licence.

Abbott’s bail conditions include living and sleeping each night at his home address , not to contact witnesses directly or indirectly, and not to enter licensed premises.

Both men must appear for a Plea and Trial Preparation Hearing at Swansea Crown Court on December 19, 2025, at 9:00am.

No pre-sentence reports were ordered and no indication was given regarding any victim personal statements at this stage.

Crime

Aberystwyth man remanded after admitting cocaine supply

Published

10 hours ago

November 18, 2025

Court Reporter

Case sent to Swansea Crown Court for sentencing

AN ABERYSTWYTH man has been remanded in custody after admitting possessing cocaine with intent to supply and having £7,000 in criminal cash.

Luke Hutton, 25, of Corporation Street, appeared before Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court on Monday (Nov 17) for his first hearing. The case was heard by a bench of Mr J Steadman, Mrs M Scott and Mr R John. He was represented by Jessica Hill and Mike Kelleher, while the prosecution was led by Nia James.

Hutton pleaded guilty to two offences arising from a police incident at Yr Hafan, Princess Street, Aberystwyth, on November 14.

The first charge was possessing £7,000 in criminal property, contrary to the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002. The second was possessing a quantity of cocaine, a Class A drug, with intent to supply.

Magistrates were told that Hutton indicated guilty pleas to both matters on the day of his appearance.

Because of the seriousness of the charges, the bench committed the case to Swansea Crown Court for sentence under Section 14 of the Sentencing Act 2020. A pre-sentence report has been ordered.

Magistrates refused bail, citing the likelihood of further offending, the seriousness of the offences and the likely custodial sentence. Hutton was remanded into custody.

He will next appear at Swansea Crown Court on December 1, 2025, at 9:00am, for a committal for sentence hearing, listed for 30 minutes.

Crime

Motorcyclist to return to court over Dinas Cross crash that seriously injured woman

Published

10 hours ago

November 18, 2025

Tom Sinclair

Case adjourned after part-heard trial at Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court

A MAN accused of causing serious injury to a woman by careless driving on the A487 at Dinas Cross will return to court next month after his trial was adjourned part-heard.

Aleksandrs Lohins, 61, of Mayfield Terrace, Newcastle upon Tyne, is charged with causing serious injury by careless or inconsiderate driving, contrary to section 2C of the Road Traffic Act. The allegation relates to a collision on April 9, 2023, in which motorcyclist Anna Titorchuk suffered serious injuries.

Lohins is alleged to have been riding a Honda GL-1800 motorcycle, registration WJ05 MDE, without due care and attention when the incident occurred.

The trial began at Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court on Monday (Nov 17), with a bench comprising Mr J Steadman, Mrs M Scott and Mr R John. Lohins was represented by defence solicitor Mike Kelleher, while the prosecution was led by Nia James.

After hearing evidence, magistrates adjourned the case part-heard.

Lohins remains on unconditional bail.

The matter will resume at Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court on December 8, 2025, at 11:00am, in Courtroom 1. The hearing is listed for an estimated 20 minutes, and the defendant must attend.