Crime
Probation claims ‘not fair’, says solicitor as defendant jailed for hammer offence
Defence challenges report accusing Milford man of refusing to comply with community order
CLAIMS by the probation service that a defendant had refused to comply with community order requirements were strongly refuted by a defence solicitor when the case came before Haverfordwest magistrates this week.
Representing Josh Skipper, solicitor Tom Lloyd criticised what he described as a catalogue of inaccuracies in a probation report that recommended an immediate custodial sentence.
The report alleged that Skipper had:
- REFUSED to comply with his community order;
- was UNMOTIVATED to seek employment;
- had no ACTIVE SKILLS or activity preferences; and
- was not EASY to engage with.
But Mr Lloyd told the court these assertions were “simply not fair”.
“The report isn’t helpful in setting out the defendant’s background,” he said. “It’s just not fair.”
He told magistrates that Skipper had made repeated attempts to secure work in recent weeks, but had been unsuccessful. He added that the report criticised Skipper for having no skills or activities but offered no constructive recommendations such as unpaid work.
“It says he isn’t an easy person to engage with, but this is someone who was brought up in care from the age of 13 or 14,” Mr Lloyd said.
Skipper, 24, of Chestnut Way, Milford Haven, was before the court for sentence after pleading guilty to possessing an offensive weapon — a hammer — in a public place, namely Victoria Road, Milford Haven, on November 9.
Mr Lloyd accepted the offence crossed the custody threshold but urged magistrates to impose a suspended sentence.
“He understands it isn’t up to him to pick and choose what requirements they want of him,” he said. “But rather than be given a custodial sentence, his sentence should be suspended.”
Magistrates rejected the request, citing Skipper’s repeated offending and his lack of compliance with previous community orders.
Skipper was sentenced to 26 weeks in custody and ordered to pay a £154 surcharge and £85 costs. A forfeiture and destruction order was made for the hammer.
Multiple serious allegations before Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court
A MAN accused of a series of serious violent and public order offences has been remanded on conditional bail by magistrates.
Jamie Clews, aged 39, of Spring Gardens, Hubberston, appeared before Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court on Monday (Jan 12) in connection with multiple alleged offences spanning 2024 and 2025.
The court heard that Clews is charged with threatening a person with an offensive weapon or bladed article on January 1, 2024.
He also faces an allegation of wounding or inflicting grievous bodily harm without intent, contrary to section 20 of the Offences Against the Person Act, said to have been committed on June 7, 2024.
Further charges include making threats to kill on June 1, 2024, and criminal damage to property valued under £5,000, also alleged to have occurred on January 1, 2024.
In addition, Clews is accused of assault occasioning actual bodily harm on December 21, 2025.
The court was also told that on January 7, 2026, Clews was arrested by a police officer for breaking, or being likely to break, bail conditions, an issue which was addressed during the hearing.
Magistrates dealt with the case as an ongoing matter and remanded Clews on conditional bail. The specific conditions were not outlined in open court.
The case was adjourned for a further hearing at Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court on a date yet to be fixed.
Guilty plea entered at Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court
A PEMBROKE DOCK man has been fined after admitting a harassment offence.
Ryan Winterford, aged 33, of Cuckoo Wood, Pembroke Dock, appeared before Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court on Monday (Jan 12) where he pleaded guilty to a single charge of harassment without violence.
The offence, contrary to section 2 of the Protection from Harassment Act 1997, was committed on December 25, 2025.
Winterford entered his guilty plea at the first hearing, and the conviction was formally recorded by the court on Monday.
Magistrates imposed a fine of £153 and ordered Winterford to pay prosecution costs to the Crown Prosecution Service.
Guilty pleas entered at Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court
A MAN with no fixed address has admitted a series of offences including harassment, assault, and sharing an intimate image without consent.
Brandon Pugh, aged 26, appeared before Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court on Monday (Jan 12) where he pleaded guilty to three separate offences committed in Pembrokeshire last autumn.
The court heard that on October 30, 2025, Pugh carried out harassment without violence, contrary to section 2 of the Protection from Harassment Act 1997.
He also admitted assault by beating, an offence under section 39 of the Criminal Justice Act 1988, committed on November 6, 2025.
In addition, Pugh pleaded guilty to sharing a photograph or film of a person in an intimate state without their consent, an offence under section 33 of the Criminal Justice and Courts Act 2015, also committed on November 6, 2025.
All three guilty pleas were entered on December 23, 2025, and were taken into account by the court when sentence was passed.
As part of the outcome, Pugh was ordered to pay £200 in compensation. He was also ordered to pay costs to the Crown Prosecution Service.
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