Crime

Haverfordwest man spared jail after two assaults on woman

Published

3 months ago

March 25, 2026

Sarah Jane Absalom

38-year-old given “final chance” despite probation warning of high risk of harm

A HAVERFORDWEST man has narrowly avoided a jail sentence after admitting assaulting a woman twice within a month.

Haverfordwest magistrates heard that the first assault took place on Tuesday (Jan 28), when Paul Webber, 38, struck the victim to the face. A month later, he carried out a second assault in the town centre, again targeting her face.

“The first was a knock to her face, and the second was a forceful slap, again to her face, both resulting in facial marks,” said Crown Prosecutor Nia James.

A victim statement read to the court described the impact of the abuse.

“Our relationship was becoming really hard, due to the violence and control he had over me,” she said.

“I’m relieved that I’m in a much safer environment, without being afraid of repercussions as I was before.”

She asked magistrates to impose a restraining order preventing further contact.

“I want to feel safe, knowing that he can’t approach me and subject me to further physical or verbal abuse,” she added.

Webber, of Glebe House, Haverfordwest, pleaded guilty to two charges of assault by beating and a third charge of possessing a Class A drug, namely 1.7 grams of crack cocaine, which was discovered during his arrest on Thursday (Feb 27).

A pre-sentence report recommended immediate custody, but this was challenged by his solicitor, Tom Lloyd.

“If he goes back to prison, he’ll come straight out and re-offend,” he said.

“He needs to work with probation to try and sort these issues out because without doing that, we’ll continue going round and round.

“His triggers are consistent and predictable, which means they are much easier to deal with.

“Paul Webber clearly needs help, and his response to supervision has previously been good. There are many things which could be beneficial to him and I find it very odd that probation’s conclusion doesn’t tie in with all the other factors.”

However, probation officer Julie Norman said Webber had already received extensive support.

“He’s been constantly supervised by probation over the last four years after every term of imprisonment, when we’ve worked with him to address his offending behaviour,” she said.

“But even though he attended, we question what he’s learnt from the intervention after committing an offence of this nature so soon after.

“In our opinion he remains a very high risk of harm to the victim.”

After lengthy consideration, magistrates opted to give Webber a final opportunity in the community.

He was sentenced to an 18-month community order, during which he must complete 150 hours of unpaid work and 25 rehabilitation activity requirement days, including anger management and substance misuse work.

A three-year restraining order was imposed, preventing him from contacting the victim directly or indirectly, entering any premises occupied by her, or accessing or sharing any information about her online.

Webber was also ordered to pay £100 compensation to the victim, along with £85 court costs and a £114 surcharge. A forfeiture and destruction order was made in relation to the crack cocaine.

Crime

Former Swansea Prison inmate died 48 hours after release

Published

20 hours ago

June 26, 2026

Tom Sinclair

A FORMER Swansea Prison inmate died from combined drug toxicity just 48 hours after being released, an official investigation has found.

Jason Maynard, 43, left HMP Swansea on May 23, 2024. Two days later, he was pronounced dead by paramedics after being found unresponsive in the back of a friend’s car.

The Prisons and Probation Ombudsman report says Mr Maynard had been given overdose-reversal medication before leaving custody and warned about the heightened risk of overdose after a period of reduced drug tolerance.

After his release, he attended his first probation appointment and was placed in temporary hotel accommodation by Swansea Council.

The following day, police were called after concerns were raised that Mr Maynard had a cut above his eye and appeared incoherent. He refused hospital treatment and was taken to his mother’s home.

The report says he later used drugs and drank alcohol with friends. He then fell asleep in a car outside an address, where he was later found unresponsive.

Mr Maynard had missed a substance misuse appointment on May 24 but attended the service the next day. Staff noted he had “blue around his mouth”, which caused concern about possible drug use.

The Ombudsman found that prison, probation and support services had taken appropriate steps before and after his release.

Its findings said Mr Maynard had received suitable substance misuse support, had been referred for accommodation, and had licence conditions in place covering drug and alcohol use, engagement with services and drug testing.

The report concluded that the necessary referrals and support arrangements had been made, but Mr Maynard died later the same day he attended the community substance misuse service.

Crime

Police appeal after reported rape at Young Farmers rally

Published

2 days ago

June 25, 2026

Tom Sinclair

POLICE are appealing for witnesses after an allegation of rape at a Young Farmers Club rally in Builth Wells.

Dyfed-Powys Police said the incident was reported to have taken place at Wernhalog Farm on Saturday, June 13.

Officers said it happened in the portaloo area sometime between 11:00pm and 11:45pm.

Anyone who witnessed anything, or who has information which could help the investigation, is asked to contact police.

Reports can be made online through the Dyfed-Powys Police website, by emailing [email protected], or by calling 101.

Information can also be given anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or through the Crimestoppers website.

Quote reference: 26*472649.

Crime

Dock woman given mental health treatment order after supermarket thefts

Published

3 days 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.