Stephen Baldwin failed to report a change of address, foreign travel and complete his required periodic notification

A REGISTERED sex offender has admitted three breaches of the notification requirements imposed upon him.

Stephen Baldwin, aged 49, of Talley, near Llandeilo, appeared before Llanelli Magistrates’ Court on Friday, July 24.

Baldwin indicated guilty pleas to three offences under the Sexual Offences Act 2003.

The first charge stated that Baldwin failed to notify police of a change of address within the required three-day period on January 1 this year.

He also admitted failing to notify police of foreign travel within seven days of travelling on May 28, 2025.

A third charge related to Baldwin’s failure to complete a periodic notification which was due on April 24 this year.

The notification requirements apply to offenders who are required to keep police informed of certain personal details, including their address and overseas travel.

Baldwin was granted unconditional bail and will return to Llanelli Magistrates’ Court for sentencing on August 14.

The court ordered that a pre-sentence report be prepared.

Court told David Murphy failed to seek treatment for his dog’s skin disease, resulting in a suspended prison sentence and ten-year animal ban

A CARMARTHEN man has been banned from keeping animals for ten years after admitting that he caused unnecessary suffering to his dog by failing to obtain treatment for a skin condition.

David Allen Murphy, aged 40, of Quay Street, Carmarthen, appeared before Llanelli Magistrates’ Court on Friday, July 24, for sentencing following a prosecution brought by the RSPCA.

Murphy had previously pleaded guilty to causing unnecessary suffering to Cora, a Collie and German Shepherd cross, between November 28 and December 28 last year.

The court heard that Murphy failed to adequately investigate and address the dog’s skin disease, despite knowing, or being expected to know, that his failure to act was likely to cause suffering.

Magistrates imposed an 18-week prison sentence, suspended for 18 months.

The court said the offence was so serious that only a custodial sentence could be considered, but agreed to suspend the term because Murphy was considered to have a realistic prospect of rehabilitation.

Murphy was ordered to complete 120 hours of unpaid work and up to 25 days of rehabilitation activity under the supervision of the Probation Service.

He was also disqualified for ten years from owning, keeping, dealing in or participating in the keeping of any animal. He will not be permitted to apply for the ban to be lifted for at least seven years.

Murphy was ordered to pay £2,904.36 in costs to the RSPCA, a further £600 in court costs and a £154 victim services surcharge.

His guilty plea was taken into account, reducing the prison sentence from 26 weeks to 18 weeks.

Murphy also admitted failing without reasonable cause to surrender to court on July 23 after previously being released on bail. No separate penalty was imposed for that offence.

Jury rejects defendant’s claim he only intended to cause serious injury after ambush attack on former partner

A JURY has found James McKenna guilty of attempting to murder his former partner in a pre-planned knife attack in Carmarthen Park.

The 57-year-old, of Bro Hedydd, Carmarthen, had admitted wounding Joanne Sidaway with intent to cause grievous bodily harm and possessing a bladed article in a public place. However, he denied attempted murder, claiming he intended only to cause serious injury rather than kill her.

After a week-long trial at Swansea Crown Court, the jury rejected his defence and returned a guilty verdict for attempted murder on Monday (July 27).

The court heard that on January 29 this year, McKenna spent hours searching for Ms Sidaway, knowing her daily routine. Armed with a large kitchen knife hidden inside a rucksack, he visited several locations before returning to Carmarthen Park.

Prosecutors said he concealed himself in bushes near an entrance to the park, waited until Ms Sidaway approached walking her dog, then launched a sudden attack, stabbing her repeatedly in the chest, arm and hands. The victim survived after escaping and raising the alarm.

Following the attack, McKenna fled the scene, discarding the knife and rucksack before evading police for several days. He was arrested in Aberystwyth on February 2 after a large-scale manhunt involving specialist search teams.

During the trial, the prosecution argued the attack was carefully planned and that the repeated stabbing of the victim’s upper body demonstrated an intention to kill. The defence accepted the attack had been planned but maintained McKenna intended only to inflict grievous bodily harm.

The jury found him guilty of attempted murder.

Detective Chief Inspector Sian Davies of Dyfed-Powys Police described the attack as “a shocking level of pre-planned violence which could have easily led to the victim’s death” and thanked the victim, witnesses and investigating officers for their roles in securing the conviction.

McKenna is due to be sentenced at Swansea Crown Court on Wednesday, September 2.