Laugharne defendant confronted by paedophile hunters at St Clears Travelodge before suspended jail term at Swansea Crown Court

A LAUGHARNE man who turned up at a Carmarthenshire hotel believing he was meeting a thirteen-year-old girl instead found himself confronted by paedophile hunters and later sentenced at Swansea Crown Court.

William John Williams, fifty-nine, had been communicating online with what he thought was a schoolgirl. The profile was in fact a decoy set up by a vigilante group.

When he arrived at the Travelodge St Clears for a pre-arranged meeting, members of the group were waiting and contacted police, handing over screenshots of his messages.

Prosecutor Matt Murphy told the court that Williams first made contact with the fake Facebook profile in October 2021. The supposed age of thirteen was made clear from the outset.

Despite this, the defendant sent repeated sexual messages, spoke about masturbating, requested photographs and told the “girl” on several occasions that his penis was erect. He also sent topless photographs of himself.

The court heard Williams urged the account holder to delete the messages, acknowledging he knew he should not be sending them because of her age.

Second fake profile

Members of the group later created another false account, posing as a businesswoman from Swansea, and arranged a date with Williams at the hotel in St Clears. They then liaised with another group to attend the rendezvous.

When Williams arrived, he was challenged and police were called.

During interview he answered “no comment”. In a later interview in February 2023, he claimed he did not believe the child was real and said he thought he was exposing scammers.

The court rejected that explanation.

Williams, of Orchard Park, Laugharne, pleaded guilty to attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child. He had no previous convictions.

Defence barrister Ian Ibrahim said more than four years had passed since the offending and highlighted delays of more than two years between arrest and court proceedings. He said the defendant, formerly employed in hospitality and construction, was now in poor health and had lost his good character.

Internet ‘unsafe for children’

Sentencing, Judge Catherine Richards told Williams it was the actions of “grown men like you” that made the internet feel unsafe for children and caused parents and carers real concern.

After credit for his guilty plea, Williams was sentenced to twelve months’ imprisonment, suspended for twelve months, and ordered to complete a rehabilitation programme.

He was also placed on the sex offenders register for ten years and made subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for the same period.

HRH The Princess of Wales, Catherine Elizabeth Middleton, visited Melin Tregwynt, a historic family-owned woollen mill, today, highlighting the enduring traditions and skills of the British textile industry.

Nestled in a secluded, wooded valley near Castlemorris, close to Haverfordwest, Melin Tregwynt has been in continuous operation since at least 1841. The mill, which employs over 40 local people, produces blankets, throws, scarves, cushions and clothing, blending traditional patterns with vibrant colours and contemporary design. Its products are admired globally, from Tenby to Tokyo.

During her visit, the Princess met Melin Tregwynt’s director, Louise Clarke, to learn how the mill preserves traditional craft skills. The company draws on generations of expertise among its staff to mentor young apprentices, ensuring the survival of this historic craft.

Her Royal Highness also spent time with weavers at the loom, observing the intricate process of Welsh double cloth weaving for which Melin Tregwynt is renowned. This traditional technique produces thick, reversible blankets with inverted patterns on each side. The Princess followed the journey of a blanket from initial design to the finished product, seeing the weaving loom in action and meeting the teams responsible for cutting, sewing and finishing the textiles.

The Princess, a long-standing advocate of the British textile industry, has personal connections to the trade: her paternal ancestors were owners of the Leeds-based woollen manufacturer and merchant William Lupton & Co. This visit continues a series of engagements celebrating British textiles, including a tartan-weaving studio in Stirling, Scotland, in January, and visits in 2025 to manufacturers in Carmarthenshire, Suffolk, Kent, and County Tyrone.

A spokesperson for Melin Tregwynt said: “We are honoured to welcome The Princess of Wales. Her visit shines a light on the skill, creativity and dedication of our teams and inspires the next generation of makers.”

The visit underlines the Princess’s ongoing commitment to promoting British craftsmanship and preserving the nation’s rich creative heritage.

MORE TO FOLLOW INCLUDING OFFICIAL PICTURES

Independent Haverfordwest store backs lifesaving crews with year of community fundraising

A WEST WALES department store has raised more than thirteen thousand pounds for a lifesaving emergency service after a packed year of community fundraising.

Staff at Vincent Davies Department Store collected £13,682 for the Wales Air Ambulance Charity, after voting the organisation their Charity of the Year for 2025.

The independent retailer organised events throughout the year, including an Easter bingo, bake sales, quizzes, raffles, staff sales, Christmas jumper days and a festive wreath-making workshop. Charity jam jars placed in Café Vincent also helped gather steady donations from customers.

One of the most popular attractions was the store’s charity singing penguin trio, which drew smiles from shoppers of all ages and boosted collections.

Sarah John, Joint Managing Director at Vincent Davies, said: “Raising £13,682 for the Wales Air Ambulance Charity is something we are extremely proud of at Vincent Davies Department Store. As a director, it’s wonderful to see our community come together to support a charity that makes such a lifesaving difference.”

The air ambulance is consultant-led, delivering hospital-level treatment directly at the scene of serious incidents and, when needed, transferring patients straight to the most appropriate specialist hospital.

Working in partnership with the NHS through the Emergency Medical Retrieval and Transfer Service, crews can provide advanced critical care including anaesthesia, blood transfusions and even minor surgical procedures before reaching hospital.

Operating across the whole of Wales, its teams travel the length and breadth of the country by helicopter and rapid response vehicle to reach patients quickly in both rural and urban areas.

This is not the first time the Haverfordwest store has backed the cause. In 2016, staff previously raised £5,831 when the charity was also chosen as their beneficiary.

Mike May, the charity’s West Wales Regional Fundraising Manager, said: “We are so grateful to Vincent Davies Department Store for raising an incredible amount for our charity. Throughout the year they put on a variety of different events and what a successful fundraising year it was.

“The charity needs to raise £13 million every year to keep our helicopters in the air and our rapid response vehicles on the road. By raising £13,682, the staff and customers have played an important part in saving lives across Wales.”

The store says it will announce its Charity of the Year for 2026 in the coming weeks.