Crime

Man sentenced for trashing Pembrokeshire hotel

Published

2 years ago

February 13, 2024

A HAVERFORDWEST man has appeared before magistrates after trashing the Windsor Hotel in Johnston, after booking a room before going on a drunken rampage.

Haverfordwest magistrates were told that on January 22, a booking was made by two males for a room at the Windsor Hotel. One of the males was the defendant, Michael Harper, of Freemans View, Merlins Bridge.

Crown Prosecutor Sian Vaughan informed the magistrates that when the men first arrived, there didn’t appear to be anything amiss.

But a short while later the owner, Ms Katherine Spurling, was alerted by ‘a lot of banging and crashing’ coming from the stairs.

“One male [Harper] came running towards me from the other side of the bar,” said Ms Spurling in a police witness statement.

“I tried to avoid him but he picked up a wooden chair and smashed it against the window. He then fell backwards over the chair but picked up another one and started banging the window again.

“I was terrified and I was screaming so much. I’ve run a hotel for over 20 years but have never experienced anything like this.

“I want the defendant to realise just how frightening this was for me and my partner. I thought they would be respectful guests, but they totally abused that.

“I’m now highly fearful that they’ll come back and take revenge.”

Ms Vaughan added that the criminal damage included curtains, blinds, a freestanding lamp and some walls. As a result, three bedrooms are currently unable to be let.

“I’ve worked hard all my life, but what happened has tipped me over the edge,” concluded Ms Spurling’s witness statement.

Harper, 22, pleaded guilty to causing criminal damage at the Windsor Hotel, Church Road, Johnston; of going equipped for a theft with a stanley knife, pliers, a screwdriver, gloves and balaclava and common assault against Katherine Spurling.

He was legally represented by Mr Ross Williams.

“My client has no recollection of the incident as a result of his level of intoxication,” he said. “He now wishes to move forward with his life.”

After considering a detailed probation report, magistrates sentenced Harper to a 12 month community order during which he must carry out 20 rehabilitation requirement days and 150 hours of unpaid work.

He was ordered to pay £3,000 compensation for the damage caused to the Windsor Hotel in addition to £85 costs and a £114 court surcharge. Magistrates also imposed a destruction order on all the items retrieved in relation to going equipped for a theft,

Crime

Milford Haven man admits assault and harassment charges

Published

3 days ago

May 21, 2026

Court Reporter

A MILFORD HAVEN has admitted assaulting a family member and harassing another relative following incidents in the town last year.

Wayne Whatling, 39, of Howarth Close, Milford Haven, appeared before Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court on Thursday (May 21).

Whatling changed his pleas to guilty to one charge of assault by beating and one charge of harassment without violence.

The assault charge relates to an incident in Milford Haven on September 13, 2025, when Whatling assaulted Ben Whatling by beating him.

He also admitted pursuing a course of conduct amounting to harassment against Carol Whatling between September 1 and September 13, 2025.

The court heard the harassment allegation involved repeatedly asking Carol Whatling for money, with the complainant said to have feared repercussions if she did not provide it.

Magistrates adjourned the case for the preparation of a pre-sentence report.

Whatling was remanded on conditional bail and ordered not to contact Carol or Ben Whatling directly or indirectly.

He is due to be sentenced at Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday (June 9).

Crime

Milford Haven man admits affray after alleged pub incident

Published

3 days ago

May 21, 2026

Court Reporter

A MILFORD HAVEN man has admitted affray following an incident at a town centre pub.

Stephen Collier, 38, of Vaynor Road, Milford Haven, appeared before Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court on Thursday (May 21).

Collier has pleaded guilty to affray, relating to an incident at Nos Da, Victoria Road, Milford Haven, on December 3, 2025.

The charge states that he used unlawful violence towards John Dean Hilton and that his conduct was such as would cause a person of reasonable firmness present at the scene to fear for their personal safety.

Collier also faces a separate charge of burglary dwelling with intent to inflict grievous bodily harm. It is alleged that, on the same date, he entered a flat at Nos Da as a trespasser and inflicted grievous bodily harm on Mr Hilton. He denies that charge.

The court also dealt with a breach of bail allegation after Collier was arrested on May 20 for allegedly breaching a curfew condition. He admitted the breach.

Magistrates re-admitted him to conditional bail.

His bail conditions include a daily electronically monitored curfew between 9:00pm and 6:00am, residence at his Vaynor Road address, and exclusions from Mount Estate, Milford Haven town centre, and Nos Da.

He must also not contact prosecution witnesses, including Molly Martin, Jack Martin, Lily Rose Martin and John Hilton.

Collier is due to appear at Swansea Crown Court on Friday, June 5, for sentence.

A spokesperson for Nos Da said the incident was connected with rooms upstairs at the Victoria Road premises, and did not take place in the bar itself, in the licensed area.