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Crime

Homeless man sentenced for crimes fuelled by crack cocaine 

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A 30-YEAR-OLD man who has found himself homeless as a result of an addiction to crack cocaine was this week brought before magistrates after admitting causing criminal damage to his former partner’s front door.

The relationship between Reece Bateson-Fenwich and his girlfriend Jordan Thomas was described in court as being ‘volatile’.

“Both parties were frustrated with each other,” probation officer Charmain Fox told Haverfordwest magistrates this week.

“He believes she still has personal items of his, which have a monetary and a sentimental value. 

“He’s been very honest with me about his struggles of being homeless as well as his use of crack cocaine.  At the moment, he’s either staying with people who are using substances or who invite him to stay with them when he’s in possession of a substance himself.

“Until his accommodation is secure, he’s going to continue in this homeless cycle.”

Bateson-Feneck’s court appearance was the result of his visit to Ms Thomas’ home in the Mount estate, Milford Haven on March 16.

“She heard someone storming upstairs to her flat,” said Crown Prosecutor Abigail Jackson.  “She knew it was the defendant because of his voice.  He was banging on the door really loudly and her ring doorbell showed the defendant standing outside.

“He shouted ‘I want my tv back, after all you’ve done with me.  I swear to God, when I get in there I’m going to f****** stab you.”

Ms Jackson said that Jordan Thomas believed the defendant was on crack cocaine at the time of the incident.

“I knew he was on crack cocaine as he wasn’t speaking clearly,” she said.

Bateson-Feneck pleaded guilty to causing criminal damage to the door, valued at £39.99, and an additional charge of assaulting MS Thomas by beating during a previous incident on January 13 when he pushed the victim, making contact with her neck.

For both offences, Bateson-Feneck was sentenced to a 12-month community order during which he must complete 15 rehabilitation requirement days to address his accommodation situation.  He was also ordered to pay £100 compensation to Ms Thomas and £39.99 compensation for the damage caused to the door. 

 He was fined £120 and ordered to pay a £114 surcharge and £85 costs. 

 A restraining order was imposed preventing him from making contact with Jordan Thomas, visiting her home address and entering any information concerning her on any electronic device or social media.

 

Crime

Delivery driver jailed for fatal Llanpumsaint crash

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FOUR-and-a-half year sentence after driver sped through village and fled scene, leaving family searching for missing father

A DELIVERY driver has been jailed after causing the death of a father-of-two in a crash in Carmarthenshire.

Daniel Douglas Wyke, aged 28, from Carmarthen, was sentenced at Swansea Crown Court on Monday (Mar 30) after admitting causing death by dangerous driving.

The court heard that Wyke was travelling at 34mph in a 20mph zone through the village of Llanpumsaint on the evening of December 23, 2024, when he struck Aaron Jones, 38, who had been out walking his dog.

Aaron Jones

Mr Jones suffered fatal injuries in the collision.

Instead of stopping, Wyke fled the scene in his damaged vehicle. Police were able to quickly identify the vehicle involved, and he was arrested the following day.

The court was told that Mr Jones’ loved ones were left desperately searching for him in the hours after the collision, unaware of what had happened.

Sentencing, the judge described Wyke’s actions as “cruelly inhumane,” telling the court that he had been “more intent on saving his own skin” than considering the harm he might have caused.

He added that Wyke’s dangerous driving had cost the life of “a well-loved father of two children, an adored husband and son, and a man who was a good friend to so many.”

Wyke was jailed for four-and-a-half years and disqualified from driving for eight years and two months.

Paying tribute, Mr Jones’ family described him as “a remarkable, strong, caring and brilliant man who always led by the best example.”

They added: “We would like to thank Dyfed-Powys Police, and especially the investigation team, for thoroughly investigating Aaron’s case and supporting us during this awful time, and helping to secure today’s sentence.

“We would also like to thank Sandy Bear Children’s Bereavement Charity for their priceless continuing support to our family.

“We are so fortunate to have the support of dear family and friends but also a community that continue to care for us as we try to rebuild our lives without Aaron.”

Sergeant Nicholas Brookes, of Dyfed-Powys Police’s Serious Collision Investigation Unit, said: “This was a tragic incident that has left a family grieving a dad, husband and son, whose absence is felt as strongly now as 15 months ago.

“The defendant was proven to be driving incredibly dangerously through Llanpumsaint on the night of December 23, 2024, and Aaron’s death was the devastating – and entirely avoidable – result of this.

“Our investigation has been lengthy and detailed as we worked thoroughly to secure justice for Aaron’s family, who have been at the heart of all our actions.”

 

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Crime

Teen drug dealer admits offences after proactive police stop

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A TEENAGER has admitted dealing drugs after being caught with cocaine, cannabis and cash during a targeted police stop in Carmarthenshire .

Cole Stevens, aged 19, from Llanelli, was stopped by Dyfed-Powys Police officers after being seen driving a white Renault Clio suspected of being linked to drug supply in the area.

Officers from the Roads Policing Unit intercepted the vehicle on Capel Isaf Road shortly after 10:30pm on Saturday (Mar 28), carrying out a search under the Misuse of Drugs Act.

During the search, Stevens immediately admitted he was in possession of cannabis, handing it to officers. A further search uncovered a mobile phone hidden under the driver’s seat and a tobacco pouch containing 12 snap bags of white powder, confirmed by Stevens to be cocaine.

Police also recovered a wrap of white crystalline substance from inside his sock, along with £780 in cash.

Stevens was arrested on suspicion of possession with intent to supply drugs and taken into custody. A subsequent search of his home uncovered handwritten notes believed to be linked to drug dealing activity.

While in custody, Stevens made a number of incriminating remarks, including: “I just have to do it to earn a living,” and “you got me, you have what you need…”

Drug experts later confirmed the quantity of substances seized exceeded what would be considered for personal use, with an estimated street value of £1,460.

Stevens appeared at Llanelli Magistrates’ Court on Monday (Mar 30), where he pleaded guilty to possession with intent to supply cocaine, possession of cannabis, acquiring criminal property, and being concerned in the supply of cocaine between Oct 30, 2025 and Mar 28, 2026.

He was released on conditional bail and is due to be sentenced at Swansea Crown Court on April 20.

Detective Constable Steve Thomas said: “This result highlights our commitment to proactively removing drugs from our streets through targeted and intelligence-led patrols.

“The weight of evidence against Stevens left him no option but to plead guilty.

“If you are dealing drugs in the Dyfed-Powys force area, you will be caught and you will be prosecuted.”

 

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Crime

Police appeal after attempted child abduction in Haverfordwest

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DYFED-POWYS POLICE has launched an appeal for witnesses following a reported attempted abduction of a 12-year-old girl in Haverfordwest.

The incident is understood to have happened at around 3:55pm on Tuesday (March 24) on Scarrowscant Lane, near Furzy Park.

According to police, the child was approached by two men in a vehicle described as similar to a shiny blue Audi A4. The passenger got out, spoke to the girl and briefly grabbed her arm before releasing her and returning to the car.

The vehicle then drove off towards Furzy Park.

The girl was not injured and made her way home, where her parents alerted police.

The man who approached her is described as white, about 5ft 11in tall, with short dark brown hair and a brown beard. He is believed to be in his forties and was wearing a black T-shirt, black jogging bottoms and white trainers.

The driver remained in the vehicle and has not yet been described.

Officers have been carrying out enquiries since the incident was reported and are now urging anyone who may have seen what happened, or who may have dashcam footage from the area at the time, to come forward.

Anyone with information is asked to contact police quoting reference 26*235970.

 

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