Crime

Man jailed for public indecency and assault in Fishguard

Published

2 years ago

June 12, 2024

SWANSEA CROWN COURT has sentenced Mathew Reading to ten months in prison following an incident in which he exposed himself and urinated on his victim’s driveway.

The events unfolded just days after Reading attacked the same man in a Fishguard pub. Prosecutor Regan Walters recounted how Reading assaulted the man, who had his arm in a cast, on 27 January. Reading punched the victim, who then fell to the floor, where he was further kicked by an unknown assailant.

Following the attack, Reading was arrested and released on bail while police investigated. However, on the evening of January 31, the victim’s wife and their 12-year-old non-verbal autistic son were at home when their dog began barking. The boy went to the door to investigate and saw Reading exposing himself and urinating on their driveway.

“The defendant was standing with his penis exposed and he was urinating on the drive,” Mr Walters explained to the court. Reading then shouted threats and made obscene gestures towards the house. When the boy’s mother came to the door, Reading directed further abuse at her before attempting to approach the house. The quick-thinking mother shut the door, and Reading was arrested the following morning.

In a statement read by Mr Walters, the boy’s mother expressed her alarm and distress at Reading’s “completely out of order” behaviour. Reading remained silent during police questioning but later admitted to exposure and witness intimidation in the magistrates’ court.

Reading also faced charges of common assault for the pub attack, which he admitted. He will be sentenced for this offence at Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court on 13 June.

The court learned that Reading, of Maes Y Llan in Dinas Cross, has a significant criminal history, with 22 previous convictions for 30 offences. Defence barrister Caitlin Brazel informed the court that Reading had been in custody since 2 February, equating to an eight-month sentence already served. She attributed his actions to a “foolish and drunkenly motivated decision” rather than sexual intent, citing two family tragedies in 2019 that had sent Reading into a “downward spiral”.

Judge Paul Thomas KC condemned the pub attack as “a particularly cowardly attack” and sentenced Reading to eight months for witness intimidation and a further two months for exposure. Additionally, Reading must register as a sex offender for seven years. The court also issued a two-year restraining order to protect the victim.

Crime

Dock woman given mental health treatment order after supermarket thefts

Published

12 hours 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.

Stewart must also pay £214.05 compensation to the supermarkets, together with a £114 surcharge and £85 costs.

Crime

Grandmother banned after cocaine drug-drive offence

Published

12 hours ago

June 24, 2026

Sarah Jane Absalom

A GRANDMOTHER has been banned from the roads after being caught behind the wheel with 800 mcg of a cocaine metabolite in her system.

Eleri Phillips, 57, was stopped by police in the early hours of December 18 as she drove her Audi Q5 along Derwent Avenue, Steynton.

A roadside drugs swipe proved positive, and further blood tests carried out at the police station showed she had 45 mcg of cocaine in her system and 800 mcg of benzoylecgonine, a cocaine metabolite.

The legal limits are 10 mcg and 50 mcg respectively.

Phillips, of Brook Close, Steynton, Milford Haven, pleaded guilty to two drug-driving charges when she appeared before Haverfordwest magistrates. She was legally represented by solicitor Michael Kelleher.

“She is absolutely ashamed of what has happened,” Mr Kelleher told the court.

“She had been out with friends that evening and someone offered her cocaine. Very foolishly, she took it.

“As a result, she is now going to be disqualified from driving, which is going to cause problems not only for her but for her family, as she regularly helps look after her grandchildren with general pick-ups from school.”

Phillips was disqualified from driving for 12 months and fined £120. She must also pay £85 court costs and a £48 surcharge.

Crime

Milford Haven builder banned for second drug-driving offence

Published

12 hours ago

June 24, 2026

Sarah Jane Absalom

Court hears cannabis reading was five times the legal limit

A SELF-EMPLOYED builder has been banned from the road after committing his second drug-driving offence in ten years.

Robert Duncan, 44, was stopped by police at around 6:00pm on January 31 as he drove a Ford Focus along Steynton Road, Milford Haven.

Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court heard this week that officers had been observing the vehicle before requesting it to stop.

Duncan provided a positive roadside drugs wipe, and later blood tests showed he had 10mcg of Delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol in his system. The legal limit is 2mcg.

Crown Prosecutor Sian Vaughan told magistrates that this was Duncan’s second drug-driving offence within ten years.

Duncan, of Meyler Crescent, Milford Haven, pleaded guilty to drug-driving.

He was represented by solicitor Michael Kelleher, who said Duncan had believed the drug would have left his system by the time he got behind the wheel.

“He believed the drug would have been out of his system when he was driving, but it can take a considerable length of time to go,” said Mr Kelleher.

“In fact, this is the drug that takes the longest amount of time.”

Mr Kelleher said Duncan worked as a self-employed builder, but was currently unable to work large amounts of time because of family commitments.

Magistrates disqualified Duncan from driving for three years. He was also fined £80 and ordered to pay £85 court costs and a £32 surcharge.