Crime
Pembroke man to be sentenced over attempted child sex offences
Case sent to Crown Court as magistrates rule offences too serious
A PEMBROKE man who indicated he intends to plead guilty to a series of child sex offences has been sent to the Crown Court for sentencing.
David Lewis, 42, of Ashdale Lane in Pembroke, first appeared before Llanelli Magistrates’ Court on January 30, where he indicated guilty pleas to attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child and attempting to cause or incite a female child under 13 to engage in sexual activity.
A further charge of attempting to cause a child under 13 to engage in sexual activity was also put to him.
Magistrates ruled the case was too serious to be dealt with at their level and committed Lewis to Swansea Crown Court for sentencing.
The offences relate to online communications with what Lewis believed to be a 12-year-old girl, but which was in fact a decoy account.
Prosecutors said Lewis reached out to the account and continued messaging over several days in November.
During the exchanges he falsely claimed to be 20 years old and sent a photograph of a young male who was not him.
When the decoy account indicated the user was in school, Lewis continued to message and asked if he could see the girl in her school uniform. He also suggested she go to the toilet at school and open her shirt so he could see her.
The court heard Lewis also attempted to get the child to watch adult content and asked about meeting either her or a friend.
Police arrested Lewis on January 29 and took him to Haverfordwest police station, where his mobile phone was seized and linked to the Snapchat account used in the communications. During interview he answered “no comment” to police questions.
Further investigation of his devices uncovered indecent images of children. Officers seized seven devices, one of which contained 261 Category A images, 71 Category B images, and 51 Category C images.
Lewis has as one previous conviction for handling stolen goods. He had been on police bail since August 6 while officers investigated the offences.
At a recent hearing the case was adjourned for four weeks, with the judge indicating a suspended sentence may be considered.
Lewis was granted bail and is due to appear again at Swansea Crown Court for sentencing on April 9.
Crime
Two men bailed after Fleming Crescent burglary report
TWO men have been arrested following a reported burglary at a property in Haverfordwest.
Dyfed-Powys Police confirmed that officers were called after a residential burglary was reported at Fleming Crescent on Sunday (Apr 26).
The incident is understood to have taken place sometime between 8:35pm and 11:55pm.
Residents reported seeing police tape and several police vehicles in the area at around 9:49pm.
A police spokesperson confirmed that two men, aged 25 and 28, both from Pembrokeshire, were arrested on suspicion of burglary.
Both men have since been released on bail.
Crime
Pembrokeshire hairdresser avoids prison after pub assault
WHEN a Fishguard mobile hairdresser was branded a chav in her local pub, she took umbrage by throwing a glass of gin at the woman who had spoken the words.
But this week Haverfordwest magistrates heard that when the glass shattered into the victim’s face, the woman sustained lacerations to her neck and chin.
Appearing before the Bench was 43-year-old Donna Thomas of White Lodge, Dyffryn, Goodwick, who pleaded guilty to assaulting Hannah Llewhelin, causing her actual bodily harm.
The court was told that Thomas arrived at The Royal Oak pub in Fishguard, at around 8pm on October 18, accompanied by her husband. Approximately an hour later, Hannah Llewhelin arrived.
“The defendant began speaking to the victim and an argument broke out,” said Crown Prosecutor Dennis Davies.
“The defendant hit the victim to her face with a glass which smashed against her face, neck and skin, causing lacerations.”
Photographs of the lacerations were shown to the Bench.
But the probation service stressed that the assault had been prompted by a derogatory remark made to the defendant by Hannah Llewhelin.
“The defendant had had two drinks earlier that evening, she drank two more at the pub prior to the incident, and was tipsy but was aware of what was happening around her,” commented the probation officer.
“She went over to the table where the victim was sitting, her husband introduced her to the victim who he’d known since his school days, and they began discussing land on friendly terms. But the victim then laughed at the defendant’s job, which is a self-employed mobile hairdresser, and called her a chav.
“Without thinking, Donna Thomas went to throw the drink over the victim’s face but she knocked the glass. She didn’t intend to hurt her physically, but just wanted to throw the drink.”
Thomas was sentenced to 18 weeks in custody suspended for 18 months. During this time she must carry out 20 rehabilitation activity requirement days and 150 hours of unpaid work. She was ordered to pay £750 compensation to Hannah Llewhelin, a £154 court surcharge and £85 costs.
Crime
Farm worker overturns Mercedes when over drink-drive limit
A Pembrokeshire farm worker has lost his licence after overturning his Mercedes when he was over the drink-drive limit.
This week Haverfordwest magistrates were told that at around 3.40pm on January 10, police received reports that a black Mercedes had been involved in a single vehicle road collision on the A487 at Roch.
When officers arrived, they discovered the overturned Mercedes with its driver, Richard James, 45, trapped in the driving seat.
At around 5 pm James was arrested and transported to Withybush hospital where blood samples were carried out. These gave a reading of 112 mcg of alcohol, the legal limit being 80.
James, of Bryn Seion, Solva, pleaded guilty to drink-driving and was represented in court by solicitor Jess Hill who informed magistrates that the defendant had collected items for work on the afternoon in question.
“He’d consumed alcohol the night before and had also taken some prescribed medication,” she said. “He believed he would be safe to drive the following day, but obviously this wasn’t the case.”
Jess Hill added that James is expecting to lose his employment as a farm worker, as the mandatory driving ban will prevent him from driving the vehicles involved with his work.
James was disqualified from driving for 14 months and ordered to pay a £346 fine, a £138 court surcharge and £85 costs.
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