Crime

Milford man sentenced after confronting neighbour with fence post

Published

2 months ago

March 10, 2026

CCTV footage showed defendant entering garden while victim was home alone with children

A MILFORD HAVEN man has been sentenced for entering his neighbour’s garden brandishing what the court described as a highly dangerous weapon.

CCTV footage shown to Haverfordwest magistrates this week showed Leigh Barnard, 29, enter the garden of a property in Hakin in the night of November 3, 2024, and hurl abuse at the owner as he stood holding a short wooden fence post.

“I felt vulnerable and scared,” the victim told police officers following Barnard’s arrest. “I found the whole incident frightening”.

The Crown said that the complainant had resided at her property for a number of years, and had never experienced any unpleasantness until that night.

“She was home alone with her young daughters, as her husband had gone to work,” said Crown Prosecutor Sian Vaughan.

“She suddenly became aware of banging on the door and saw the defendant in the garden holding a piece of wood.

“He’d gone round there armed with the wood for no reason whatsoever.”

But Barnard’s solicitor, Matt Riddler, said the incident had been provoked by the defendant’s concern for his father who had arrived home earlier that evening having sustained a serious head injury.

“Tension was heightened because the defendant’s father had arrived with substantial injuries to his head, and blood pouring down his face,” said Mr Riddler. “Leigh Barnard went round to the property to defend himself and his father.”

When the police arrived at the property, Barnard immediately handed over the fence post to the officers.

“What happened that night was totally out of character,” concluded Matt Riddler.

“He has genuine remorse and will comply with anything the court thinks is appropriate.”

Barnard, of Alban Crescent, Waterston, Milford Haven pleaded guilty to possessing an offensive weapon in a public place.

After considering a comprehensive pre-sentence report prepared by the probation service as well as personal and professional referees in relation to Leigh Barnard, magistrates sentenced the defendant to a 12 month community order during which he must complete 20 rehabilitation activity requirement days and 100 hours of unpaid work.

No restraining order was imposed on the defendant, neither was Barnard ordered to pay any compensation to the victim. However he must pay a £114 court surcharge and £85 costs.

A forfeiture and destruction order was imposed for the wooden fence post.

Crime

Farm worker overturns Mercedes when over drink-drive limit

Published

33 minutes ago

April 29, 2026

Sarah Jane Absalom

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.

Crime

Pembrokeshire man charged with making hundreds of indecent images of children

Published

1 hour ago

April 29, 2026

Sarah Jane Absalom

A Pembrokeshire man has appeared before magistrates charged with making hundreds of indecent images of children.

David Lewis, 42, is accused of making 261 of the most serious category A images of a child together with 71 category B images and 51 category C images of a child. The offences are alleged to have been committed between March 19, 2025 and August 6, 2025.

He is further accused of distributing one indecent category A image of a child at an undisclosed location in Llanteg, Narberth, on July 27, 2025.

This week Lewis – formerly of Ashdale Lane, Pembroke but now residing at Hoopers Guest House in Swansea – appeared before Haverfordwest magistrates where he submitted no pleas to all four charges.

Crown Prosecutor Dennis Davies told magistrates that a total of 81,000 images and videos are currently being investigated in respect of the defendant, with the result that the police enquiry is not yet complete.

“A lot of these photographs are of babies, with the result that their severity is not suitable for the magistrates court,” Dennis Davies told the Haverfordwest Bench.

As a result of the Crown’s comments, magistrates declined jurisdiction and the matter will now be dealt with by Swansea Crown Court, commencing on May 29. Lewis was released on unconditional bail.

Crime

Man appears in court charged over death of Blood Bike Wales volunteer

Published

21 hours ago

April 28, 2026

Sarah-Jane Absalom

FAMILY WATCHED FROM PUBLIC GALLERY AS CASE SENT TO CROWN COURT

A PEMBROKESHIRE man has appeared before magistrates charged with causing the death of Blood Bike Wales volunteer Tim Minett by dangerous driving.

Mr Minett was riding a Blood Bike Wales Honda motorcycle on the afternoon of July 2, 2025, when it was involved in a collision with a Volkswagen Crafter van on the A478 between Glandycross and Blaenffos.

He had been transporting blood supplies for the NHS at the time.

This week the van’s driver, Roger King, 57, appeared before Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court charged with causing Mr Minett’s death by dangerous driving.

King stood in the dock to confirm his name, age and address as members of Mr Minett’s family watched from the public gallery.

Magistrates were told that, due to the seriousness of the allegation, the case can only be dealt with at the Crown Court.

Proceedings will continue at Swansea Crown Court on May 29.

King was released on unconditional bail until that date.c