A man has been sentenced for threatening to set fire to the Silverdale Lodge homeless shelter, Johnson, following a night of binge drinking.

This week Haverfordwest magistrates were told that at around 7am on May 2, Billy Pitman, 29, left the Silverdale Lodge in a highly intoxicated state, and entered one of the local shops where he began accusing the shopkeeper of short-changing him as he attempted to purchase some items.  Pitman then proceeded to unleash a foul-mouthed assault on the shopkeeper.

“This had a huge impact on the staff member as they immediately reported the matter  to the police,” said Crown Prosecutor, Sian Vaughan.

After leaving the shop, Pitman returned to the Silverdale Lodge where he began unleashing his aggression on a member of staff.

“Once again he became aggressive, and started hurling racial insults at the staff member, telling them to go back to their own country,” continued Sian Vaughan.

“His behaviour escalated and he told them he’d smash  the door down and set fire to the property.”

Ms Vaughan said  the defendant’s comments had a strong impact on the Silverdale employee.

“ It made me feel very uncomfortable as the racist comments were totally unacceptable and uncalled for,” the employee said in a victim impact statement read out to the court.

As a result of Pitman’s behaviour, police firearms officers were summoned to attend and the defendant was arrested and conveyed to Haverfordwest police station.  But once again, his behaviour spiralled  out of control.

When he  was put inside the cell,  he proceeded to put items into the sink causing it to flood.

Pitman pleaded guilty to threatening to damage or destroy property at Silverdale Lodge; causing racially or religiously aggravated harassment, alarm or  distress to the staff member; causing criminal damage to the police cell, and using threatening or insulting words or behaviour to the shopworker. He was represented in court by solicitor Tom Lloyd, who stressed the defendant’s actions were the result of his ‘drink demons’.

“The defendant has huge periods of stability and is a very well thought of individual,” he said.  “But sometimes he has demons when he consumes alcohol, and can’t control his behaviour.  This is something he’s keen to address and he wants help.”

Mr Lloyd added that the defendant has since returned to the Silverdale Lodge to apologise for his behaviour on May 2.

Pitman, who is currently of no fixed abode, was sentenced to a 12-month community order during which he must complete 200 hours of unpaid work and 20 rehabilitation activity requirement days.  He was ordered to pay £100 compensation to both the shopkeeper and the Silverdale Lodge employee, £120 court costs and a £114 surcharge.

A LANDMARK court case in London could have major consequences for protesters across Wales after campaigners claimed four activists convicted of criminal damage may be sentenced as terrorists.

The case centres on the so-called Filton24, a group linked to Palestine Action, following damage caused at Elbit Systems’ site at Filton, near Bristol — just across the Severn from South Wales.

Although the case was heard at Woolwich Crown Court, its implications stretch far beyond England. Lawyers, campaigners and civil liberties groups say the sentencing could affect anyone in Wales involved in direct action protests, including demonstrations over Palestine, climate change, arms manufacturing, animal rights, or major infrastructure projects.

Four activists were convicted of criminal damage earlier this month after a retrial linked to damage at the Israeli-owned defence company’s Bristol-area facility. Two others were acquitted. The prosecution case concerned an incident in August 2024 in which equipment was damaged during a protest at the site.

Campaign group Defend Our Juries now says reporting restrictions have been lifted, allowing it to report that the court is considering whether the offences had a “terrorist connection” for sentencing purposes.

That does not mean the defendants were convicted of terrorism offences. Instead, the issue concerns sentencing law, under which an ordinary offence can be treated more seriously if the court finds a terrorist connection.

Campaigners say this would be the first time direct action protesters convicted of criminal damage are sentenced in this way.

The case is likely to be watched closely in Wales, where pro-Palestine protests have taken place regularly in Cardiff, Swansea, Aberystwyth, Bangor and other towns since the outbreak of the war in Gaza.

It also has relevance to Welsh campaigners involved in environmental and anti-arms trade activism, particularly because the Filton site sits close to the Wales-England border and within the wider Severn region.

Civil liberties campaigners fear the case could create a chilling effect, with protesters in Wales potentially facing far more serious sentencing consequences for direct action that causes property damage.

The issue is especially sensitive because the defendants were not convicted by a jury of terrorism offences. Defend Our Juries claims the jury was not told that a terrorist connection could later be argued at sentencing.

The group said: “The public will be astonished to learn that in the British justice system a protester can now be convicted of criminal damage for disrupting an arms factory, and then be sentenced as ‘terrorists’ without having been convicted of terror charges.”

Legal row

The case has also drawn attention because of a separate legal dispute involving defence barrister Rajiv Menon KC.

The Court of Appeal has reportedly ruled in Mr Menon’s favour after contempt proceedings were brought over comments made during a previous trial concerning the role of juries and their ability to acquit according to conscience.

Campaigners argue that restrictions placed on the defence prevented jurors from hearing key arguments about motivation, conscience, and the defendants’ beliefs about the use of weapons manufactured by Elbit Systems.

The court, however, will ultimately decide what material is legally admissible and what sentencing framework applies.

Broader implications

For Wales, the central question is whether a sentencing approach developed for terrorism-related offending could now be used in cases involving political protest and criminal damage.

If so, campaigners say activists could face longer prison sentences, stricter licence conditions, and the stigma of being treated as terrorist-linked offenders despite not being convicted of terrorism.

Supporters of tougher action argue that serious damage to defence sites, especially where violence or injury is involved, cannot be treated as ordinary protest.

The sentencing hearing is expected to take place on June 12.

Whatever the outcome, the case is likely to become a major test of how British courts draw the line between protest, criminal damage, and terrorism-related sentencing — with consequences that could be felt by campaigners across Wales.

POLICE are appealing for further victim-survivors to come forward after a former Bishop of Swansea and Brecon was jailed for multiple child sex offences.

Anthony Pierce, 85, of Swansea Vale, pleaded guilty at Swansea Crown Court to five counts of indecent assault on a child under the age of 16.

He was sentenced to four years and one month in prison.

Pierce will be placed on the sex offenders register for life and will be made subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order on his release.

South Wales Police said that, since his sentencing, three further reports of offences dating back to the 1970s and 1980s have been received and are now under investigation.

Detective Inspector Tom Richardson, of Swansea CID, said officers believed there may be other people who were subjected to Pierce’s offending.

He said: “We know how difficult it must be for anyone to have suffered abuse in the past to come forward now.

“It was the bravery of the victim who reported Pierce’s actions which was instrumental in bringing him to justice.

“Since the conviction and sentencing of Pierce we have received reports from three people who have taken that first step in coming forward.

“We believe that there may be others who have been subject to Pierce’s crimes and we want to provide reassurance that any reports will be fully investigated and dealt with sensitively and with compassion.

“We recognise that coming forward can be daunting but would encourage victim-survivors to speak with us so they can get the support and help they deserve.”

Anyone with information, or anyone who believes they may have been a victim, is asked to contact South Wales Police on 101 quoting occurrence number 2600140999.

Support and information about reporting sexual offences is available through South Wales Police.