Jury rejects defendant’s claim he only intended to cause serious injury after ambush attack on former partner

A JURY has found James McKenna guilty of attempting to murder his former partner in a pre-planned knife attack in Carmarthen Park.

The 57-year-old, of Bro Hedydd, Carmarthen, had admitted wounding Joanne Sidaway with intent to cause grievous bodily harm and possessing a bladed article in a public place. However, he denied attempted murder, claiming he intended only to cause serious injury rather than kill her.

After a week-long trial at Swansea Crown Court, the jury rejected his defence and returned a guilty verdict for attempted murder on Monday (July 27).

The court heard that on January 29 this year, McKenna spent hours searching for Ms Sidaway, knowing her daily routine. Armed with a large kitchen knife hidden inside a rucksack, he visited several locations before returning to Carmarthen Park.

Prosecutors said he concealed himself in bushes near an entrance to the park, waited until Ms Sidaway approached walking her dog, then launched a sudden attack, stabbing her repeatedly in the chest, arm and hands. The victim survived after escaping and raising the alarm.

Following the attack, McKenna fled the scene, discarding the knife and rucksack before evading police for several days. He was arrested in Aberystwyth on February 2 after a large-scale manhunt involving specialist search teams.

During the trial, the prosecution argued the attack was carefully planned and that the repeated stabbing of the victim’s upper body demonstrated an intention to kill. The defence accepted the attack had been planned but maintained McKenna intended only to inflict grievous bodily harm.

The jury found him guilty of attempted murder.

Detective Chief Inspector Sian Davies of Dyfed-Powys Police described the attack as “a shocking level of pre-planned violence which could have easily led to the victim’s death” and thanked the victim, witnesses and investigating officers for their roles in securing the conviction.

McKenna is due to be sentenced at Swansea Crown Court on Wednesday, September 2.

POLICE are appealing for witnesses and video footage after two mopeds were allegedly taken without their owners’ consent and ridden dangerously around Milford Haven.

Dyfed-Powys Police received several reports on Saturday, July 25, of two mopeds being ridden recklessly in the town.

Officers were subsequently informed that two mopeds had been stolen in the area.

Three youths have been arrested on suspicion of taking a vehicle without consent, driving without a licence and driving without insurance.

They have since been released on bail while police enquiries continue.

Police are asking anyone who witnessed the incidents, or who has CCTV, dashcam or mobile phone footage showing the mopeds being ridden on the morning of Saturday, July 25, to come forward.

Information can be provided online through the Dyfed-Powys Police website, by emailing [email protected], or by calling 101.

Crimestoppers can also be contacted anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Anyone contacting police should quote reference 26*603956.

Court heard the notice required accumulated dog faeces to be removed and prohibited abusive or threatening behaviour towards residents and housing officers

A STEYNTON man has been ordered to pay more than £1,100 after repeatedly breaching a community protection notice relating to dog mess and alleged anti-social behaviour.

Dameon Thorne, of Plas Peregrine, Steynton, was found guilty in his absence of three offences when the case was heard at Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court on Thursday, July 23.

The court heard that a community protection notice had been issued requiring Thorne to clear all dog faeces from the garden of his home and ensure that further fouling was removed promptly and not allowed to accumulate.

The notice also prohibited the use of abusive or offensive language towards residents or visitors to Plas Peregrine, as well as abusive or threatening verbal or written communications towards officers from housing association ateb.

Thorne was found to have breached the notice on April 28, May 19 and May 20 this year.

Magistrates imposed a £440 fine for the first offence, with no separate penalties imposed for the remaining two breaches.

He was also ordered to pay prosecution costs of £500 and a £175 victim services surcharge.

The total amount owed to the court is £1,115, which must be paid by August 20.