Court told David Murphy failed to seek treatment for his dog’s skin disease, resulting in a suspended prison sentence and ten-year animal ban

A CARMARTHEN man has been banned from keeping animals for ten years after admitting that he caused unnecessary suffering to his dog by failing to obtain treatment for a skin condition.

David Allen Murphy, aged 40, of Quay Street, Carmarthen, appeared before Llanelli Magistrates’ Court on Friday, July 24, for sentencing following a prosecution brought by the RSPCA.

Murphy had previously pleaded guilty to causing unnecessary suffering to Cora, a Collie and German Shepherd cross, between November 28 and December 28 last year.

The court heard that Murphy failed to adequately investigate and address the dog’s skin disease, despite knowing, or being expected to know, that his failure to act was likely to cause suffering.

Magistrates imposed an 18-week prison sentence, suspended for 18 months.

The court said the offence was so serious that only a custodial sentence could be considered, but agreed to suspend the term because Murphy was considered to have a realistic prospect of rehabilitation.

Murphy was ordered to complete 120 hours of unpaid work and up to 25 days of rehabilitation activity under the supervision of the Probation Service.

He was also disqualified for ten years from owning, keeping, dealing in or participating in the keeping of any animal. He will not be permitted to apply for the ban to be lifted for at least seven years.

Murphy was ordered to pay £2,904.36 in costs to the RSPCA, a further £600 in court costs and a £154 victim services surcharge.

His guilty plea was taken into account, reducing the prison sentence from 26 weeks to 18 weeks.

Murphy also admitted failing without reasonable cause to surrender to court on July 23 after previously being released on bail. No separate penalty was imposed for that offence.

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.