Crime

Sentenced for breaching order by sending texts to ex-partner’s friend

Published

2 years ago

January 24, 2024

A PENALLY man has been sentenced after messaging a friend he had known for 30 years while she was in the company of another woman he had been prohibited from contacting.

Unknown to Shane Lloyd, his actions resulted in him breaching a restraining order which had been imposed by a law court in July 2023.

The two-year order prevented Shane Lloyd from having any direct or indirect contact with his former partner, and the order was to run until 2025.

But on January 17, 2024, Lloyd sent messages to a friend via Facebook.
“The defendant called her on Facebook messenger when she was with his former partner,” Crown Prosecutor Sian Vaughan told Haverfordwest magistrates this week.

“The call was on speaker so his former partner was able to hear everything that was being said. He began screaming and shouting abuse that he was going to kick the door down and kick [his partner’s] head in. This has affected her and she’s petrified.”

Lloyd, of Alma Gardens, Penally, pleaded guilty to the charge of breaching the restraining order, however his solicitor, Tom Lloyd, stressed that his client was unaware that his actions constituted a breach.

“My client contacted a woman who he has been friends with for 30 years,” he said. “There’s nothing stopping him from contacting that lady and he’s at liberty to do so.

“He was literally talking to an old friend in text messages, not realising that his friend happened to be with his former partner. So he accepts now that he was in breach. But if he’d known that at the time, he would never have messaged her.”

After considering the mitigation, magistrates extended Lloyd’s restraining order by two years, which means it will now run until 2027. He was also fined £80 and ordered to pay £85 costs and a £32 court surcharge.

Crime

Milford Haven man admits assault and harassment charges

Published

4 days ago

May 21, 2026

Court Reporter

A MILFORD HAVEN has admitted assaulting a family member and harassing another relative following incidents in the town last year.

Wayne Whatling, 39, of Howarth Close, Milford Haven, appeared before Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court on Thursday (May 21).

Whatling changed his pleas to guilty to one charge of assault by beating and one charge of harassment without violence.

The assault charge relates to an incident in Milford Haven on September 13, 2025, when Whatling assaulted Ben Whatling by beating him.

He also admitted pursuing a course of conduct amounting to harassment against Carol Whatling between September 1 and September 13, 2025.

The court heard the harassment allegation involved repeatedly asking Carol Whatling for money, with the complainant said to have feared repercussions if she did not provide it.

Magistrates adjourned the case for the preparation of a pre-sentence report.

Whatling was remanded on conditional bail and ordered not to contact Carol or Ben Whatling directly or indirectly.

He is due to be sentenced at Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday (June 9).

Crime

Milford Haven man admits affray after alleged pub incident

Published

4 days ago

May 21, 2026

Court Reporter

A MILFORD HAVEN man has admitted affray following an incident at a town centre pub.

Stephen Collier, 38, of Vaynor Road, Milford Haven, appeared before Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court on Thursday (May 21).

Collier has pleaded guilty to affray, relating to an incident at Nos Da, Victoria Road, Milford Haven, on December 3, 2025.

The charge states that he used unlawful violence towards John Dean Hilton and that his conduct was such as would cause a person of reasonable firmness present at the scene to fear for their personal safety.

Collier also faces a separate charge of burglary dwelling with intent to inflict grievous bodily harm. It is alleged that, on the same date, he entered a flat at Nos Da as a trespasser and inflicted grievous bodily harm on Mr Hilton. He denies that charge.

The court also dealt with a breach of bail allegation after Collier was arrested on May 20 for allegedly breaching a curfew condition. He admitted the breach.

Magistrates re-admitted him to conditional bail.

His bail conditions include a daily electronically monitored curfew between 9:00pm and 6:00am, residence at his Vaynor Road address, and exclusions from Mount Estate, Milford Haven town centre, and Nos Da.

He must also not contact prosecution witnesses, including Molly Martin, Jack Martin, Lily Rose Martin and John Hilton.

Collier is due to appear at Swansea Crown Court on Friday, June 5, for sentence.

A spokesperson for Nos Da said the incident was connected with rooms upstairs at the Victoria Road premises, and did not take place in the bar itself, in the licensed area.