News
Milford man accused of ‘violently raping’ two 16-year-old girls
THE trial has opened in the case of Nathan John, the 19-year-old Milford man accused of ‘violently raping’ two 16-year-old girls in near identical circumstances 19 months apart.
This afternoon (Monday, Oct 14), barrister James Harston KC, told a jury at Swansea Crown Court how both girls were allegedly led away by John after he complimented them on their beauty.
The Crown maintains that as soon as the girls were isolated, they were both subjected to violent rape.
The first alleged rape took place on the night of October 2, 2022 after the 16-year-old girl met Nathan John at the Circles nightclub, Milford Haven.
“They kissed and danced inside the club and she agreed to let him walk her home,” said James Harston, for the Crown.
“As he did so, he told her she was beautiful. She agreed to kiss him, but this wasn’t enough for him.”
The Crown claims that John then isolated the woman in a lane and took his trousers down.
“What then followed was a frenzy of violent and sexual offending, taking a number of different forms,” said James Hartson.
The Crown states that while John was carrying out the rape and sexual assaults on the young woman, he slapped her across the face and pulled her to her knees by her hair before making her perform other sexual acts on him.
“After he ejaculated inside her mouth, he slapped her again but then he kept asking her what he’d just done.”
The second rape is alleged to have taken place on May 16, 2024 when John began speaking with another 16-year-old girl, this time in Haverfordwest.
“They decided to walk together and, just as he did with the first girl, he started telling her she was pretty,” said James Hartson.
”He led her to a car park and started to kiss her, but she pulled away. He grabbed her throat and she started screaming, but he didn’t take no for an answer. He dragged her down some steps and started pulling her trousers down.”
The Crown alleged that John then proceeded to bend the girl over some railings and raped her.
“He told her that if she didn’t do it, then he was going to kill her,” continued James Hartson. “She was terrified, because earlier in the walk he’d shown her a knife that he was carrying in his pocket.”
After raping her, John punched the girl to her face, causing her to fall to the ground and then ran away.
“Neither of these girls knew each other, so have they colluded in these allegations?” questioned James Hartson.
“ Have they invented these matters?
“And the defendant’s claim that they were both consenting [to sexual intercourse] is garbage, as each complainant resisted and told him to stop. This man committed two violent rapes on two teenage girls in almost identical circumstances, 19 months apart.”
John, of Richard John Road, Milford Haven, faces a total of seven sexual charges, including two charges of rape. He denies all seven offences.
The trial continues throughout this week, and John was remanded in custody.
Business
First wind turbine components arrive as LNG project moves ahead
THE FIRST ship carrying major components for Dragon LNG’s new onshore wind turbines docked at Pembroke Port yesterday afternoon, marking the start of physical deliveries for the multi-million-pound renewable energy project.
The Maltese-registered general cargo vessel Peak Bergen berthed at Pembroke Dock shortly after 4pm on Wednesday, bringing tower sections and other heavy components for the three Enercon turbines that will eventually stand on land adjacent to the existing gas terminal at Waterston.
A second vessel, the Irish-flagged Wilson Flex IV, is due to arrive in the early hours of this morning (Thursday) carrying the giant rotor blades.
The deliveries follow a successful trial convoy on 25 November, when police-escorted low-loader trailers carried dummy loads along the planned route from the port through Pembroke, past Waterloo roundabout and up the A477 to the Dragon LNG site.
Dragon LNG’s Community and Social Performance Officer, Lynette Round, confirmed the latest movements in emails to the Herald.
“The Peak Bergen arrived yesterday with the first components,” she said. “We are expecting another delivery tomorrow (Thursday) onboard the Wilson Flex IV. This will be blades and is currently showing an ETA of approximately 03:30.”
The £14.3 million project, approved by Welsh Ministers last year, will see three turbines with a combined capacity of up to 13.5 MW erected on company-owned land next to the LNG terminal. Once operational – expected in late 2026 – they will generate enough electricity to power the entire site, significantly reducing its carbon footprint.
Port of Milford Haven shipping movements showed the Peak Bergen approaching the Haven throughout Wednesday morning before finally tying up at the cargo berth in Pembroke Dock. Cranes began unloading operations yesterday evening.
Weather conditions are currently favourable for this morning’s arrival of the Wilson Flex IV, which was tracking south of the Smalls at midnight.
The abnormal-load convoys carrying the components from the port to Waterston are expected to begin next week, subject to final police and highway approvals.
A community benefit fund linked to the project will provide training opportunities and energy-bill support for residents in nearby Waterston, Llanstadwell and Neyland.
Further updates will be issued by Dragon LNG as the Port of Milford Haven as the delivery programme continues.
Photo: Martin Cavaney
Crime
Banned for 40 months after driving with cocaine breakdown product in blood
A MILFORD HAVEN woman has been handed a lengthy driving ban after admitting driving with a controlled drug in her system more than ten times over the legal limit.
SENTENCED AT HAVERFORDWEST
Sally Allen, 43, of Wentworth Close, Hubberston, appeared before Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court on Thursday (Dec 4) for sentencing, having pleaded guilty on November 25 to driving with a proportion of a specified controlled drug above the prescribed limit.
The court heard that Allen was stopped on August 25 on the Old Hakin Road at Tiers Cross while driving an Audi A3. Blood analysis showed 509µg/l of Benzoylecgonine, a breakdown product of cocaine. The legal limit is 50µg/l.
COMMUNITY ORDER AND REHABILITATION
Magistrates imposed a 40-month driving ban, backdated to her interim disqualification which began on November 25.
Allen was also handed a 12-month community order, requiring her to complete 10 days of rehabilitation activities as directed by the Probation Service.
She was fined £120, ordered to pay £85 prosecution costs and a £114 surcharge. Her financial penalties will be paid in £25 monthly instalments from January 1, 2026.
The bench—Mrs H Roberts, Mr M Shankland and Mrs J Morris—said her guilty plea had been taken into account when passing sentence.
Local Government
Sewage leak at Pembroke Commons prompts urgent clean-up works
Council pollution officers say they have no enforcement powers over Welsh Water infrastructure
SEWAGE contamination on the Commons in Pembroke has prompted an urgent response from pollution officers, after a leak was reported by a member of the public on Tuesday.
Pembrokeshire County Council’s Pollution Control Team confirmed they were alerted yesterday afternoon to sewage surrounding a manhole cover on the site. The Herald understands that officers immediately notified Welsh Water (DCWW) network technicians to investigate the incident “as a matter of urgency”.
County councillor Jonathan Grimes, who represents Pembroke St Mary South and Monkton, said the authority had been clear that it holds no enforcement powers over Welsh Water assets.
“Whilst we work constructively with Welsh Water, we have no authority to intervene on their apparatus or to carry out enforcement action against them for such pollution incidents,” the Pollution Control Team said in a statement shared with the councillor.
Urgent works underway
Council officers visited the site on Wednesday morning alongside contractors and Welsh Water technicians to assess clean-up options. According to the team, works will include cleaning the contaminated ground in and around the manhole cover and fencing off the affected area “until safe”.
Cllr Grimes said officers would return to the scene on Thursday to check on progress and ensure the area is properly secured.
Residents who notice any further issues have been urged to contact the Pollution Control Team directly.
Further updates are expected later this week.
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