Crime

Court hears how young girl was ‘raped in a lane’ in Milford Haven

Published

2 months ago

October 14, 2024

A JURY has heard the harrowing evidence of a woman who was allegedly raped in a lane in Milford Haven by 19-year-old Nathan John.

The woman, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was just 16-years-old when she was allegedly led down a lane after leaving Circles nightclub on the night of October 2, 2022.

“I didn’t want to go [down the lane], because I didn’t trust him,” said in a pre-recorded interview with Dyfed-Powys Police officers that was played to a jury at Swansea Crown Court on Monday afternoon.

“But he’d put my jacket down his trousers and said if I wanted it back, then I had to get it.”

The court was told that John and the young woman had kissed ‘around five times’ earlier that evening when they were both in Circles nightclub.

But according to the Crown, John’s behaviour towards the woman turned violent when they left the venue.

“When we left Circles he said he was going to walk me home, and I was comfortable in his presence, but when he wanted to go down the lane, he got more aggressive.

“He grabbed me by the arms and I tried to walk away, but he kept stopping me, and that’s when he pushed me down and got aggressive,” she said.

“He covered my mouth and slapped me across my face twice, and then he pulled my jeans down.

“By now I was crying and I just wanted to go home.”

“When he was raping me, I just accepted that that was what he was doing – I was scared of him.”

The young woman, now 18, who gave her evidence with her shoulders hunched forward, staring at her hands, said that John bit her on the cheek and grabbed her hair, using it to pull her up.

“He then grabbed me by the chin and ejaculated in my mouth,” she said.

But under cross-examination after the complainant took to the witness stand in Swansea Crown Court the defence barrister John Tarrant, KC, claimed she had consented to having sex with Nathan John.

“There was a suggestion by you to take things further, and immediately outside the alley you were both keen on each other and you both wanted to have sex.

“Did you walk in, on your own free will, knowing that you were going to have sex?

“Did you undo the belt on his jeans?

“Did you pull his jeans down?”

Close to tears, the woman rejected each of the defence’s claims.

“No, I did not,” she said.

Richard John has pleaded not guilty to seven charges of sexually assaulting two women, both aged 16, in October 2022 and May 2024.

These include two charges of rape.

His trial is expected to continue throughout this week.

Crime

Three men from London admit their guilt over illegal cannabis farm

Published

20 hours ago

December 21, 2024

Tom Sinclair

THREE men admit their guilt after police discover over 700 cannabis plants during a raid on a former school building in Llandysul.

Officers from Dyfed-Powys Police executed a warrant at the former Ysgol Gynradd Llandysul on Heol Llyn Y Fran on November 15. Inside, they found 737 cannabis plants spread across multiple rooms.

Armeld Troksi, 29, and Njazi Gjana, 27, both from Empire Avenue in Edmonton, London, along with Ervin Gjana, 24, from Durham Avenue in Romford, were arrested at the scene and later charged with producing cannabis.

The three men appeared before Swansea Crown Court, where they admitted their involvement in the illegal operation. Defence solicitor Joshua Scouller requested a pre-sentence report for Ervin Gjana, which was granted by Judge Geraint Walters.

Sentencing is scheduled for January 20.

A Dyfed-Powys Police spokesperson said: “Following a warrant executed at the former school on Heol Llyn Y Fran, officers discovered a significant cannabis grow containing 737 plants.

“We are grateful to the local community for their continued support and cooperation. Officers will remain in the area while the site is secured.

“Our commitment remains firm in disrupting drug production and supply networks across our force area.

“We encourage residents to report any suspicious activity, no matter how small it may seem. Every piece of information can make a difference, and reports can easily be submitted through our website.”

Crime

Sex offender jailed for breaching court order

Published

2 days ago

December 20, 2024

Court Reporter

A SEX offender from Wolfscastle has been jailed after using fake names on WhatsApp and attempting to access a social media app, breaching his sexual harm prevention order (SHPO).

Luke Rogers, 38, was sentenced to 10 months in prison at Swansea Crown Court after pleading guilty to two breaches of the order, which was imposed following his 2020 conviction for sexual activity with a child.

Under the SHPO, Rogers was prohibited from using unregistered internet-enabled devices or creating online profiles under false names. Prosecutor Ryan Bowen told the court that police monitoring software installed on Rogers’ phone detected activity in group chats under three aliases last November.

Further investigation revealed Rogers had also searched for the MeetMe app on four occasions and admitted using it. Rogers, described by Mr. Bowen as “apologetic,” was arrested, and his phone was seized.

The court heard Rogers has a history of 17 convictions for 35 offences, including breaching court orders and failing to comply with sex offender notification requirements.

Defence barrister Olivia Rose said Rogers had cooperated fully with police and expressed a desire to change. She argued that his breaches stemmed from a misunderstanding about permitted names and emphasized his efforts to seek support.

Despite these mitigating factors, Judge Catherine Richards noted Rogers’ pattern of reoffending and stated: “The reality is I can only pass an immediate custodial sentence.”

She expressed hope that Rogers would take advantage of post-sentence supervision to break the cycle of offending.

Crime

Police renew appeal to find Darren Markes from Pembroke Dock

Published

2 days ago

December 20, 2024

Tom Sinclair

POLICE in Pembrokeshire are renewing their appeal for information to locate Darren Markes, 46, from Pembroke Dock. He is wanted in connection with a domestic assault.

Markes is believed to have links to the Portsmouth and Sussex areas.

If you have seen Darren Markes or have any information about his whereabouts, please contact the police through one of the following methods: