Crime

Second victim takes the stand in day two of Nathan John’s trial

Published

1 month ago

October 15, 2024

THE TRIAL of Nathan John, charged with the sexual assault of two 16-year-old girls in separate incidents in Milford Haven and Haverfordwest, continued today at Swansea Crown Court.

The Milford Haven victim’s stepfather provided a harrowing account of how he first learned of the alleged rape. In the early hours of the morning, he received a photograph from a relative, showing his stepdaughter at a local pub. Shortly after, she returned home, distraught and in tears, saying, “I have been raped.” He described her appearance, noting that her clothes were soaked and covered in mud, which he later handed over to the police for forensic investigation.

The victim’s mother also gave emotional testimony, recalling how she had gone to bed after exchanging texts with her daughter, only to find her later that night standing in the living room, visibly upset and shaking. “She said, ‘I have been raped,’” the mother recounted tearfully. She immediately called the police, and the victim’s muddy clothing was seized as evidence.

Police Officer Wilson, who arrested Nathan John, testified about the events of the night in Haverfordwest. Wilson found John asleep in bed and, after waking him, placed him under arrest.

The court heard that John was swabbed for DNA.

Next, the Haverfordwest victim took the stand. In her evidence the victim bravely explained that she and John, who appeared intoxicated, had been walking together when he suddenly became violent. She pulled away and then he grabbed her neck.

Before the attack started, the victim recounted how John threatened her, saying, “If anyone harms you, I will kill them,” before showing her a knife.

She described how John then dragged her to a secluded area, where he pulled down her trousers and raped her. Despite her desperate screams for help, no one came to her aid. The victim said she had trusted John, who was part of the same group of friends.

A witness, who is a close friend of the Haverfordwest victim, gave a moving account of the moments following the attack. She described how the victim had banged on her door late at night, frantic and in tears, and told her that Nathan John had raped her.

John was arrested near Haverfordwest train station later that night, and officers testified that he was verbally aggressive, slurring his words, and smelled of alcohol. At one point during his transportation to the police station, he allegedly attempted to headbutt a police officer. Body camera footage also captured him shouting, “I never would disrespect my mother,” while threatening to harm both the police and the victim.

In addition to the witness’s testimony, the court saw body camera footage from the police showing John’s aggressive behaviour during his arrest. He reportedly shouted at the officers, “I’m going to kill you,” and made threats towards the victim and the police officers’ families.

The trial continues.

Crime

Man jailed for Pembroke Dock cannabis farm involvement

Published

6 hours ago

November 15, 2024

Madeline Knox

AN ALBANIAN man, Armando Beti, 37, was sentenced to two years and eight months in prison at Swansea Crown Court on Friday (Nov 15) for his role in producing class B drugs.

Beti, who has prior convictions in 2022 and 2023, was arrested on October 3, 2024, at 10:00am after police found him hiding in a neighbouring building’s attic. The arrest followed a raid on the former Woolworths building on Dimond Street, Pembroke Dock, where officers discovered three rooms containing 594 cannabis plants. The crop was described as part of a wholesale operation, with an estimated street value of between £64,000 and £196,000, depending on yield.

Using an aerial drone, police tracked Beti as he attempted to escape by crossing two rooftops. He pleaded guilty immediately after his capture, claiming the cannabis farm was already operational when he arrived 10 days earlier. Beti described himself as merely the gardener, tasked with watering the plants, and alleged he was coerced into the role by individuals he met at an immigration detention centre to repay a debt.

Beti’s defence counsel stated: “He is under no illusion regarding the seriousness of his offending. He is eager to start his prison sentence so he can ultimately reunite with his wife in Albania.”

However, Judge Geraint Walters rejected Beti’s claims, citing a pattern of similar excuses in previous cases. The judge noted that Beti had been convicted in Cardiff in 2022 for cultivating over 600 cannabis plants, during which he also claimed to be a coerced gardener with little knowledge of the operation.

In delivering the sentence, Judge Walters said: “People like you need to understand that judges are not completely naive. We know what is going on. We are well aware of the activities of criminal Albanian gangs in this country, as are you.”

Police believe the operation uncovered in Pembroke Dock is linked to a wider network of organised crime targeting rural locations for cannabis cultivation.

Crime

Ceredigion man sentenced for selling £150,000 in illegal DVDs

Published

1 day ago

November 14, 2024

Tom Sinclair

A CEREDIGION man has been sentenced for selling counterfeit DVDs worth £150,000 under major brand names without authorization.

David Robert Thomas, 47, from Sarnau, ran a sophisticated online operation, producing and selling fake DVDs labeled with brands like Netflix, Amazon, Disney, Sony, and Universal City Studios LLC. Thomas used seven different websites and managed multiple bank and PayPal accounts, including those of family members, to carry out his business.

Councillor Matthew Vaux, Ceredigion County Council’s Cabinet Member for Public Protection, said: “Counterfeiting is often thought of as a victimless crime, but it harms the local economy by undermining legitimate businesses that pay taxes and create real jobs. This result sends a clear message that counterfeit sales will not be tolerated, and we will act against offenders.”

Thomas pleaded guilty at Swansea Crown Court on Monday (Nov 11) and was sentenced to 20 months in prison, suspended for 18 months. His sentence includes a four-month curfew and fifteen Rehabilitation Activity Requirement days.

Under the Crime Act 2002, forfeiture proceedings will follow to reclaim the financial benefits from Thomas’s criminal activities. Judge Richards took into account the market value of equivalent genuine goods, the sophisticated setup of Thomas’s business, and his previously clean record in reaching the sentencing decision.

The case was brought forward successfully by Ceredigion County Council’s Trading Standards Service.

Crime

Welsh shop workers face ‘surge in shoplifting linked violence and abuse’ says union

Published

2 days ago

November 13, 2024

Tom Sinclair

A NEW survey by retail trade union Usdaw has revealed disturbing figures on the abuse, threats, and violence endured by Welsh shop workers, with incidents increasingly linked to shoplifting. Released during Respect for Shop Workers Week, which runs from November 11 to 17, the statistics highlight a troubling trend that is impacting thousands of retail employees.

Usdaw’s survey, based on responses from over 4,000 retail staff, shows that in the past year:

69% experienced verbal abuse.
45% were threatened by customers.
17% were assaulted.

Usdaw General Secretary Paddy Lillis commented on the findings, saying: “Shop workers deserve far more respect than they receive. These reports from Welsh retail staff make grim reading. It is shocking to see over two-thirds of our members subjected to abuse, threats, and violence. Seven in ten of these incidents are related to theft, much of it tied to addiction and organised crime.”

Usdaw’s survey suggests that shoplifting is increasingly becoming a flashpoint for violence. Many shop workers report encountering hardened criminals who appear to steal goods “to order” or to fund addictions. According to the union, incidents are on the rise across Wales, with police-reported shoplifting up by 33% in the past year.

Usdaw member testimonies paint a vivid picture of the dangers faced on the shop floor:

One respondent described being “spat at, pushed against a wall, punched, and threatened with a knife.”
Another reported that, after refusing to sell alcohol, they were told to “F**k off” and threatened with a beating by a group of five.
Others spoke of being punched, spat on, and verbally abused, with threats that often left lasting emotional scars.

New measures on the horizon

Usdaw has been calling for greater legal protection for retail workers for years, and it appears these calls are finally being heard. The recent Crime and Policing Bill, announced in the King’s Speech, proposes to:

End the £200 threshold for prosecuting shoplifters, which has been a source of frustration for retailers.
Introduce town centre banning orders for repeat offenders.
Allocate funding for tackling organised shoplifting and increase police presence in shopping areas.

“We welcome these new measures and hope they will provide much-needed protection,” said Mr. Lillis. “After 14 years of neglect under successive Tory governments, we are encouraged by the steps the new Labour government is taking to address the retail crime epidemic.”

As Christmas approaches—a time when retail crime tends to peak—Usdaw is urging the public to “respect shop workers” and remain calm as stores become busier.

Usdaw, which represents around 360,000 members, primarily in retail, launched its Freedom From Fear Campaign to tackle the growing issue of violence against shop workers. The final results of the 2024 survey are expected in March 2025.