Crime

Pensioner jailed for 20 years in shocking child abuse case spanning four decades

Published

2 years ago

October 15, 2024

A 74-year-old man from Hakin, Pembrokeshire, has been sentenced to 20 years in prison for a series of horrific sexual offences against young girls, in a case that has sent shockwaves through the local community.

Alan Roberts, of Picton Road, appeared before Swansea Crown Court on Tuesday (Oct 15), where he pleaded guilty to 23 child sex abuse offences committed over a period of more than 40 years. The court heard disturbing details of Roberts’ crimes, which took place between 1976 and 2018, involving six victims aged between five and 12 years old.

Prosecutor Craig Jones presented a harrowing account of Roberts’ offences, which began when the defendant was in his late twenties. The court was told that Roberts’ first victim was between six and 12 years old when the abuse occurred. Mr Jones revealed that Roberts would sexually touch the girl and coerce her into performing sexual acts.

As the proceedings unfolded, it became clear that Roberts’ criminal behaviour had continued unabated for decades. The court heard how he had systematically abused multiple victims, with his most recent offence occurring when he was in his late sixties, targeting a child of just five or six years old.

One particularly distressing aspect of the case was the long-lasting impact on the victims. Mr Jones told the court that one survivor had “kept it locked away” out of fear that she wouldn’t be believed, while another “struggled as a teenager and became withdrawn” as a result of the trauma she had endured.

Stuart John, representing Roberts, conceded that a significant custodial sentence was inevitable given the nature and extent of the offences. He stated that his client “understands he has ruined a great many lives over a very long period”, adding that Roberts wished to address the issues that had led to his offending.

Judge Catherine Richards, in her sentencing remarks, emphasised the prolonged nature of Roberts’ crimes, stating, “Your sexual offending against pre-pubescent girls went on over three to four decades. The blame for your repeated offending sits squarely on you.”

In addition to the 20-year prison term, Roberts will serve an extended licence period of two years. The court also imposed indefinite restraining orders to protect each of his victims, and Roberts will be required to register as a sex offender for the remainder of his life.

The case has raised questions about how such prolonged abuse could have gone undetected for so long. Local authorities and child protection agencies are likely to face scrutiny in the wake of this shocking revelation.

Detective Inspector Sarah Davies, who led the investigation, spoke outside the court: “This case demonstrates that no matter how long ago abuse took place, we will listen, investigate thoroughly, and bring perpetrators to justice. I commend the bravery of the victims in coming forward and hope this sentence brings them some measure of closure.”

The sentencing of Alan Roberts serves as a stark reminder of the devastating and long-lasting impact of child sexual abuse. It also underscores the importance of ongoing efforts to protect vulnerable children and encourage survivors to come forward, regardless of when the abuse occurred.

As the community of Hakin comes to terms with the revelations, support services have been made available for those affected by the case. Local councillor Mary Evans stated, “Our thoughts are with the survivors. We must ensure that such crimes are never allowed to persist undetected in our community again.”

Crime

Farming company fined £19,000 for damaging protected wildlife site

Published

8 hours ago

May 5, 2026

Sarah-Jane Absalom

A CARDIGAN farming company has been ordered to pay almost £20,000 after recklessly damaging a Site of Special Scientific Interest.

Jenkins Ty Hen Ltd, run by David Glyn Jenkins and William Lloyd Jenkins, of Ty Hen, Verwig, admitted damaging the Llwyn Ysgaw, Caeau Crug Bychan and Ty Gwyn SSSI through the unauthorised use of manure, slurry, fertilisers and lime.

The offences took place between June 21 and July 31, 2024.

The court heard that Natural Resources Wales had repeatedly warned the company about how the protected land should be managed.

Aled Watkins, prosecuting for NRW, said an agreement made in 2004 made clear that the landowners needed written consent before carrying out certain activities on the site, including the use of slurry, herbicides, pesticides, fertiliser or lime.

He said: “A significant amount of guidance, advice and warnings has been directed to the company over a substantial period of time, as there have been problems before.”

The court was told advice had been given in 2017, with further discussions in 2021. Further problems were identified in 2024, leading to advice letters and then a formal warning in June that year.

Mr Watkins said: “Even after the letters were sent, no consent request was made.

“The common sense conclusion was that, where the original agreement was clear and advice had been given years prior, this was a deliberate act by the landowners of spreading slurry on the SSSI.”

Jenkins Ty Hen Ltd pleaded guilty to intentionally or recklessly destroying or damaging flora on the protected site, contrary to the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.

The company also admitted permitting the use of manure, slurry, silage liquor, fertiliser or lime without written consent from NRW, knowing it was likely to damage rare flora and fauna as well as geological and physiographical features.

Defending, solicitor Harry Dickens said the company had not deliberately set out to damage the land.

“This is more akin to the business damaging the land rather than setting out within their practices to do that damage,” he said.

He added that various contractors were used at the farm and were not always aware of the regulations.

“The defendants did not go out intentionally to harm the flora and fauna,” he said.

“Yes, they had foresight of the warnings and the previous agreement, but this is more akin to wilful blindness rather than going out intending to damage the land. It was not a flagrant disregard.

“The defendants were not loutish in their usage of the land, they are not vandals, they have not been silent and neither have they stonewalled NRW.”

Mr Dickens said the farmers accepted the need to restore the land and were keen to work productively with the authorities.

District Judge Mark Layton said Jenkins Ty Hen Ltd had breached NRW requirements.

“They spread fertilisers, herbicides and slurry on the land which was a breach,” he said.

“This was clearly a deliberate act of culpability and a complete disregard after already being given advice and warnings.”

The court heard the company’s most recent financial turnover was just over £1.6m. It was described by the defence as a micro-business.

Jenkins Ty Hen Ltd was ordered to pay £19,940.66, made up of a £9,000 fine, £8,940.66 costs to NRW and a £2,000 surcharge.

A restoration order was also made requiring work to improve the quality of the damaged SSSI land.

Crime

Trial of men accused of murdering Ian Watkins delayed

Published

11 hours ago

May 5, 2026

Tom Sinclair

THE TRIAL of two prison inmates accused of murdering former Lostprophets singer Ian Watkins has been delayed by a day.

Watkins, who was serving a 29-year sentence for child sexual offences, died following an alleged attack at HMP Wakefield last October.

Rashid Gedel, 25, who has been referred to in court as Rico Gedel, and Samuel Dodsworth, 43, were due to stand trial at Leeds Crown Court on Tuesday (May 5).

The case is now expected to begin on Wednesday (May 6).

Watkins was jailed in December 2013 for 29 years, with a further six years on licence, after admitting a series of child sex offences, including the attempted rape of a baby.

He was arrested after police executed a drugs warrant at his home in Pontypridd on September 21, 2012. Officers seized computers, mobile phones and storage devices, which later revealed evidence of his offending.

Watkins had previously been taken to hospital after being attacked in prison in 2023.

In 2019, he was jailed for an additional ten months after being found guilty of possessing a mobile phone while in prison.

Crime

70-year-old denies assault and restraining order breach

Published

5 days ago

May 1, 2026

Rieve Nesbitt-Marr

A PENSIONER from Pembroke Dock has denied breaching a restraining order and assaulting another man.

Henry Howlett, 70, of Market Street, appeared before Swansea Crown Court today (Friday, May 1), charged with breaching a restraining order and common assault.

The charges relate to an alleged incident on November 9 last year.

Howlett has previously appeared before magistrates in connection with a separate alleged incident involving a neighbour.

Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court previously heard that a dispute arose on July 17 after neighbour Steven Bromhall was washing his car outside his home in Market Street.

Prosecutor Nia James told the court that, as a taxi arrived to collect Howlett, the driver opened the window while passing and Mr Bromhall inadvertently sprayed the taxi driver with water from a hosepipe.

“The taxi driver started remonstrating, and the defendant then began waving his walking stick in the air, towards Mr Bromhall,” she said.

The court heard Mr Bromhall sustained an injury to his back, although it remained unclear whether he had been struck by Howlett’s stick.

Howlett pleaded not guilty to common assault in relation to that incident and was released on unconditional bail. A trial date was set at Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court.

At Swansea Crown Court today, His Honour Judge P H Thomas KC asked Howlett whether he was legally represented.

“I can’t find anyone decent, I’m still searching, my lord,” Howlett replied.

When the court attempted to take his pleas, Howlett repeatedly interrupted in an effort to give an explanation, prompting the judge to tell him: “Be quiet, Mr Howlett.”