Crime

Nathan John: Judge emphasises need for unanimous verdict

Published

4 weeks ago

October 18, 2024

AT Swansea Crown Court on Friday morning (Oct 18), His Honour Judge Huw Rees addressed the case involving Nathan John, accused of seven sexual offences including two counts of rape against two 16-year-old girls in Pembrokeshire.

Judge Rees provided crucial guidance on how the jury should evaluate the evidence.

In his address, Judge Rees stressed that the complainants did not know each other before the incidents and that there was no evidence to suggest any conspiracy or collusion between them. This clarification was pivotal in framing the context of the allegations. “He accepted that the complainants did not know each other,” Judge Rees stated. “He accepted that there had been no challenge or suggestion that the complainants colluded together.”

The evidence presented to the jury included body camera footage from the initial incident, arrest footage of the defendant in Haverfordwest, and recordings from two Ring doorbells.

Judge Rees also shared the defendant’s statement regarding the first complaint. According to John’s account, the complainant had accused him of non-consensual behaviour, which left him feeling “scared” and “overwhelmed.” He described an emotional reaction, stating that he cried for approximately five minutes after the incident and that he struggled to comprehend the situation and the accusations against him.

John’s statement included, “Complaint one started making accusations, she said it was not consensual. I felt scared, overwhelmed, everything. She left and went the other way, I was on the floor crying for five minutes. I don’t remember her being present. I went back to circles; I was still panicked but calmed myself down at that point. I was concerned about what she said about the sex; I was concerned that things would be a problem for me the next day.”

He continued, “After she told me she was going to tell everyone, my head was all fuzzy. After that conversation, I didn’t see her again.” During a police interview, John mentioned feeling embarrassed discussing his private life in front of his mother, and although he acknowledged the opportunity to speak more openly with the police, he was uncertain about how to proceed. “At no stage did I believe she was not consenting, I did believe she was consenting,” he added.

Judge Rees then turned to John’s statement regarding the second complaint. The defendant described his social habits, noting that he often spent time with friends in Haverfordwest, where he also worked as a barber and attended college part-time. He recounted the events of May 16, when the second complainant approached him, leading to what he described as a consensual kiss and subsequent interactions.

In his statement, John explained, “May 16 of this year, she came up to me and asked where I was going. I was heading to the train station, and she was going to Tesco’s. I asked if she wanted company, knowing that I was going the opposite direction. There was no connection between us other than friendship. I felt a bit iffy and thought I was going to be sick, but I was not. The complainant asked if I was alright, then we exchanged a kiss. It was a consensual exchange, 100%. We continued flirting and kissing at the top of the steps.”

He further claimed, “We kissed again and then took things further.”

Judge Rees reminded the jury of their responsibility to reach a unanimous verdict, highlighting the importance of thoroughly considering all evidence and testimonies. “You should now concentrate on reaching a unanimous verdict,” he instructed. He emphasised that the jury should take their time and that there was no pressure to rush their decision. “No one is looking at the clock. Take whatever time you need to reach a true verdict. You are now retired to consider your verdict, please.”

The jury has since retired to deliberate on the case, tasked with reaching a verdict that reflects a careful and thorough examination of the facts presented in court.

Crime

Burglar jailed for stealing cars worth £90,000 from Sinclair Garage

Published

10 hours ago

November 16, 2024

Tom Sinclair

BRIAN DAVIS, 53, of Bush Street, Pembroke Dock, has been sentenced to 15 months in prison after admitting to three counts of non-dwelling burglary at Swansea Crown Court.

The court heard that Davis and an accomplice targeted Sinclair Garages in Neyland during the early hours of April 2 last year, stealing four vehicles: a Mercedes CLA, an Audi A1, an Audi Q3, and a Volkswagen Tiguan worth around £90,000 in total.

Sentencing Davis, Judge Paul Thomas KC said the crimes were too severe for a suspended sentence and noted little hope of rehabilitation. “These offences display planning and determination,” the judge remarked.

The burglars forced entry into the garage, using a crowbar to access a key storage board. Nine sets of keys were stolen, allowing them to take multiple vehicles. Prosecutor Matthew Murphy told the court: “The men left with two cars initially, returned 14 minutes later to steal a third, and returned again for a fourth.”

The stolen cars were valued at approximately £90,000. Three vehicles – the Volkswagen Tiguan, Audi A1, and Audi Q3 – were recovered the following day. However, the Mercedes CLA, worth £12,382, was only located in January this year. Damages included £5,541 to replace locks on several vehicles.

Police traced Davis through partial fingerprints found on a glove left in one of the stolen cars. He was arrested after surrendering at Haverfordwest Police Station on August 14.

Struggles with addiction

The court heard Davis had left Pembrokeshire in December, breaching post-sentence supervision for an unrelated offence, to stay with family in Glasgow and recover from drug addiction. Stuart John, defending, explained: “The defendant struggled with heroin addiction from a young age. Family bereavements caused a relapse.”

Mr John noted that Davis had been clean when he returned to Pembrokeshire and voluntarily handed himself in. While in custody, Davis completed courses and attended counselling, demonstrating awareness of the consequences of further drug use.

Recovered vehicles

Volkswagen Tiguan: £36,577
Audi Q3: £26,041
Audi A1: £15,000
Mercedes CLA: £12,382

Police praised the recovery efforts, but the incident has left a costly mark on Sinclair Garages, with damages to vehicles and security.

Crime

Man jailed for growing £500,000 worth of drugs in Pembroke

Published

2 days ago

November 15, 2024

Court Reporter

A MAN has been jailed after police uncovered a cannabis farm worth up to £500,000 at a former Lloyds Pharmacy in Pembroke.

Amarildo Daja, 27, was arrested during a raid at the vacant Main Street property at around 10:00am on Friday, October 18. Inside, officers found 575 cannabis plants spread across three rooms on the first floor. Daja pleaded guilty to being involved in the production of cannabis and was sentenced to 12 months in prison by Judge Geraint Walters.

***Caged: Amarildo Daja was sentenced to 12 months. (Image: Police)***

RAID AND ARREST

Swansea Crown Court heard that Daja initially tried to flee when officers arrived but returned inside and hid in the ceiling. After being coaxed down with a ladder, he was arrested. Prosecutor Harry Dickens said Daja had been living at the property to tend to the cannabis plants, and the building’s electricity supply had been tampered with to avoid detection.

Two mobile phones were seized at the scene, but one had been wiped, and the other was damaged.

PLANTS AND STREET VALUE

A drugs expert estimated that the plants could produce between 15 and 45 kilograms of cannabis, with a potential street value ranging from £170,000 to over £500,000.

In police interviews, Daja admitted paying a criminal gang to smuggle him into the UK via lorry. He initially worked in London to repay his debt but struggled to make enough money and agreed to work at the Pembroke cannabis farm three months before his arrest.

DEFENCE AND SENTENCING

Caitlin Brazel, defending, said Daja’s involvement in the operation was a mistake and out of character. “He is disheartened to have tarnished his good character,” she said, adding that he was realistic about receiving a custodial sentence.

Judge Walters expressed concerns about the broader issue of criminal gangs operating cannabis farms, stating: “If we want to bring down the Albanian criminal gangs that set up cannabis factories, we are going to have to find the ringleaders rather than just those who arrive on the back of a lorry.”

The judge also noted that Daja’s deportation upon release would be a matter for the Home Office.

***Grow busted: Building was Lloyds Pharmacy, Pembroke. (Image: Martin Cavaney/Herald)***

Crime

Man jailed for Pembroke Dock cannabis farm involvement

Published

2 days 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.