News

Milford Haven man admits to downloading indecent images of children

Published

1 year ago

November 14, 2024

A MILFORD HAVEN man has been sentenced after admitting to downloading over 1,000 indecent images and videos of children, including highly explicit content involving young children. Gareth MacDonald, now 23, appeared before Swansea Crown Court, where he pleaded guilty to possessing indecent images and videos across various devices.

The court heard that police visited MacDonald’s home, which was the scene of protests after his arrest, last year following intelligence suggesting that child abuse images had been accessed there.

***There were protests outside MacDonald’s house in September 2024 (Pic: Herald)***

Officers spoke with MacDonald’s mother at the door before entering to conduct a search.

During the operation, two mobile phones, a tablet, a laptop, and two hard drives were seized.

MacDonald initially spoke to one of the officers privately, admitting to downloading the images and saying, “It’s me.” Later, in formal interviews, he revealed that he had grown “bored with legal pornography” roughly a year earlier, knowing that what he was doing was illegal but continuing regardless.

Prosecutor Emily Bennett informed the court that MacDonald’s devices held 15 Category A images, the most severe classification, 26 Category B images, and 960 Category C images. Some content depicted children as young as nine, and the most serious material involved pre-teen children in distressing situations.

Bennett also noted that MacDonald had briefly joined an online group where members self-identified as paedophiles, although he left without sharing any material. Cleaning software was also found on his devices.

Defense counsel Dan Griffiths acknowledged that MacDonald’s actions had crossed the custodial threshold, but argued that there was “a realistic prospect of rehabilitation.” He highlighted MacDonald’s cooperation with police and his willingness to comply with rehabilitation programmes.

Judge Geraint Walters, presiding over the sentencing, addressed MacDonald, saying, “For some considerable time, you have accessed this kind of imagery, fully aware of the harm it represents.” He acknowledged that MacDonald largely isolated himself and stayed at home, factors he considered in the sentencing.

MacDonald was sentenced to eight months in prison, suspended for two years, with a requirement to complete 20 rehabilitation activity days and participate in the Horizon programme. He was also ordered to register as a sex offender for 10 years and is subject to a sexual harm prevention order for the same duration.

Crime

Pembroke Dock woman admits breaching community order

Published

13 minutes ago

February 3, 2026

Rieve Nesbitt-Marr

Magistrates revoke sentence after missed appointments

A PEMBROKE DOCK woman has admitted breaching the terms of a community order.

Shannon Charge, aged 30, of Pater Court, appeared before Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court on Monday (Feb 2).

She admitted failing to attend a scheduled probation appointment and a drug dependency appointment.

Magistrates revoked the existing community order and ordered her to pay £60 in court costs.

The court heard the order related to earlier offences, for which she had been made subject to rehabilitation and drug treatment requirements. A further review hearing is listed for March 2.

Crime

Milford Haven man given extra unpaid work after breaching court order

Published

16 minutes ago

February 3, 2026

Rieve Nesbitt-Marr

Magistrates add hours after missed appointments

A MILFORD HAVEN man has been ordered to complete extra unpaid work after breaching the terms of a community order.

Peter Jones, aged 33, of Precelly Place, appeared before Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court on Monday (Feb 2).

He admitted failing to attend scheduled unpaid work and a probation appointment earlier this month.

Magistrates varied the order, imposing an additional 10 hours of unpaid work. Jones was also ordered to pay £60 in court costs.

The court heard the original community order followed an earlier conviction.

Business

St Clears discount store in closing down sale after chain enters administration

Published

22 minutes ago

February 3, 2026

Tom Sinclair

A WELL-KNOWN discount retailer in St Clears is advertising a closing down sale after its parent company fell into administration, raising fresh concerns about the future of another high street store in west Wales.

The Original Factory Shop, which trades from Pentre Road in St Clears, has launched an “up to 30% off” sale as administrators attempt to secure the future of the business.

The chain, which sells clothing, homeware, garden products, toys and everyday essentials, appointed joint administrators Rick Harrison and James Clark of Interpath Advisory last week.

Founded in 1969, the retailer operates 137 stores across the UK and employs around 1,180 staff.

In a statement, Interpath said the company had faced difficult trading conditions common across the high street, including rising costs, weaker consumer spending and increased employment expenses. It added that problems with a third-party warehouse and logistics provider had also disrupted sales.

Despite the administration, the joint administrators say all stores will continue trading for now while options for the business are explored. The company’s online store is set to close.

Rick Harrison, managing director at Interpath and joint administrator, said the retailer had long been a fixture in town centres across the country but had struggled in the current climate.

Over the coming weeks, administrators will review whether parts of the business can be sold or restructured.

However, signage and social media posts from the St Clears branch suggest uncertainty locally, with the store promoting a closing down sale and urging shoppers to “grab a bargain while stocks last”.

The St Clears outlet is one of the last remaining branches in west Wales. Stores in Fishguard, Haverfordwest and Milford Haven closed last year. The Cardigan branch is also understood to be running a similar clearance sale.

The loss of another discount retailer would mark a further blow for smaller town centres already facing reduced footfall and rising costs.