News

Guilty of assault on ex girlfriend

Published

10 years ago

November 26, 2014

A TRIAL was held at Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday after a man from Hakin, Milford Haven pleaded not guilty to assaulting his ex girlfriend. Shaun Lee Roberts, aged 37 of Picton Road was eventually found guilty of the charge. Prosecutor, Nicholas Newton said: “On July 29, the defendant had been out drinking and had come home in the early hours of the morning. His partner was asleep in bed. He suffers from Crohn’s disease and has to have a colostomy bag. The bag leaked while they were in bed and there was an altercation.”

The victim took to the witness stand and said: “We were in a four year relationship and were living together in James Street in a two bedroom house. On that night Shaun had gone out playing pool and when he came in went straight to bed. He got up about two hours later and he fell against the bed. He couldn’t have done his colostomy bag up properly and some of the contents fell on my leg – it was hot that night and I had one leg out of the covers.” She continued to speak about the incident: “I turned the light on and said ‘Shaun, what have you done’ and he was saying ‘It’s all your fault’ and ‘It’s not come from me’.

I went to the bathroom to clear it up and he came in as well because he was covered. I gave him a tissue and he wiped some off his leg and he threw the tissue at my face. I slapped him and pushed him out the way. I thought it was absolutely disgusting and vile. I went into the bedroom and I went to pull the sheets off, but he came in and held me down on the bed and had his fist clenched in the air, and was saying ‘Come on then, come on then’. He wasn’t choking me, it was just enough force to keep me there.

I pulled my legs up kicked him with my feet, and he took his hand off my throat and grabbed my ankles and was twisting them. I was trying to kick back and I managed to push him off with all my force, and I ran down stairs. I opened the door to the living room and held the door to stop him getting in. He was banging on it trying to smash it, but then he hurt his arm and was saying ‘You’ve broken my arm’.

Then he went quiet for about ten to twenty seconds and I opened the door, ran past him and went upstairs. I rang him mum and then my mum.” Roberts told the court: “My bag had leaked and I got up and she kicked me off the bed. There were wet wipes in the bedroom and she started giving me verbal abuse. I was embarrassed about the situation and I had a scrunched up wet wipe in my hand, so I threw it at her.

He continued with his version of events: “She pushed me and started kicking me and I grabbed her ankles, and then she reached up and hit me on the head twice. She was effing and blinding at me. I went to the toilet to clean myself up and she followed me saying ‘Get out of my f****** house’. She went into the living room and slammed the door and I hit it and damaged it and hurt myself.

I went to look at my arm in the mirror and then I went back to the bedroom and cleaned the bed and bedpost.” Roberts is due to be sentenced for charges of actual bodily harm and threats to kill on the same person as in this case and wounding to a male at Swansea Crown Court on October 17. Magistrates said: “We find the evidence of the witness credible and Roberts accepts he held her throat and had a clenched fist. We believe that this is not self defence and are not the actions of a calm man.” Roberts was found guilty of the charge and the case was sent to Swansea Crown Court for sentencing on October 22.

News

Man remanded in custody after trespassing with intention to commit sexual act

Published

7 hours ago

October 7, 2024

Tom Sinclair

A FISHGUARD man who has admitted the attempted strangulation of a woman and of trespassing at an unidentified address with the intention of committing a sexual act has appeared before Swansea Crown Court for sentence.

Benjamin Guiver, 34, was listed for sentence this afternoon (Monday, October 7) however his sentencing was adjourned after barristers went into counsel following the request of the defence.

Guiver, of Heol Glyndwr, Fishguard also stands to be sentenced for the grievous bodily harm of a victim described by Dyfed-Powys Police officers as having sustained ‘serious facial injuries’ in ‘a reportedly sustained attack’ and the sexual assault of a woman by penetration. He has pleaded guilty to all four offences.

Guiver’s sentencing will now proceed on October 18 and the defendant was remanded in custody.

News

Communities Taking the Lead to get Better Broadband

Published

7 hours ago

October 7, 2024

Luke Sinclair

Locals in Dale, Pembrokeshire successfully use UK Government’s Project Gigabit voucher scheme to connect the village with high-speed internet

Dale, a small rural community on the coast of Pembrokeshire has long endured poor internet connectivity that has plagued its residents with little to no ability to use the internet for work, communication or entertainment. With the movement of most services and day-to-day tasks to online, having limited internet access was having a detrimental effect on residents who were experiencing firsthand the digital divide.

However, after being told about a UK Government funded project by Pembrokeshire County Council’s Digital Champions, this has now thankfully changed and much of Dale is now connected to gigabit-capable broadband that serves the whole village.

Project Gigabit aims to provide lightning-fast gigabit-capable broadband (1,000 Mbps) to homes and businesses across the UK. With £5 billion UK Government investment, it targets areas that currently have poor internet connectivity, enabling them to have access to the same high-speed internet as urban areas.

With the voucher scheme, residents and businesses in eligible areas have been able to apply for financial help to cover the costs of installing gigabit broadband.

Cllr Paul Miller, Deputy Leader, Cabinet Member for Place, the Region and Climate Change, said: “Connecting our rural communities is a significant step in the digital infrastructure of Pembrokeshire.

“Along with our partners, this extensive programme of work has transformed full fibre connectivity and will futureproof the network in our county.

“The commitment from this authority will ensure our communities won’t be left without connection.

“There is more to do, but thanks to a proactive approach by the County Council, full fibre will be offered to more and more communities all the time.”

The benefits of being better connected rurally are uncontested with the results already being seen in Dale. From helping local businesses to improving access to digital services, having reliable, fast internet access has been the core of the connectivity solution for the Pembrokeshire village.

Going forward, the UK Government ‘Project Gigabit’ is about making sure everyone in the UK, no matter where they live, has access to fast and reliable internet, bridging the digital divide and providing the opportunity for every harder to reach community to stay connected.

Crime

Pembrokeshire chef admits causing taxi driver’s death

Published

11 hours ago

October 7, 2024

Court Reporter

A CHEF from Pembrokeshire has admitted causing the death local taxi driver, Christopher Boyle.

Mateusz Sikorski, 30, formerly of Manorbier and now residing in the Narberth area, appeared at Swansea Crown Court today, Monday, 7 October. Sikorski pleaded guilty to causing the death of 57-year-old Mr Boyle on 2 September 2024 while driving a BMW Series 1 car on the A4139 in Penally.

Sikorski was initially arrested and charged shortly after the incident and first appeared at Llanelli Magistrates Court on 5 September, where he was remanded in custody. However, on 12 September, Sikorski was granted bail with several strict conditions: he must reside in the Narberth area, adhere to an 8 pm-8 am curfew, and report to a police station weekly. He was also issued an interim driving ban.

The fatal crash, which involved Sikorski’s car and Mr Boyle’s silver Volkswagen taxi, occurred on the Penally by-pass near Tenby. Mr Boyle, affectionately known as “Mucker,” was a father-of-five and a well-known figure in the community. Sadly, he died at the scene of the collision.

During today’s hearing, Judge Catherine Richards renewed Sikorski’s bail conditions and adjourned the case for sentencing until Friday, 8 November.