Crime

Trial continues for Merthyr Tydfil men over pub altercation in Saundersfoot

Published

2 years ago

December 12, 2024

ARON O’NEILL and his cousin, Shaun Nicholas, are standing trial at Swansea Crown Court, accused of being involved in an altercation with James O’Neill, a family member, at the Boathouse in Saundersfoot in 2022.

Nicholas, an apprentice electrician, described the evening as initially enjoyable before tensions escalated. He admitted to drinking six pints of Madri, while his cousin consumed five. “Towards the end of the night, I was slightly tipsy. We were having a great night,” he told the court.

Trouble reportedly began when Aron O’Neill was asked to leave the bar for vaping indoors, despite warnings. CCTV footage allegedly showed him vaping before he exited the premises with Nicholas and other family members. A physical confrontation followed soon after.

Nicholas recounted the altercation: “I felt a bump to the left of me and thought, what is going on? I saw the complainant, Stephen Kanauros, going for my uncle. I didn’t want him to hit my uncle.”

Aron O’Neill said he intervened when Kanauros allegedly punched his father, James O’Neill, in the face. “I hit the man a couple of times, two or three times, to defend my father,” he admitted.

CCTV footage reportedly showed Kanauros holding James O’Neill’s head. Nicholas admitted to striking Kanauros, saying, “I punched him in the face. I saw him assault my uncle. I panicked; I’ve never been in a situation like this before.” When questioned about allegations of biting, Nicholas denied it, stating, “I saw Stephen going close to my uncle’s head, but no biting.”

Aron O’Neill claimed he tried to de-escalate the situation. “The man picked me up. I said no, I don’t want anything to do with this. I then left the premises.” He denied allegations that the incident stemmed from an earlier argument between his father and bar staff, calling it “irrelevant to this incident.”

The court reviewed CCTV footage of the altercation. O’Neill disputed claims that his punches connected, asserting, “You can slow it down frame by frame. It’s completely false. I completely missed.”

During police interviews, O’Neill, who spent 13 hours in custody, said he was scared. Nicholas described the event as “still a blur,” admitting he was shocked by his actions.

Prosecutor Dyfed Thomas questioned Nicholas on whether his drinking influenced his actions. Nicholas replied, “It was a traumatic experience. I panicked. I was defending my uncle.” He acknowledged that alcohol and adrenaline might have affected his memory, saying, “I didn’t think I assaulted anyone, and I can’t remember anyone assaulting me. It partly could be because of alcohol, but also adrenaline.”

Thomas highlighted the severity of the injuries, describing the force needed to cause significant damage to Kanauros’s lip. “This was not a nibble or a bite that left teeth marks. This was a bite that removed part of the lip. How much force and determination does it take to bite a lip off?” he asked.

The defence argued the actions of the accused were acts of self-defence. Nicholas’s lawyer, Mr Singh, said, “Shaun Nicholas acted out of a desire to protect his uncle. How is this any different from when Mr Kanauros defended his wife?”

Judge Catherine Richards reminded the court, “The law of self-defence is common sense. If someone is under attack, it is reasonable to defend oneself.”

The trial continues.

Crime

Spittal man to stand trial accused of ABH

Published

21 hours ago

June 20, 2026

Court Reporter

A SPITTAL man is to stand trial accused of assaulting a man and causing actual bodily harm.

Robert Hedley, 41, of Wesley Way, Spittal, Haverfordwest, is charged with assaulting Liam Morley-Trivett at St Clears on August 30, 2025.

The case was before Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court on Thursday (Jun 18).

Hedley was granted unconditional bail and is due to stand trial at the same court on Monday, June 29.

The trial is listed for 10:00am and has been given a time estimate of twenty minutes.

Crime

Milford Haven woman spared jail despite string of shop thefts

Published

22 hours ago

June 20, 2026

Court Reporter

Repeat offender stole from Tesco, Home Bargains, Food Warehouse and petrol stations in wave of offences

A MILFORD HAVEN woman who admitted a series of shop thefts committed over a matter of weeks has been handed a suspended prison sentence by magistrates.

Marion Picton, aged 46, of Hawthorn Path, Milford Haven, appeared before Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday (Jun 18) and pleaded guilty to eight theft offences and a drugs-related offence.

The court heard that Picton carried out a string of thefts at stores across Milford Haven between April and June this year.

Among the offences, Picton admitted stealing meat from Food Warehouse on Apr 23, food worth £60 from Victoria Filling Station on May 29, groceries from Home Bargains on Jun 7 and Jun 8, food from Victoria Filling Station on Jun 7 and Jun 9, groceries and non-food items worth £51.09 from Tesco on Jun 16, and food worth £32.50 from Food Warehouse on the same day.

She also admitted failing to attend an initial drugs assessment after testing positive for Class A drugs, including cocaine and opiates.

Magistrates were told the offences represented persistent repeat offending and had been committed while Picton was already subject to a court order.

The bench imposed an eight-week prison sentence, suspended for 18 months.

As part of the order, Picton must complete up to 15 rehabilitation activity days under the supervision of the Probation Service.

The court ordered her to pay compensation to several of the businesses affected, including Tesco, Home Bargains, Food Warehouse and Victoria Filling Station.

In sentencing, magistrates said the offences were serious enough to justify immediate custody but suspended the sentence because there was a realistic prospect of rehabilitation and Picton appeared motivated to address her addiction issues.

Picton was warned that any further offending during the 18-month suspension period could see the prison sentence activated.