Crime

Cigarette butts and litter land more defendants in court

Published

1 week ago

January 10, 2025

PEMBROKESHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL’S ongoing campaign against littering brought a wave of cases to Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court this week, earning enforcement officers the local nickname “The Fag Butt Police.”

Multiple individuals were fined after being found guilty of depositing cigarette butts or other litter in public spaces. Magistrates highlighted the significant costs of keeping the county clean and the importance of enforcing the Environmental Protection Act 1990.

Some of the defendants have contacted The Herald and questioned the fairness of the costs imposed. With costs often set at £266.66 on top of fines and victim surcharges, the total penalties approached or exceeded £500 in many cases. Observers noted that such high costs might be disproportionate for minor offences like littering, especially in bulk prosecutions designed to be more efficient.

One of those fined, said: “The costs seem high for what should be a streamlined process. Transparency on how these costs are calculated would help reassure the public about fairness.”

Cases heard in court

Paul Andrew, 50, of Bramble Lodge, Stepaside, Narberth, was fined £220, ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £88, and costs of £266.66 for dropping a rolled-up cigarette in Jones Terrace, Tenby. Total: £574.66.
Wayne Balch, 50, of Adelaide Road, Elvington, Dover, was fined £220, with £88 victim surcharge and £266.66 costs for littering with a cigarette butt at Withybush Retail Park, Haverfordwest. Total: £574.66.
Matthew Collins, 46, of Marble Hall Road, Milford Haven, was fined £220, with a victim surcharge of £88 and costs of £266.66 for leaving a cigarette butt outside McDonald’s, Merlin’s Bridge. Total: £574.66.
Omid Buergin, 59, of Coolhurst Road, London, was fined £220, with £88 victim surcharge and £266.66 costs for dropping a rolled-up cigarette in Upper Frog Street, Tenby. Total: £574.66.
Simon Green, 45, of Mans Dewi, Capel Dewi, Carmarthen, was fined £220, with £88 victim surcharge and £266.66 costs for littering in Springfield Retail Park, Haverfordwest. Total: £574.66.
Aisha Jephcott, 24, of West Haven Estate, Cosheston, Pembroke Dock, was fined £220, with £88 victim surcharge and £266.66 costs for dropping a cigarette butt on Dimond Street, Pembroke Dock. Total: £574.66.
Edward Washbrook, 52, of Maes Y Mynydd, Newport, was fined £220, with £88 victim surcharge and £266.66 costs for discarding a cigarette butt outside Withybush Hospital, Haverfordwest. Total: £574.66.
Jemma Palmer, 41, of Tir Einon, Llanelli, was fined £220, with £88 victim surcharge and £266.66 costs for dropping a rolled-up cigarette on High Street, Tenby. Total: £574.66.
Louisa Braidman, 34, of Fourth Avenue, Walsall, was fined £220, with £88 victim surcharge and £266.66 costs for leaving a cigarette butt outside Denis Café, Tenby. Total: £574.66.
Haray Norcross, 39, of Penybont Road, Pencoed, Bridgend, was fined £220, with £88 victim surcharge and £266.66 costs for littering with a cigarette butt on Moorland Road, Narberth. Total: £574.66.
Maria Mihailiva, 36, of St Davids Place, Goodwick, was fined £220, with £88 victim surcharge and £266.66 costs for dropping a cigarette butt outside Morrisons, Haverfordwest. Total: £574.66.
Michael Raymond, 55, of St James Road, Wick, was fined £40, with £16 victim surcharge and £100 costs for littering in Heywood Lane, Tenby. Total: £156.00.
Joshua Spicer, 38, of Castle Terrace, Narberth, was fined £220, with £88 victim surcharge and £266.66 costs for discarding a cigarette butt near Narberth Primary School. Total: £574.66.
Andrew Griffiths, 41, of St Margarets Court, Aberdare, was fined £40, with £16 victim surcharge and £130 costs for littering in St George Street, Tenby. Total: £186.00.
Stacey Davies, 35, of Felin Ban Estate, Cardigan, was fined £40, with £16 victim surcharge and £100 costs for leaving a cigarette butt outside Haverfordwest Hospital. Total: £156.00.
Sam Daines, 32, of Larch Road, Milford Haven, was fined £40, with £16 victim surcharge and £100 costs for littering on Priory Street, Milford Haven. Total: £156.00.

Crime

Man charged with attempted murder after child found in critical condition

Published

1 day ago

January 18, 2025

Court Reporter

A MAN has been charged after an incident in Cardigan on Wednesday, January 15.

Police were called to an address in Y Ferwig, Cardigan, shortly before 10:15pm following a report of concerns for the welfare of an infant.

A young child was immediately taken to hospital, where they remain in a critical condition.

Rhydian Jamieson, 27, from Cwm Cou, Newcastle Emlyn, has been charged with attempted murder.

Jamieson has been remanded into custody and is set to appear at Haverfordwest Magistrates Court on Monday (Jan 20).

Investigators have expressed gratitude for the support of the community while enquiries continue.

Crime

Air ambulance called to Parc Prison as inmate suffers ‘severe medical episode’

Published

1 day ago

January 18, 2025

Tom Sinclair

THE TROUBLED HMP Parc prison in Bridgend faced yet another incident today (January 18), with an air ambulance called to respond to a medical emergency involving an inmate suffering from psychosis.

According to the HMP Prisons Justice Group UK, the incident unfolded during a visitation session when the inmate, reportedly diagnosed with psychosis, experienced a severe panic attack that left him struggling to breathe. Despite prior warnings from medical professionals about his condition, it is alleged that neither G4S, the private firm managing Parc, nor Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board, acted to ensure the prisoner received the treatment he urgently needed.

Eyewitnesses described the scene as chaotic and distressing, with children and visitors visibly upset. Reports suggest healthcare staff on-site intervened by administering Naloxone, which some prisoners call a “salt shot”.

Naloxone, is an opioid antagonist, a medication used to reverse or reduce the effects of opioids, leading to the inmate collapsing and requiring emergency evacuation to the University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff for further assessment.

***Parc Prison, Bridgend (Pic: Herald)***

The inmate’s history reveals a troubling pattern of neglect. After a psychiatric assessment on December 13, 2024, he was diagnosed with psychosis and deemed unfit to plead during a court hearing on December 20. The court ordered his transfer to a mental health facility for treatment and anti-psychotic medication. However, as of today, the transfer had not been carried out, leaving the individual untreated for over three months while on remand.

The HMP Prisons Justice Group claims that G4S initially attempted to attribute today’s episode to drug use, a claim that has since been refuted. “When the salt shot was administered, his breathing improved, which wouldn’t have happened if it was drug-related,” the group stated. They accused G4S of using this defense to divert attention from what they describe as systemic neglect.

Campaigners are now calling for urgent reforms to prevent further incidents at Parc Prison. The facility has been plagued by controversy, with ongoing allegations of corruption, inadequate healthcare, and rising violence. Last year alone, assaults on staff increased by 109%, and the prison recorded 17 deaths within 11 months.

The inmate involved in today’s incident is reportedly undergoing psychological assessment at the Heath Hospital, with calls for his immediate sectioning to secure the treatment he needs. Critics argue that the prison’s failure to act on prior court orders highlights the ongoing crisis at Parc.

Campaigners insist that the incident underscores the urgent need for systemic reform at the privately-run facility.

This latest incident raises questions about the prison’s capacity to manage vulnerable inmates and provides further evidence of the deteriorating conditions at Parc Prison, which continues to make headlines for all the wrong reasons.

The Wales Air Ambulance has confirmed attendance.

A spokesperson for HMP Parc said: “Our staff responded quickly to a medical incident this afternoon (18 Jan), with a prisoner being taken out to hospital by road ambulance.”

G4S said that primary and secondary healthcare services at HMP Parc are provided by NHS Wales through Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board.

Crime

Milford paedophile caught with 1600 indecent images of children avoids jail

Published

2 days ago

January 18, 2025

Court Reporter

A PAEDOPHILE has avoided prison sentence after being caught with nearly 1,600 sickening indecent images and videos of children on his computer – including babies as young as six months old being subjected to abuse from both adults and animals.

Jamie Hughes, 34, now of Wentworth Close, Hubberston, admitted to possessing the material when police attended his address in November 2023.

As officers prepared to search his devices, Hughes said: “It’s me. It’s on my computer.”

Prosecutor Alycia Campanini told Swansea Crown Court that around 1600 indecent images were discovered on Hughes’ gaming laptop. These were classified as:

409 Category A images (the most serious),
256 Category B images, and
886 Category C images.

***It was decided at Swansea Crown Court that Hughes would not be jailed for his crimes (Image: Herald)***

Among the highly disturbing files was a sickening collage of naked children aged between two and nine being whipped, a video of a dog performing a sexual act on a baby aged between six months and a year, and footage of a child aged five to seven being raped by an adult male.

Hughes’ device also contained files with titles such as “paedo videos” and “young girls and boys,” and his internet history included search terms like “cute pre-teen girls” and “porn pre-teen.”

During his first interview on November 29 he made no comment except to admit possession of indecent images. In a second interview in September 2024, he admitted wrongdoing, claiming he wanted to delete the material but denied obtaining sexual gratification from it.

Judge Paul Thomas KC rejected this claim, stating: “I’m not going to accept for one moment that he gained no sexual gratification and did not masturbate to them.”

**Armed response officers on standby in Wentworth Close on the night the protest about Hughes’ presence in the area (Pic: Herald)**

Jon Tarrant, defending, said Hughes had now accepted that he derived sexual gratification from the material. Tarrant also told the court that Hughes’ home had been targeted by members of the public following his arrest.

Hughes, previously of clean character, pleaded guilty to three counts of making indecent images of children.

Judge Thomas, addressing Hughes, said: “Anybody wanting to look at this content must be a very sick individual indeed.

“They represent real children somewhere in the world being sexually abused in the most horrific way so that people like you can masturbate to them.”

Hughes was sentenced to 10 months in prison, suspended for two years.

In addition to the suspended sentence, he must complete 26 sessions of the Building Choices accredited programme, as well as an additional rehabilitation activity requirement.

The defendant must register as a sex offender for ten years, and was made the subject of a sexual harm prevention order by order of the judge.