Crime

Gwent Police officer from Pembrokeshire accused of making sexual comments to women

Published

1 year ago

February 4, 2025

A POLICE officer from Pembrokeshire has been accused of making degrading sexual comments to women he met while on duty and turning up at their homes uninvited, a court has heard.

Luke Silver, 33, of Freshwater East Road, Lamphey, is a serving police constable with Gwent Police. He is alleged to have asked women if they “liked sex,” when they “last had sex,” and told one of them she had “big boobs.” It is also claimed he visited women’s homes while off duty, with one complainant describing him as “a creepy police officer.”

A trial at Cardiff Crown Court on Tuesday (Feb 4) heard that Silver subjected the alleged victims to “sexually explicit and unwanted comments” which left them “upset and distressed.”

PRETENDED TO BE A GAS MAN

The allegations surfaced on July 4, 2022, after one woman reported Silver turning up at her home in Cwmbran two days earlier. Prosecutor Roger Griffiths told the court that Silver had finished work when he arrived at the woman’s address wearing a dark top. Claiming to be a “gas man” from housing group Pobl, he asked to use her toilet.

Once inside, he allegedly went upstairs, used the toilet, then sat in her living room, engaging in inappropriate sexual conversation. The woman claims he asked when she “last had sex,” if she “enjoyed sex,” and requested to see a tattoo on an intimate part of her body. He also allegedly asked if he could “pop in for a cup of tea” when in the area and inquired if she had a boyfriend.

When she asked him to leave, Silver is said to have requested a hug, which she refused. The woman later recognised him as the officer who had driven her home a year earlier, during which he allegedly turned off his police radio and asked her inappropriate sexual questions, including what sexual positions she liked. He is also accused of saving his phone number in her mobile.

SECOND WOMAN INSTALLED RING DOORBELL OUT OF FEAR

Following advice from Women’s Aid, the woman reported the incident to the police, leading to Silver’s arrest on July 5. He claimed he had visited her home because he and his partner were looking to get a cat.

Investigators later examined Silver’s work phone, uncovering messages between him and a woman who had previously reported a domestic violence incident. The court heard that Silver made “explicit sexual comments” about the size of her breasts and asked about her sexual preferences while collecting a witness statement.

The woman said she became so “scared” of his behaviour that she installed a Ring doorbell camera. She later withdrew her domestic violence complaint to prevent Silver from attending her home. However, he is alleged to have visited her off duty, continuing to make unwanted sexual remarks, asking if she liked sex and when she last had it. In voicemails to a friend, the woman repeatedly described him as “a creepy police officer.”

ACCUSED OF MISUSING POLICE SYSTEM

The court also heard that Silver allegedly accessed a police log related to the first complainant on July 1, just a day before visiting her home.

Silver denies three counts of corrupt or improper use of police power or privileges and three counts of causing a computer to perform a function to secure or enable unauthorised access to a programme or data.

The trial continues.

Crime

Broad Haven man remanded in custody over sexual harm prevention order breach

Published

12 hours ago

March 20, 2026

Court Reporter

Defendant admitted using Xbox without informing police as required under court order

ANTHONY COOMBES, aged 26, of Sand Banks, Broad Haven, appeared before Llanelli Magistrates’ Court on Thursday (Mar 20) charged with breaching a sexual harm prevention order.

The court heard that between February 26 and March 19, 2026, at Haverfordwest, Coombes repeatedly breached the order by using an Xbox device without informing police within three days, as required.

The offences relate to a sexual harm prevention order imposed at Swansea Crown Court on October 20, 2021.

Coombes indicated guilty pleas to the offences at the first hearing.

Magistrates committed the case to Swansea Crown Court for sentence.

He was remanded in custody ahead of the next hearing, which is due to take place at 9:00am on Friday, April 3, at Swansea Crown Court.

The court refused bail on the grounds that he was likely to offend, citing the nature and seriousness of the offences and his previous record and character.

A pre-sentence report was ordered.

Crime

Illegal dog breeders ordered to pay over £129,000 after council probe

Published

13 hours ago

March 20, 2026

Tom Sinclair

FOUR people from Mynyddygarreg, Kidwelly, have been ordered to pay more than £129,000 following a successful prosecution for illegal dog breeding.

At Swansea Crown Court on Tuesday (Mar 10), before His Honour Judge Thomas KC, Stacey May June Edwards, Peter John Edwards, Sian Eleri Thomas and David Malcolm James Thomas, all of Sea Breeze, Mynyddygarreg, pleaded guilty to offences under the Breeding of Dogs (Wales) Regulations 2014.

The court imposed confiscation orders totalling £129,873.41 under the Proceeds of Crime Act across the four defendants. They were also ordered to pay £8,000 in costs, while each defendant received a £2,000 fine.

The investigation began in April 2021 after Carmarthenshire County Council’s Animal Health team received an enquiry from Peter Edwards about obtaining a dog breeding licence. Although licensing guidance was provided and a partial application was submitted in February 2022, this was later withdrawn.

In March 2024, the council received a complaint that puppies were being advertised for sale without the required licence. Officers subsequently contacted online advertising platforms and issued data requests to assess the scale of activity.

Analysis of records from Pets4Homes, Freeads and Gumtree revealed multiple litters being advertised by members of the same household.

Correspondence under the Police and Criminal Evidence Act confirmed that up to 25 dogs were kept at the property, including between 16 and 19 breeding females.

While some defendants claimed joint ownership of the dogs, others attempted to minimise their involvement.

The Herald understands that numerous puppy advertisements were posted between July 2020 and April 2025, demonstrating a sustained pattern of unlicensed breeding.

Carmarthenshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Climate Change, Decarbonisation and Sustainability, Cllr Aled Vaughan Owen, said: “This case demonstrates the council’s firm stance against unlicensed and illegal dog breeding.

“These regulations are in place to protect animal welfare and ensure that breeding activities are subject to proper oversight. The scale of activity uncovered at this property was entirely unacceptable, and we welcome the court’s decision to issue significant confiscation orders under POCA.”

He added: “We urge anyone with concerns about illegal dog breeding to report it. Our Animal Health officers will continue to investigate thoroughly and take action against those who disregard the law.”

Residents are reminded that anyone breeding and selling dogs must comply with licensing regulations designed to protect both animal welfare and consumers.

Crime

Publican jailed for six years for supplying cocaine and cannabis

Published

13 hours ago

March 20, 2026

Rieve Nesbitt-Marr

Milford Haven man sentenced at Swansea Crown Court following drug dealing operation

A MILFORD HAVEN publican has been jailed for six years after admitting supplying cocaine and cannabis.

The defendant, who previously appeared before magistrates and was remanded in custody, was sentenced at Swansea Crown Court following an investigation into drug dealing activity linked to the town.

The court heard that he had been involved in the supply of Class A and Class B drugs, with evidence including material recovered by police and analysis of mobile phone data. Investigators said the activity had been ongoing since at least 2024.

Cocaine, a Class A drug, carries the most serious penalties under UK law, and the involvement of both cocaine and cannabis was reflected in the length of the sentence imposed.

During proceedings, the court was told that the case went beyond isolated incidents, with the defendant playing a significant role in the supply chain. The judge said the offending was serious and sustained, warranting an immediate custodial sentence.

He was sentenced to six years in prison.

The case had previously been heard at Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court, where the defendant was remanded due to the seriousness of the allegations before being sent to the Crown Court for sentencing.