Crime

Homeless man jailed after threatening M&S staff with stick

Published

1 year ago

February 11, 2025

STAFF at a local branch of Marks and Spencer have spoken of their fear at being confronted by a customer who was shouting at them while brandishing a three-foot stick.

“I’ve worked in the store for the last ten years, but I’ve never experienced a male being that aggressive,” said Aly Barnes in a victim impact statement read out to Haverfordwest magistrates this week.

“This was the first time I’ve ever been in genuine fear of a customer.”

The incident took place in the Carmarthen branch of Marks and Spencer on January 24 when Martin Sands, 45, was seen entering the food hall and placing some steaks inside his rucksack.

Store worker Aly Barnes gestured towards him to put the steaks back, to which Sands replied, “It was worth a try.”

“Aly Barnes asked him to leave, but the defendant became aggressive,” Crown Prosecutor Nia James told Haverfordwest magistrates this week.

“He told her he was homeless and lived outside, across the street.”

Sands continued to approach Ms Barnes, forcing her to raise her arm to cover her head.

“She believed this was necessary to protect herself from anything he would do to her,” said Nia James.

“She could feel him spitting saliva in her face while he was shouting at her.”

Hearing the commotion, Ms Barnes’ colleague, Katarzyna Evans, approached Sands and attempted to de-escalate the situation. Sands responded, shouting, “You devil worshipper.”

Hearing the aggressive shouting, a store manager entered the food hall where he saw Sands moving closer to Ms Barnes.

“He put himself between them, because he felt that Martin Sands was far too close to the pair, and believed he was going to punch one of them because he was so aggressive.”

The court was told that earlier that afternoon, Sands had been seen entering the Ladybug store in Carmarthen by an on-duty security guard. He was heard saying to a female member of staff, “I’m going to hit this stick over his head.”

“The security guard knew the threat was directed at him, and the female member of staff was shocked,” said Nia James.

After repeating the threat, Sands was told to leave the store and was seen walking down Lammas Street, waving the stick and shouting.

Following his arrest in Marks and Spencer, Sands was taken to Carmarthen police custody suite, where he became increasingly agitated, throwing food and a cup of coffee over the wall. This had to be removed by a contracted cleaner at a cost to Dyfed-Powys Police of £188.

Appearing before magistrates via a video link from Swansea Prison, Sands pleaded guilty to using threatening, abusive, or insulting words and behaviour likely to cause harassment; common assault of Aly Barnes; common assault of Katarzyna Evans; and causing criminal damage to a police cell.

Sands was represented in court by solicitor Michael Kelleher.

“He was living rough in Carmarthen and he overreacted to the staff in Marks and Spencer, who believed he was going to steal the steaks,” he said.

“This wasn’t his intention as he had the money to pay. He’s very frustrated at his behaviour, but he realises now that at the time he was too proud to ask for help for his homelessness.”

Sands was sentenced to ten weeks in custody. He was ordered to pay £50 compensation to Aly Barnes and Katarzyna Evans, a £154 court surcharge, and £85 costs.

Crime

Local carpenter retains driving licence despite previous ban

Published

3 hours ago

May 6, 2026

Sarah Jane Absalom

A Herbrandston carpenter has been allowed to keep his driving licence despite a previous driving disqualification for using his mobile phone whilst driving.

Addressing District Judge Mark Layton at Haverfordwest Magistrates Court this week, Simon Shaw stressed the disqualification was having a major impact on his work commitment as well as his ability to support members of his family.

“If the ban continues, at least two of my five employees will have to be lost” said Shaw, who works as a self-employed carpenter operating from Herbrandston and the Milford Haven Industrial Estate.

“We travel throughout the whole of West Wales and also work at Thorne Island, where we’ve been providing logistical support for renovations for the last four years.”

Shaw, of Triplestone Close, Herbrandston, went on to say that his business has only one other driver who works as a reserve fire fighter.

“As a result, he’s not available to provide the 24 hour cover we provide to various care homes in the county,” he said.

Simon Shaw concluded by stating that his daughter is also dependent on his support having recently given birth to twins while his son-in-law and his partner’s mother are both currently undergoing serious healthcare treatments.

“I’m trying to provide as much logistical support for them as I can, but without my driving licence, this is impossible,” he said.

After listening to his comments, Judge Layton granted Shaw permission to retain his licence.

Crime

Delivery driver caught twice over legal drink-drive limit

Published

3 hours ago

May 6, 2026

Sarah Jane Absalom

A delivery driver has been banned from the roads after being caught behind the wheel when he was over twice the legal drink-drive limit.

Twenty-nine year old Sam Rowe was stopped by officers just before 9.30 am on April 20 as he drove his Vauxhall Vivaro along Ferry Lane in Pembroke Dock.

“His speech was slurred and his eyes were bloodshot,” Crown Prosecutor Linda Baker told Haverfordwest Magistrates Court this week.

“There was also a strong smell of intoxicants emanating from him.”

When spoken to by the officers, Rowe stated he’d drunk a pint of alcohol approximately an hour before being stopped, however subsequent breathalyser tests showed he had no less than 75 mcg of alcohol in his system. The legal limit is 35.

Rowe, of Hazel Close, Pontypool, pleaded guilty to the offence and was represented in court by solicitor Michael Kelleher who informed the court that the defendant was holidaying in Pembrokeshire at the time of the offence.

“His daughter fell ill and he was attempting to find painkillers for her at a supermarket,” he said. “He’s very remorseful and is now going to lose his job as a delivery driver.”

Rowe, who has no previous convictions, was disqualified from driving for a total of 20 months. He was fined £120 and ordered to pay £85 court costs and a £48 surcharge.

Crime

Police tip-off leads to driving ban for Milford motorist

Published

3 hours ago

May 6, 2026

Sarah Jane Absalom

A Pembrokeshire motorist has lost his licence after police received information that the 40-year-old male may have been driving under the influence of drugs.

This week Haverfordwest Magistrates court was told that at around 8.30pm on November 22 officers received a call informing them that Michael Miles was suspected of driving his Peugeot Bipper through Milford Haven after consuming drugs.

Miles was subsequently stopped on Marble Hall Road and when spoken to by the officers, he informed them that he was a drug user. A saliva sample tested positive for cocaine while further tests carried out at the police station showed that Miles had 760 mcg of the cocaine metabolite benzoylecgonine in his system, the legal limit being 50.

Miles, of Milford Road, Steynton, chose to be legally unrepresented in court and pleaded guilty to the drug-driving charge.

The probation service said he was very remorseful for the offence and has since had appointments with the Dyfed Drugs and Alcohol Service to help him deal with his drug usage. Miles was served with an interim driving disqualification however as a result of his previous non-payment of fines, his punitive sentencing was adjourned to Thursday, May 7.

“If you pay your outstanding fines before Thursday, you will be fined for this offence,” warned District Judge Mark Layton. “But if you don’t pay, you will be given a custodial sentence.”