Crime

Woman caught with knife in Pembroke Dock blames drugs

Published

1 month ago

February 11, 2025

A COURT has heard how a woman found carrying a kitchen knife through the centre of Pembroke Dock told police officers: “I can’t remember why I did it, because I was on drugs.”

999 calls were made by members of the public, stating that a person had been seen walking down Bush Street, Pembroke Dock, on January 24, carrying a large knife.

An on-duty police officer saw Lacey Sharp walking towards his police vehicle, carrying a large kitchen knife in her right hand.

“Fearing for his safety, he drew his taser and red-dotted the defendant,” Crown Prosecutor Nia James told Haverfordwest magistrates this week.

“He told her to drop the knife and she complied.”

Nia James said that when Sharp was questioned by officers about why she was carrying the knife, she replied: “I can’t remember…I was on drugs.”

The offence was committed while Sharp was serving a 12-month Community Order for assaulting an emergency worker in December 2024.

Sharp, 25, of Bethel Court, Bush Street, Pembroke Dock, pleaded guilty to possessing a knife in a public place.

Her solicitor, Tom Lloyd, informed magistrates that between 2020 and 2025, the defendant had been “completely offence free.”

“Things were going exceptionally well for her and she was living and working in Cardiff where she was the manager of a bar, taking on significant responsibilities,” he said.

“But due to her mental health, things fell apart.

“She moved back to Pembrokeshire and despite the support she’s receiving from her family, it’s been a real struggle for her. She can clearly remain offence-free under the right circumstances, but at the moment, those circumstances don’t seem to be quite right.”

Meanwhile, probation officer Julie Norman said that prior to being found in possession of the knife, Sharp had taken a quantity of unprescribed valium. Ms Norman added that her engagement with the probation service since being placed on the Community Order had been positive.

After considering the facts, magistrates sentenced Sharp to six months in custody, suspended for 12 months. She must carry out 20 rehabilitation activity requirement days, a 120-day alcohol abstinence order and must pay a £154 court surcharge and £85 costs. A forfeiture and destruction order was imposed on the knife.

“We believe that there are realistic possibilities of rehabilitation, but you’ve now got to be very, very careful over the next 12 months,” said presiding magistrate Mary Smith.

“We want to see you back on track, living the life that you were living before.”

Crime

Majority of stolen sheep recovered after public appeal

Published

43 seconds ago

March 28, 2025

Tom Sinclair

DYFED-POWYS POLICE says it has recovered 63 of the 75 sheep reported stolen from a farm in Rhydlewis, near Newcastle Emlyn, following a public appeal for information earlier this week.

The ewes were located at three separate sites within the Dyfed-Powys Police area over the past four days.

Inspector Matthew Howells said: “I would like to thank everyone who shared our appeal, and the appeal from the owner, which was shared over 700 times and reached communities all over Wales and further afield. The support from farming communities near and afar has been vitally important in securing a positive outcome. I’d also like to thank those who came forward with information which enabled my officers to respond quickly, ensuring the safe return of these animals to their rightful owner.”

A 40-year-old man who was previously arrested on suspicion of theft has been released on bail while police enquiries continue.

Crime

Police investigate theft of 75 sheep from Newcastle Emlyn farm

Published

14 hours ago

March 27, 2025

Tom Sinclair

DYFED-POWYS Police is investigating the theft of approximately 75 sheep from a farm in the Newcastle Emlyn area.

The lamb yearling ewes were reported missing from farmland near Rhydlewis. Officers believe the theft occurred sometime between March 7 and March 17, 2025.

The stolen sheep are described as white-faced, with clean white wool and a faint yellow spot. They are believed to be continental cross ewes, similar in appearance to Texel crosses.

A 40-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of theft and remains in police custody.

Police are appealing to anyone who may have information that could assist with the investigation.

Anyone with details is urged to contact Dyfed-Powys Police via the following:

🖥️ | Online: https://bit.ly/DPPContactOnline
📧 | Email: [email protected]
📞 | Call: 101

Alternatively, information can be passed to the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously by calling 0800 555111 or visiting crimestoppers-uk.org.

Quote reference: 178 of March 23.

Crime

Unlicensed dog breeders prosecuted in Carmarthenshire

Published

14 hours ago

March 27, 2025

Tom Sinclair

Three found guilty of operating without a licence

THREE unlicensed dog breeders have been successfully prosecuted by Carmarthenshire County Council following an investigation into illegal breeding practices at a property in Cwmffrwd.

Donna Edwards, William Edwards and Elysia Jones, all of Gelligaeros Bungalow, Cwmffrwd, were found guilty at Swansea Crown Court on 10 February 2025 for operating a dog breeding business without the required licence.

Donna Edwards and her partner, Mark Thomas, had previously held a dog boarding licence for many years. However, in October 2020, they ceased boarding activities and began using the kennels for breeding instead. Despite informing the council that 19 dogs were being kept on the premises, and enquiring several times about obtaining a breeding licence, no formal application was ever submitted.

Carmarthenshire County Council had issued warnings about unlicensed activity, but the defendants continued to operate. In April 2021, the website Pets4Homes contacted the council to report that it had blocked three user accounts—registered under the names Donna Edwards, William Edwards, and Elysia Jones—all advertising puppies from the Gelligaeros address.

An investigation revealed that eight separate litters had been advertised from the property between June 2020 and March 2021.

As part of the prosecution, the council secured a confiscation order under the Proceeds of Crime Act, recovering a total of £81,509.93 from the defendants.

Sentencing was as follows:

Donna Edwards: 12-month Community Order with 70 hours of unpaid work, plus an £85 victim surcharge.
William Edwards: 12-month Community Order with 50 hours of unpaid work, plus an £85 victim surcharge.
Elysia Jones: 12-month Conditional Discharge and a £20 victim surcharge.

Cllr Aled Vaughan Owen, Cabinet Member for Climate Change, Decarbonisation and Sustainability, praised the council’s Animal Health team for their efforts.

He said: “I would like to thank the Council’s Animal Health team for pursuing this case and bringing these illegal dog breeders to justice. Let this be a warning to others who continue to disregard the law—we will take action.”

Further information on the council’s work to uphold animal welfare standards can be found at Animal welfare – Carmarthenshire County Council.