Crime

Police investigate alleged prisoner-on-prisoner sexual assault at HMP Parc

Published

1 year ago

February 19, 2025

Tom Sinclair

POLICE have confirmed are investigating an alleged sexual assault at HMP Parc, the Category B prison in Bridgend.

The incident is understood to have taken place in recent days, with another prisoner alleged to be the suspect.

A South Wales Police spokesman said: “A police investigation is underway following a report of a sexual assault on an inmate at HMP Parc. This investigation is ongoing.”

A spokeswoman for G4S, the private company that operates Parc, which houses many prisoners from Pembrokeshire, said: “There is an ongoing police investigation and it would be inappropriate to comment further at this stage.” The firm added that all allegations of sexual assault in its jails are immediately referred to police and that appropriate support is provided.

Zack Griffiths, of the HMP Prisons Justice Group, claimed the attack took place on X1 Wing and involved one of the younger inmates.

“Two days ago, on X1 Wing at HMP Parc, a young offender was subjected to a brutal and predatory attack. According to a trusted source, the victim, who was known to be vulnerable, was sexually threatened and coerced into compliance under extreme duress,” he said.

“The perpetrator, already recognised as dangerous, escalated the assault by pouring scalding hot water over him, before forcing him to commit a sexual act at knifepoint. The victim’s clothing has been removed for forensic testing, but the real question is… Why was he ever placed at risk in the first place?”

Griffiths described the incident as a “catastrophic failure of the prison system to safeguard those in its care” and called for urgent action to prevent similar incidents.

“This should never have happened. A vulnerable young person was left exposed to a violent, dangerous offender, and the consequences have been devastating. This isn’t just an individual crime—it is a failure of the system.”

HMP Parc has faced significant controversy over the past year, with a series of inmate deaths, allegations of corruption, and concerns over prison conditions leading to scrutiny of its management.

Crime

Milford Haven man admits assault and harassment charges

Published

2 days ago

May 21, 2026

Court Reporter

A MILFORD HAVEN has admitted assaulting a family member and harassing another relative following incidents in the town last year.

Wayne Whatling, 39, of Howarth Close, Milford Haven, appeared before Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court on Thursday (May 21).

Whatling changed his pleas to guilty to one charge of assault by beating and one charge of harassment without violence.

The assault charge relates to an incident in Milford Haven on September 13, 2025, when Whatling assaulted Ben Whatling by beating him.

He also admitted pursuing a course of conduct amounting to harassment against Carol Whatling between September 1 and September 13, 2025.

The court heard the harassment allegation involved repeatedly asking Carol Whatling for money, with the complainant said to have feared repercussions if she did not provide it.

Magistrates adjourned the case for the preparation of a pre-sentence report.

Whatling was remanded on conditional bail and ordered not to contact Carol or Ben Whatling directly or indirectly.

He is due to be sentenced at Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday (June 9).

Crime

Milford Haven man admits affray after alleged pub incident

Published

2 days ago

May 21, 2026

Court Reporter

A MILFORD HAVEN man has admitted affray following an incident at a town centre pub.

Stephen Collier, 38, of Vaynor Road, Milford Haven, appeared before Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court on Thursday (May 21).

Collier has pleaded guilty to affray, relating to an incident at Nos Da, Victoria Road, Milford Haven, on December 3, 2025.

The charge states that he used unlawful violence towards John Dean Hilton and that his conduct was such as would cause a person of reasonable firmness present at the scene to fear for their personal safety.

Collier also faces a separate charge of burglary dwelling with intent to inflict grievous bodily harm. It is alleged that, on the same date, he entered a flat at Nos Da as a trespasser and inflicted grievous bodily harm on Mr Hilton. He denies that charge.

The court also dealt with a breach of bail allegation after Collier was arrested on May 20 for allegedly breaching a curfew condition. He admitted the breach.

Magistrates re-admitted him to conditional bail.

His bail conditions include a daily electronically monitored curfew between 9:00pm and 6:00am, residence at his Vaynor Road address, and exclusions from Mount Estate, Milford Haven town centre, and Nos Da.

He must also not contact prosecution witnesses, including Molly Martin, Jack Martin, Lily Rose Martin and John Hilton.

Collier is due to appear at Swansea Crown Court on Friday, June 5, for sentence.

A spokesperson for Nos Da said the incident was connected with rooms upstairs at the Victoria Road premises, and did not take place in the bar itself, in the licensed area.