Crime

Man found not guilty over Goodwick pub bust-up

Published

10 months ago

February 21, 2025

A MAN has been found not guilty at Swansea Crown Court on Friday (Feb 21) after throwing a glass at another man in The Glendower Hotel, Goodwick, leaving him with a fractured eye socket.

Judge P. H. Thomas KC addressed the defendant, saying: “What the jury didn’t know is that you have a long history of violence. If you come before the court again, you should expect a sentence.”

Daniel Mitchell, 29, of Dunster Close, Rugby, but living in Goodwick at the time, had been on trial for inflicting grievous bodily harm and damaging property.

As the trial unfolded, the jury heard that the incident, which took place on April 18, 2023, stemmed from a longstanding financial dispute.

He pleaded not guilty to both charges, arguing that he had acted in self-defence.

Mitchell claimed he had lent the complainant £240, which had not been fully repaid. On the night in question, both men were drinking at The Glendower Hotel, where they became embroiled in a heated argument near the pool table.

CCTV footage showed the complainant walking over to Mitchell, at which point, Mitchell recalled: “I was feeling scared during the conversation. I felt like something was going to happen.”

The complainant allegedly responded: “I only owe you £50.”

Tensions escalated quickly. CCTV footage then captured the complainant pushing Mitchell backwards twice, nearly causing him to fall from his seat.

‘I wanted him to stop attacking me’

Mitchell told the court: “When he came for me again, I threw my whole glass at him from two metres away. I wanted him to get away and stop attacking me.”

The glass struck the complainant in the face, leaving him with a three-centimetre laceration above his eye, a two-centimetre laceration below, and a fractured eye socket.

Following the incident, Mitchell fled the pub and went to a friend’s house in Fishguard. Later that night, he walked 45 minutes back to Goodwick, where police found him hiding in a wardrobe upon his arrest.

Prosecuting counsel Georgia Donohue argued: “Throwing a glass in a man’s face was completely excessive, and you were not acting in proportionate self-defence.”

However, Mitchell’s defence barrister Ashanti-Jade Walton countered:

“The jury must assess this through the lens of the heat of the moment. Mr Mitchell’s main goal was to leave, and he acted instinctively.”

Walton emphasised that Mitchell had been pushed twice before reacting and did not have time to weigh his response.

After deliberating for around 90 minutes, the jury returned not guilty verdicts for both grievous bodily harm and criminal damage.

Judge Thomas discharged Mitchell from the dock, but warned him that any future offences would not be met with such leniency.

Crime

Jury discharged after failing to reach verdict in historic abuse trial

Published

3 hours ago

December 18, 2025

Rieve Nesbitt-Marr

CPS have a week do decide if they wish to pursue a re-trial, judge confirms

THE JURY has been discharged in the trial of a Milford Haven man accused of historic child sex offences after telling the court it was unable to reach a verdict, even by majority.

Thomas Kirk, aged 50, of Meyler Crescent, Milford Haven, is charged with the oral rape and sexual assault of a child, with the offences alleged to have taken place in Pembrokeshire between 2007 and 2009, when the complainant was aged between thirteen and fifteen. He denies the charges.

On Thursday (Dec 18), the jury returned to Swansea Crown Court and was asked whether it had reached a verdict on either count upon which at least ten jurors were agreed.

The foreman replied: “No.”

Judge Paul Thomas KC then asked whether there was any realistic likelihood that further deliberations would lead to a verdict being reached.

The foreman replied: “No, your honour.”

Judge Thomas KC said that in those circumstances he would discharge the jury and give the prosecution seven days to decide whether it would seek a retrial.

Addressing the jurors, the judge said they should not think they had failed or let anyone down.

“These things happen,” he said. “It’s one of the strengths of the jury system that people hold different views.”

He thanked the jury for their service and wished them a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

The court heard that the prosecution will now consider its position, with a further hearing expected next week to determine whether a retrial will take place.

Crime

Police appeal to locate 69-year-old man wanted in harassment investigation

Published

3 hours ago

December 18, 2025

Tom Sinclair

DYFED-POWYS POLICE are appealing for information to help locate a man from the Ammanford area who is wanted in connection with a harassment offence.

Alan Tait, aged 69, is being sought by officers as part of an ongoing investigation.

Police believe he may currently be in the Derbyshire area, but say he also has links to South Wales and Gwent.

Anyone with information that could assist officers in locating him is urged to contact Dyfed-Powys Police.

Crime

Man jailed after strangling partner and attacking police officer

Published

16 hours ago

December 17, 2025

Court Reporter

A MILFORD HAVEN man who strangled his partner during a violent domestic assault before attacking a police officer has been jailed for two years.

Timothy John, aged 38, of Howarth Close, Milford Haven, appeared at Swansea Crown Court after admitting a series of offences arising from an incident in October.

The court heard that John had been arguing with his partner about his drug use when the situation escalated into violence. Prosecutor Craig Jones said the defendant grabbed the woman by the throat and held her in a chokehold for around ten seconds, leaving her struggling to breathe and fearing she would lose consciousness.

During the attack, John also punched and kicked the victim before smashing a glass bong over her head. At the time, the woman was still in her underwear and managed to flee the property and run into the street to seek help.

John also damaged the victim’s mobile phone by biting the screen, rendering it unusable.

Police attended the address the following day to take a statement from the victim and discovered John hiding in a bedroom. When officers attempted to detain him, he assaulted a female police officer, knocking her glasses to the floor, before escaping from the property.

The defendant handed himself in around 24 hours later.

John pleaded guilty to intentional strangulation, assault occasioning actual bodily harm, assaulting an emergency worker, criminal damage, and escaping from lawful custody. The court was told he has five previous convictions for six offences, although none for violence.

Defending, Dan Griffiths said John accepted the relationship was over and had been using cocaine at the time of the incident, which had made him paranoid, volatile and unpredictable.

He told the court that John had previously worked as a fisherman, roofer and welder, but had struggled with alcohol and substance misuse. Mr Griffiths added that a pre-sentence report highlighted a difficult upbringing and noted a lack of insight into his offending, with concerns that he attempted to minimise his behaviour.

The defence urged the court to consider a suspended sentence to allow John to work with probation services.

Sentencing, Judge Catherine Richards said the offence involved serious strangulation and a sustained assault on an intimate partner, leaving the victim frightened in her own home.