Crime

Paedophile jailed for raping two young girls over two decades

Published

9 months ago

March 13, 2025

A MAN who orchestrated a campaign of rape spanning more than 20 years, abusing two young girls over 110 times, has been jailed. Ronald Richards, 66, was sentenced at Swansea Crown Court on Tuesday (Mar 11) after his crimes were revealed when one of his victims broke down in tears years later.

The court heard harrowing details of the abuse, with prosecutor Ian Wright describing how Richards, raped his first victim at least 60 times when she was under 13 and continued the abuse when she was under 16. His second victim was raped on at least 50 occasions before she reached 13. Both victims stood in court to describe the lasting impact of their ordeals.

One victim told the court: “I can’t remember a time when I didn’t feel anxious or have a feeling of dread in my stomach. I moved away from my home town in an attempt to feel safe. I had to pretend everything was OK, but I have never really been able to be myself.”

She recalled suffering from flashbacks and suicidal thoughts, adding: “He stole my childhood and my innocence.”

***Predator Ronald Richards, 66, was sentenced at Swansea Crown Court***

The second victim said: “I don’t actually know how to feel. I have blocked out so much. I felt like I had to do whatever he said. The most painful thing for me is looking at old photos of myself from before this happened.”

Defence barrister Ieuan Rees told the court that Richards is in poor health, suffering from diabetes and deteriorating eyesight, and acknowledged that his sentence would likely see him remain in prison for the rest of his life.

Richards was convicted of 14 offences, including multiple counts of rape of a child under 13, rape of a child under 16, sexual assault of a child, indecency with a child, and indecent assault.

Sentencing Richards to 25 years in prison—24 years of a determinate sentence plus a one-year extended term—Judge Geraint Walters told him: “You systematically abused two young children in an unspeakable way. The scars of such abuse are lifelong.”

Richards, from Port Talbot must serve two-thirds of his sentence before being considered for parole. He has also been placed on the sex offenders’ register for life and is subject to a lifelong sexual harm prevention order and restraining orders preventing him from contacting his victims.

Following the sentencing, Detective Constable Joanne Williams of South Wales Police praised the victims’ bravery, telling The Pembrokeshire Herald: “To have been subjected to this level of abuse from such a young age is sickening.

“The victims will have to carry these memories for the rest of their lives. Ronald Richards is a very dangerous man who preyed upon defenceless children.

“The level and frequency of his offending was staggering. It is right that he should go to prison for a significant amount of time.”

Crime

Aberystwyth man denies criminal damage charge over Cardigan gallery window

Published

14 hours ago

December 15, 2025

Court Reporter

Alleged incident said to have taken place on Bridge Street

AN ABERYSTWYTH man has denied a charge of criminal damage relating to an alleged incident in Cardigan.

Ricky Myers, aged 27, of Jasper House, Aberystwyth, appeared at Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court on Monday (Dec 15).

The court heard that Myers is accused of criminal damage to property valued under £5,000, contrary to the Criminal Damage Act 1971.

The charge relates to an incident on Saturday (Aug 24, 2024) at Manchester House on Bridge Street, Cardigan, where it is alleged that a window at the Cardigan Gallery was damaged. The property is said to belong to Peter Austin.

Myers pleaded not guilty to the allegation.

Magistrates adjourned the case for further case management, and Myers was remanded on conditional bail, with a condition that he live and sleep each night at his home address.

He is due to return to court at Aberystwyth Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday (Dec 17) at 2:00pm.

Crime

Pembroke Dock man remanded in custody ahead of sentencing on string of offences

Published

14 hours ago

December 15, 2025

Court Reporter

Harassment charge and three assaults among cases listed for Llanelli court

A PEMBROKE DOCK man has been remanded in custody ahead of sentencing after admitting a series of offences, including harassment and assaults.

Tony Brundrett, aged 21, of Kavanagh Court, Pembroke Dock, appeared at Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court on Monday (Dec 15).

The court heard Brundrett has pleaded guilty to harassment without violence, contrary to the Protection from Harassment Act. The charge alleges that between Tuesday (Sep 17) and Thursday (Oct 31) at Spring View, Pembroke Dock, he pursued a course of conduct amounting to harassment of a female, including attending her home address and contacting her by text message.

He has also admitted assault by beating against the same female, alleged to have taken place on Wednesday (May 21) at Spring View, Pembroke Dock, and a further assault by beating against a second female on Thursday (Oct 30), also at Spring View.

Magistrates were additionally told that Brundrett faces a further allegation of common assault against a third female, said to have occurred on Tuesday (Dec 9) at Kavanagh Court, Pembroke Dock. No plea was recorded to that matter in the register entry.

Brundrett has also pleaded guilty to a number of offences linked to an incident in Haverfordwest on Saturday (Nov 16). These include:

Aggravated vehicle taking, involving a Vauxhall Corsa, with damage caused before recovery
Using a motor vehicle without insurance
Driving otherwise than in accordance with a licence
Criminal damage, involving a window belonging to Pembrokeshire County Council

He was remanded in custody, with the next hearing listed at Llanelli Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday (Dec 31) at 10:00am.

Crime

Milford Haven man admits multiple offences after A477 incident

Published

14 hours ago

December 15, 2025

Court Reporter

Zombie knife charge and dangerous driving among offences before the court

A MILFORD HAVEN man has appeared before magistrates charged with four offences arising from a single incident in Pembrokeshire.

Simon Rees, aged 28, of Observatory Avenue, Hakin, appeared at Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court on Monday (Dec 15).

The court heard that all four offences are alleged to have taken place on Tuesday (Nov 5) and relate to an incident on the A477 towards Pembroke Dock involving a Ford Fiesta.

Rees is charged with:

Possession of an offensive weapon in a public place, namely a zombie knife
Dangerous driving
Using a motor vehicle without third party insurance
Driving otherwise than in accordance with a licence

Magistrates were told that Rees has pleaded guilty to the insurance offence and to driving otherwise than in accordance with a licence. He has also changed his plea to guilty on the offensive weapon charge, while indicating a guilty plea to the dangerous driving offence.

The case was adjourned for sentence, and the court ordered that a pre-sentence report be prepared.

Rees was remanded on conditional bail, with conditions including a night-time curfew between 8:00pm and 7:00am, to be electronically monitored, and a requirement to reside at his home address.

He is due to return to Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court for sentencing on Tuesday (Jan 7) at 10:00am.