Crime
Two men sentenced for vicious crimes against badgers.
A JOINT investigation by Dyfed-Powys Police’s Rural Crime Team and the RSCPA sees two Ceredigion men prosecuted for their disturbing crimes against animals.
The two men were found to have shot a badger dead before dragging its lifeless body down a hill and throwing it into a nearby bog.
On the afternoon of Saturday 6 January 2024, the RSPCA was alerted to a concern about suspicious activity taking place on a grassy hillside in the Esgairdawe area of Carmarthenshire.
A member of the rural community, and key witness in the case, told the RSCPA how they had seen a group of individuals acting suspiciously around an active badger sett near to their home.
Taking a closer look using their camera (fitted with a telescopic lens), the witness observed the group digging into badger sett before seeing a man dragging a heavy animal down the hill and throwing it over a fence into a bog.
The witness also reported seeing another man carrying a terrier with blood on its legs in one arm, and a shotgun in the other.
The same day, RSCPA Inspector Keith Hogben attended to examine the site and was shown the photos taken by the witness. Inspector Hogben gathered evidence from the scene, including the dead body of a badger which was freshly wounded.
Dyfed-Powys Police’s Rural Crime Team was notified of the incident, and further examination of the deceased badger confirmed that the animal had been shot dead. This led officers to believe that the killing was in breach of the Badgers Act 1992, and a criminal investigation was launched.
Using the photographs taken by the initial witness, the two main suspects were identified, and plans were put into place to carry out simultaneous arrests during a day of action on Tuesday 9 April 2024.
During the pre-planned operation led by PC 610 Ashleigh Jones and the RSPCA, suspects Sion Davis and Gwynli Edwards were arrested at their homes on suspicion of causing unnecessary suffering to dogs, interfering with badger setts and being in possession of a dead badger.
Further property searches found a total of nine firearms, including a shotgun believed to have been used in the illegal killing of the badger. The quadbike seen by the witness was also located at one of the properties, along with items related to terrier hunting, including dog radio collars, T-bars, nets, and shovels.
Davis’s firearms were seized, his license revoked, and the pair were released under investigation.
Following a thorough joint investigation, Sion Davis was later charged with interfering with a badger sett, using a firearm to kill a badger, and wilfully killing a badger. He pleaded guilty to all three charges at Llanelli Magistrates Court on Thursday 27 March. Gwynli Edwards was also charged, and pleaded guilty to, interfering with a badger sett and possession of a dead badger when he appeared alongside Sion Davis at the court hearing in March.
On Wednesday 16 April 2025, both men were handed sixteen month suspended sentences, and Sion Davis was ordered to carry out 250 hours of unpaid community work. In addition, the pair were ordered to pay costs totalling £4,960.
DS 405 Paul Roberts of Dyfed-Powys Police’s Rural Crime Team said: “This result is a testament to the strength of partnership between Dyfed-Powys Police and the RSCPA. This case reinforces the message that we will do all we can under the all-Wales partnership for rural and wildlife crime, to protect vulnerable wildlife within our force are, and pursue those that intend to bring them harm.”
Echoing DS Roberts’s comments, PC 610 Ashleigh Jones of Dyfed-Powys Police’s Rural Crime Team said: “Today’s outcome shows that vicious and cruel behaviour against innocent and defenceless animals will simply not be tolerated. I want to commend the initial witness for their proactivity in contacting the RSCPA to report her concerns, which ultimately led to the two perpetrators facing justice for their crimes today.
“I’d also like to thank RSPCA Inspector Keith Hogben for the critical role he played in this investigation. His initial actions at the scene, and gathering of key evidence early on were instrumental in securing this prosecution.”
Crime
Armed police attend knife-related incident in Fishguard street
ARMED police were deployed to a residential street in Fishguard this evening following reports of a teenage boy with a knife.
The incident happened in the Dan y Bryn area on Sunday evening (Mar 23).
Armed police negotiated with the suspect, persuading him to hand over the weapon. He was subsequently detained, handcuffed, and taken away in an ambulance.
The situation was brought under control without any reported injuries.
There is currently no official statement from police, and the Herald has contacted Dyfed-Powys Police for further information.
Crime
Child rapist found with abuse images after moving to west Wales
Registered sex offender Wayne Evans, who moved to Carmarthenshire for a fresh start, was caught after the National Crime Agency flagged activity linked to a Kik account
A CONVICTED child rapist who moved to rural west Wales in an apparent attempt to start over was found with indecent images of children on his phone after his online activity was flagged by the National Crime Agency.
Wayne Evans, 59, of Pentrecourt Road, Llandysul, appeared before Swansea Crown Court after officers discovered the images during an investigation triggered by the NCA.
The court heard that in January last year, the NCA alerted Dyfed-Powys Police to a Kik messaging account involved in downloading indecent images of children. The email address linked to the account was already known to police and belonged to Evans, a registered sex offender.
Officers went to his home on January 28 and arrested him. Evans told police he had not downloaded the images himself and claimed they had appeared in a Kik group he was part of, adding that the group had since been shut down.
Police seized six devices from the property and Evans handed over the pin numbers for his phones and tablets. He later answered “no comment” to questions in interview and was released under investigation while the devices were examined.
A forensic analysis of his Samsung Galaxy phone uncovered 13 Category A images, eight Category B images and two Category C images. The material involved children aged between four and 12.
Category A images are considered the most serious and involve the gravest forms of sexual abuse.
The court was told Evans has six previous convictions covering 23 offences. In 1990, he was convicted of gross indecency with a child and indecent assault of a child. In 2002, he was jailed for 15 years for raping a child under 16, attempted rape, gross indecency and five further counts of indecent assault. He was placed on the sex offenders register for life and released from prison in 2011.
Evans had admitted three counts of making indecent images of children, covering Categories A, B and C.
Emily Bennett, representing Evans, said her client knew the court would view the offences in the “dimmest of lights”. She said he had moved to a rural part of Wales where he kept himself to himself and had taken steps to reduce his contact with females.
She also told the court Evans accepted that he still had an inappropriate sexual attraction to children, and said he was in a long-term stable relationship with a partner who knew about his past offending.
Sentencing Evans, Recorder Mark Powell KC said he accepted that the defendant had taken some steps to change his life, but said it was clear he continued to have a sexual interest in children.
The judge said his priority was to pass a sentence which reduced the risk Evans posed. He said an immediate prison term available under the guidelines would be relatively short, could be destabilising, and might even increase the danger to the public.
With credit for his guilty pleas, Evans was sentenced to 16 months in prison, suspended for 18 months. He was also ordered to complete a rehabilitation activity requirement, a Building Choices programme, and 100 hours of unpaid work.
A Sexual Harm Prevention Order was imposed for 10 years, and Evans will remain on the sex offenders register for life.
Photo caption:
Wayne Evans was sentenced at Swansea Crown Court after indecent images of children were found on his phone
Crime
Milford Haven drug dealing pub boss who boasted of ‘best coke around’ jailed
Dealer who claimed £160,000 profits was later calling police for protection as threats escalated over money he owed to his suppliers
A MILFORD HAVEN drug dealer who bragged he had “the best coke out there” and claimed to have made up to £160,000 in just four months has been jailed for six years.
But behind the image of a confident, high-earning operator, the reality was starkly different — a man in debt, under threat, and repeatedly calling police for protection as his world closed in.

The 35-year-old defendant admitted multiple offences relating to the supply of cocaine and cannabis when he appeared before Swansea Crown Court.
The court heard he played a significant role in the supply of Class A and Class B drugs, purchasing large quantities — including claims he was buying cocaine by the kilogram — and maintaining contact with upstream suppliers.
In messages shown to the court, he boasted about his profits, claiming to have made £38,000 and suggesting that far larger sums were within reach. He also claimed to have earned £160,000 in just four months and said he had bought two houses.
He told customers he had “the best coke out there” and responded aggressively to complaints, stating: “Out of £30,000 worth, you’re the only one to complain,” before adding: “Bad mouthing me is a bad idea you little slag.”

Violence and intimidation
The court was also shown chilling footage of a confrontation at a property on the Mount Estate, where the defendant was heard directing violence over a debt.
In the video, he shouted: “I got boys, yeah, I got boys,” before telling others to “kick his head in” as the attack unfolded inside the victim’s home.
Witnesses described him as having become a “kingpin” in Milford Haven’s drug scene, operating from The Vibe public house, which they claimed was used as both a legitimate business front and a base linked to drug dealing.
Fear behind the façade
Yet the court heard that behind the bravado, the defendant was living in fear.
He had accumulated drug debts estimated at between £18,000 and £26,000 and was being threatened by those higher up the supply chain. His partner reported people turning up at their home, with threats including claims it would be bombed or burned down.
The Herald attended his home address on multiple occasions to report on police activity after he called officers for protection.
In a direct call to this newspaper during the period, he said: “There are threats to my life — people want me dead, dead. I don’t want this in the paper. It’s over money… hundreds of thousands of pounds.”
Documents reveal further pressure
The Herald can also reveal that the defendant was served with a statutory demand in late 2025 over an alleged unpaid debt relating to stock, fixtures and fittings following his takeover of The Vibe public house in March 2024.
Documents seen by this newspaper indicate the financial pressures he was under extended beyond drug debts.
National attention
The case has already drawn national interest, with Channel 4 making a documentary featuring the defendant after interviewing local people in Milford Haven over recent months.
‘Significant role’ in drug trade
Police arrested the defendant on January 5 last year on suspicion of being concerned in the supply of Class A drugs. A search of an address on Priory Road uncovered 18 grams of cannabis, while a separate incident involving a vehicle led to the discovery of 73 grams of cocaine and cannabis.
Prosecutors said he was actively involved in the supply of drugs and purchasing large quantities, describing him as a key player in the local trade.
He has 57 previous convictions, mostly for theft-related offences.
‘Only a custodial sentence’
Defending, Mr Ibrihim described his client’s background as a “tale of woe,” telling the court his father was addicted to heroin and his mother struggled with alcohol. His younger sister died in 2022.
The court heard he had gone “off the rails” in his late teens and that his drug dealing was linked to debts, including those connected to his father. It was also said that many of his claims about wealth were exaggerated and amounted to “bravado”.
Sentencing, the judge said: “The seriousness of this offending means that only an immediate custodial sentence is appropriate.
“You played a significant role in drug dealing. What is clear is that you were dealing with a lot of cocaine.
“I have no doubt that some of what you did was due to pressure, but some of it was for your own gain.”
The judge added that despite the defendant’s claims of wealth, “you haven’t got hardly anything left”.
For the supply of cocaine, he was sentenced to six years in prison, with a concurrent sentence of 30 months for supplying cannabis.
He will serve at least half the sentence in custody before being eligible for release.
A victim surcharge of £228 was also imposed.
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