Crime

Pembrokeshire window fitter denies raping woman in her own kitchen

Published

1 month ago

May 12, 2025

A MOTHER has told a court how she was raped in her own kitchen after her children were ordered upstairs by the defendant.

“I kept pushing him away, saying I didn’t want to,” the woman told Judge Paul Thomas KC, sitting at Swansea Crown Court on Monday, May 12.

“I didn’t want to make a fuss because of my children.

“I was still saying ‘No’, but then he pushed me down on the floor.”

Richard Murray, 46, of Hill Street, Haverfordwest, denies orally raping the woman at her home in Narberth on August 25, 2022. He also denies sexually assaulting her and causing her to engage in a sexual activity without her consent.

The woman, who cannot be named for legal reasons, told the court that she’d met Murray earlier that afternoon at the Costcutter store, Narberth, after walking there with her young children, to buy a pair of scissors. She explained that she wanted to cut posters out of her children’s comics, but was unable to find scissors at her property.

“I saw Ritchie [Richard Murray] and he asked me what we were doing there,” said the woman in a police video interview that was played to the court.

“He told me not to worry, but he’d come over and sort it out.”

She said that she’d known Murray, who at the time of the offence was employed as a window fitter, for several months leading up to the alleged incident.

When Murray and the victim returned to her home, the victim claims that Murray took out a Stanley knife and began cutting out the posters for her children.

“But then he became a bit more suggestive,” she said.

“He asked me if I wanted to have an affair and I said no. I just wanted him to stop. He’s asked me this before. I’ve always said no, and it’s always stopped at this point.

“But then he began pulling me closer to him and he shouted at the children to go upstairs to hide, and then it happened. He shut the kitchen door and started putting my hands on him, in that area in front of his trousers.

“I was pushing him away but then he got [his penis] out and pushed me down on the floor and put it in my mouth. I kept pushing him away, saying nothing, and then I pushed hard and fell back against the tumble drier.

“I was terrified the children were going to know, as I didn’t want them to witness or have to deal with any of this.”

The victim said that following the alleged incident, Murray left her property.

She went on to accuse Murray of touching her breast at a previous incident at her home earlier that summer.

But Prosecution counsel, Mr Dyfed Thomas, KC, claimed the victim had encouraged Murray’s advances in the weeks leading up to the alleged incident, despite knowing that he was married.

“You never told him he wasn’t welcome at your house, did you?” he said. “You didn’t have to let him in. You could have blocked him on your phone and you could have said ‘You’re not welcome any more. Come around here again, and I’m contacting the police.

“Or you could have said that you were going to phone his wife and tell her that he was around at your home all the time. But you didn’t do any of this, did you?”

The victim replied that her intention was ‘to avoid the situation’.

Richard Murray is expected to begin giving his evidence tomorrow (Tuesday).

Crime

Teenager to face Crown Court trial over strangulation allegations

Published

16 hours ago

June 24, 2025

Sarah-Jane Absalom

Two separate incidents under investigation

A TEENAGER has appeared before magistrates accused of attempting to strangle the same woman on two separate occasions.

Ieuan John, 19, of Plas Peregrein, Steynton, Milford Haven, is charged with attempting to strangle a female on January 6 and again on October 2, 2024. He is also accused of assaulting her, causing actual bodily harm.

“This matter is aggravated by the fact that there are two separate strangulations,” Crown Prosecutor Sian Vaughan told Haverfordwest magistrates on Tuesday.

The court heard that police were called to the second incident on October 2 following a report from the female, who alleged she had been punched to the legs and torso. She later attended hospital for treatment, where she disclosed the earlier alleged strangulation.

John denies all three charges.

Following a request from the Crown, magistrates declined jurisdiction and committed the case to Swansea Crown Court. Proceedings will commence on July 25.

John was granted conditional bail. He must not contact the complainant directly or indirectly, must not enter Richard John Road, Milford Haven, and must reside and sleep at his home address.

Crime

Milford man admits threatening neighbour after 27-year feud

Published

16 hours ago

June 24, 2025

Sarah-Jane Absalom

Victim ‘terrified’ after being called homophobic slur

A MILFORD HAVEN man has admitted using homophobic and abusive language during a confrontation with his neighbour of 27 years.

Andrew Johns, 46, appeared before Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court this week, where he pleaded guilty to using threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress.

The incident occurred on May 30 in Richard John Road, when neighbour Elizabeth Radcliffe returned home.

“They’ve lived next door to each other for 27 years, but there have been numerous issues,” said Crown Prosecutor Sian Vaughan. “That day, when she came home, the defendant started calling her a c*** and said he was going to kill her husband, who he described as ‘a f****** gay muppet’.”

Ms Vaughan said the victim was left feeling terrified in her own home as a result of the outburst.

Probation report ordered

Due to the homophobic nature of the comments and concerns over the defendant’s mental health, magistrates agreed to a request from the Crown Prosecution Service for a full probation report to be prepared before sentencing.

Johns, of Richard John Road, was released on conditional bail until sentencing on July 15. He must not contact Mr or Mrs Radcliffe, either directly or indirectly.

Crime

Man remanded after escaping police by asking to check on dog

Published

16 hours ago

June 24, 2025

Sarah Jane Absalom

A PEMBROKESHIRE man has been remanded in custody after escaping from police by claiming he needed to tend to his dog.

Officers attended the home of Zachariah Roberts, 23, in Marble Hall Road, Milford Haven, to question him over an alleged breach of bail conditions. During the visit, Roberts asked to check on his dog.

“He was given some latitude by officers,” Crown Prosecutor Sian Vaughan told Haverfordwest magistrates this week. “But instead, he let himself out of the property and made off. It doesn’t get any higher than that.”

Magistrates declined jurisdiction due to the seriousness of the offence. Following a request by Ms Vaughan, Roberts was remanded in custody.

The remand was made on the grounds that he may commit further offences, interfere with witnesses, or fail to surrender to bail.

Roberts is due to appear at Swansea Crown Court on July 25.