News
Sex offender built patio illegally on ancient priory ruins
Milford Haven man already in jail fined for flouting heritage protection laws
A MAN with a conviction for child sex offences has been fined after he built an unauthorised patio on the grounds of one of Pembrokeshire’s most important historic sites.
James Kershaw, aged 45, constructed the structure at Pill Priory in Milford Haven—once home to a 12th century Tironensian monastery—without proper consent or planning permission.
Swansea Crown Court heard that Kershaw, who has served nearly four years in prison for a sexual offence involving a child, knowingly breached strict heritage protections when he laid the patio near the ancient ruins.

Prosecutor Tom Scapens said: “The defendant bought a property on the priory site in 2014. This is a location of significant historical importance, and he ignored clear restrictions by carrying out the work without permission.”
Cadw, the Welsh Government’s heritage body, launched an investigation into the unauthorised construction which reportedly took hundreds of hours and cost tens of thousands of pounds.
Kershaw admitted the offence and appeared in court via video link from custody, where he is serving the final weeks of his current sentence. He is due for release next month.
His barrister, Jon Tarrant, said Kershaw had pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity and should be given credit for doing so.
Judge Catherine Richards told Kershaw: “You made a flagrant decision to flout the rules and do as you pleased. There is now a financial cost because remedial work will be necessary.”
Kershaw was fined £4,000 and ordered to pay a £120 victim surcharge.
The court ruled he will serve a further two months in custody if the fine is not paid.
Crime
Man charged with strangulation and assault offences after October incident
A MAN recorded in court as having no fixed abode has appeared before magistrates charged with intentional strangulation and two further assault offences.
Michael Sudbury, 50, whose address was not read out in court, but in Herald records is Glan Hafan, Llangwm, appeared before the bench facing multiple charges.
The charges relate to an incident on 22 October 2025 and include:
- Intentional strangulation, contrary to section 75A of the Serious Crime Act 2015
- Common assault
- Assault by beating
No further details of the alleged incident were opened in court, and no plea was entered at this stage.
Sudbury was remanded on conditional bail, with the case listed to return to magistrates later this month.
Crime
Haverfordwest man sent to Crown Court on multiple serious charges
Defendant remanded in custody
A HAVERFORDWEST man has been sent to Swansea Crown Court to stand trial on a series of A 49-year-old Haverfordwest resident has been committed to Swansea Crown Court to face trial on multiple serious charges deemed too grave for magistrates to handle.
David Guy, of Market Street, Haverfordwest, appeared before Haverfordwest magistrates facing a series of allegations stemming from a single case. The charges, which were not detailed in open court, include:
- Assault occasioning actual bodily harm (ABH)
- A second count of assault
- Criminal damage
- An additional allegation of interpersonal violence
- A public order offence
Magistrates declined jurisdiction, determining that the matters exceeded their sentencing powers, and sent the case in its entirety to Swansea Crown Court.
Guy was remanded in custody pending his next appearance. The court register notes: “Sent to Crown Court for trial in custody – next hearing at Swansea Crown Court.”
A date for the initial Crown Court hearing will be set administratively. Guy will remain in custody until then.
The Pembrokeshire Herald will provide further updates as the case progresses in the Crown Court.
Crime
Castlemartin man back before magistrates over multiple alleged assaults
Defendant remanded on conditional bail ahead of further hearing
A CASTLEMARTIN man has appeared repeatedly before magistrates this month over a string A 40-year-old man from Castlemartin has made repeated appearances before magistrates this month in connection with a series of serious alleged offences, including assault occasioning actual bodily harm (ABH), intentional non-fatal strangulation, common assault, and criminal damage.
Anthony Alcock, of Pwll Street, Castlemartin, is facing six linked charges stemming from incidents said to have occurred earlier this year. These appear to relate to the same complainant in what is understood to be a single ongoing domestic abuse prosecution.
During recent administrative hearings at Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court, Alcock did not enter pleas while matters of bail and case management were addressed.
Charges Include:
- Assault occasioning actual bodily harm (ABH)
- Intentional non-fatal strangulation
- Common assault on a woman
- Criminal damage in a domestic context
- Additional assault allegations involving the same complainant
- Breach of bail conditions
Alcock was initially granted conditional bail but was subsequently brought before the court on two occasions for alleged breaches. On those instances, magistrates remanded him in custody ahead of further hearings. He was later re-granted conditional bail, subject to strict conditions such as no contact with the complainant and exclusion from specified locations.
Magistrates have now declined jurisdiction, ruling that the case—particularly the more serious charges involving non-fatal strangulation—is too grave for summary trial. It has been committed to Swansea Crown Court for plea, trial, or sentencing.
No detailed evidence has been presented in open court at this preliminary stage. Alcock remains on conditional bail pending his next appearance at the Crown Court.
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