Crime

Man threatened partner with pitchfork before headbutting her in public

Published

6 months ago

June 10, 2025

A PEMBROKESHIRE man who headbutted his partner and threatened her with a garden pitchfork in full view of neighbours has avoided an immediate jail sentence.

Footage shown to magistrates captured the moment Paul Evans, 39, assaulted Rachel Palmer outside their shared home on Fernhill Road, Merlins Bridge, at around 5:00pm on Sunday (June 8).

The video, filmed by a concerned neighbour, showed Evans grabbing Ms Palmer by the neck and forcing her to the ground. He then picked up a garden fork and waved it at her before dropping it. Moments later, he hurled a blue suitcase—believed to belong to Ms Palmer—towards an upstairs window.

Evans could then be seen headbutting his partner before again forcing her to the ground with considerable force. He later ran towards her wielding a large plank of wood.

“All this was witnessed by members of the public who were understandably very concerned for the victim’s welfare,” said Crown Prosecutor Sian Vaughan at Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court. “It was distressing for everyone who saw it, including the person who submitted the footage.”

Probation officer Catrin Jones told the court the couple had been together for around 15 years, but their relationship had recently deteriorated due to drug misuse.

“The relationship had been good, but it’s recently deteriorated,” she said. “An argument had started earlier that day and the defendant wanted her to leave the property. He never intended to use weapons to cause harm.”

The court heard Evans had taken cocaine that day and consumed alcohol the previous night. He has been using cocaine daily for several years, having developed an addiction around the age of 30. He also uses amphetamines and ecstasy.

“Despite what happened, the defendant loves his partner to bits,” said Ms Jones. “It’s fair to say he’s self-medicating with drugs, and needs support to manage this in a pro-social way.”

Evans, who works as an occasional handyman, pleaded guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm. He was represented by solicitor Alaw Harries.

“The drug misuse has caused tension with the victim and things have been a challenge for them,” said Ms Harries. “He deeply regrets his actions and acknowledges that his drug use is at the heart of the problem.”

Magistrates sentenced Evans to 24 weeks in custody, suspended for 18 months.

“Because it was committed in public and involved domestic violence, the charge has crossed the custody threshold,” said presiding magistrate Mary Smith.

Evans must also complete a nine-month drug rehabilitation programme, 25 rehabilitation activity requirement days, and 250 hours of unpaid work. No compensation order was made after the Crown confirmed Ms Palmer had not supported the prosecution.

He was also ordered to pay £154 in court surcharge and £85 in prosecution costs.

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.