Crime

Record number of Pembrokeshire residents in court over council tax arrears

Published

12 months ago

July 7, 2025

Over 1,200 liability orders issued in a single day at record-breaking hearing

MORE than 1,200 Pembrokeshire households were hit with court orders on Monday (July 7) for non-payment of council tax, The Pembrokeshire Herald can reveal.

At Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court, a total of 1,270 liability orders were granted to Pembrokeshire County Council in a single session – according to a justice source this is the most ever in a single day. The court heard complaints relating to 1,500 defendants — one of the largest mass enforcement actions ever.

With an estimated 48,200 homes in Pembrokeshire, the figures suggest that more than 1 in every 40 households faced court action for unpaid council tax on the same day.

Court records show:

1,270 orders were granted,
142 cases were withdrawn, and
85 accounts were marked as paid before the hearing.

The council was represented by officer Dafydd Thomas, who gave evidence under oath. The session was conducted under Regulation 34 of the Council Tax (Administration and Enforcement) Regulations 1992.

Enforcement action expected

A liability order gives the council the legal power to take further steps to recover the debt, including:

Deducting money from wages or benefits,
Placing charging orders on property, or
Passing the case to bailiffs (enforcement agents).

The Herald has already reported on recent enforcement activity in Milford Haven, where vulnerable residents say they were threatened with forced entry by bailiffs — something that is not permitted under council tax law unless a specific legal process has been followed.

Council tax arrears at record levels

The court hearing follows recent Welsh Government figures revealing that council tax arrears across Wales now stand at £263 million, a 139% rise compared to pre-pandemic levels.

Pembrokeshire County Council was owed £8.75 million in unpaid council tax as of March 2025 — up from £8.38 million the previous year.

Finance Minister Mark Drakeford recently described current enforcement rules as “too aggressive” and confirmed that the Welsh Government is consulting on proposals to extend the period before court action from two weeks to two months.

Pembrokeshire County Council have been contacted for comment.

Bailiff powers — know your rights

Council tax is a priority debt, meaning non-payment can lead to court action and enforcement — but residents still have rights.

Bailiffs cannot break into a home to collect council tax unless they’ve previously been inside and signed a Controlled Goods Agreement. They cannot force entry on a first visit and must not enter if a vulnerable person is home alone.

If you are struggling to pay or have been contacted by a bailiff, you can:

Contact Pembrokeshire County Council directly to arrange a payment plan.
Ask about the Council Tax Reduction Scheme or discounts such as single person discount.
Get free help from Citizens Advice, StepChange, or National Debtline.
If you are vulnerable, request that the council recall the case and apply its vulnerability policy.

If you have received a court summons or have been contacted by an enforcement agent, The Pembrokeshire Herald would like to hear from you.
Contact the newsroom at [email protected]

Crime

Spittal man to stand trial accused of ABH

Published

1 day ago

June 20, 2026

Court Reporter

A SPITTAL man is to stand trial accused of assaulting a man and causing actual bodily harm.

Robert Hedley, 41, of Wesley Way, Spittal, Haverfordwest, is charged with assaulting Liam Morley-Trivett at St Clears on August 30, 2025.

The case was before Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court on Thursday (Jun 18).

Hedley was granted unconditional bail and is due to stand trial at the same court on Monday, June 29.

The trial is listed for 10:00am and has been given a time estimate of twenty minutes.

Crime

Milford Haven woman spared jail despite string of shop thefts

Published

1 day ago

June 20, 2026

Court Reporter

Repeat offender stole from Tesco, Home Bargains, Food Warehouse and petrol stations in wave of offences

A MILFORD HAVEN woman who admitted a series of shop thefts committed over a matter of weeks has been handed a suspended prison sentence by magistrates.

Marion Picton, aged 46, of Hawthorn Path, Milford Haven, appeared before Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday (Jun 18) and pleaded guilty to eight theft offences and a drugs-related offence.

The court heard that Picton carried out a string of thefts at stores across Milford Haven between April and June this year.

Among the offences, Picton admitted stealing meat from Food Warehouse on Apr 23, food worth £60 from Victoria Filling Station on May 29, groceries from Home Bargains on Jun 7 and Jun 8, food from Victoria Filling Station on Jun 7 and Jun 9, groceries and non-food items worth £51.09 from Tesco on Jun 16, and food worth £32.50 from Food Warehouse on the same day.

She also admitted failing to attend an initial drugs assessment after testing positive for Class A drugs, including cocaine and opiates.

Magistrates were told the offences represented persistent repeat offending and had been committed while Picton was already subject to a court order.

The bench imposed an eight-week prison sentence, suspended for 18 months.

As part of the order, Picton must complete up to 15 rehabilitation activity days under the supervision of the Probation Service.

The court ordered her to pay compensation to several of the businesses affected, including Tesco, Home Bargains, Food Warehouse and Victoria Filling Station.

In sentencing, magistrates said the offences were serious enough to justify immediate custody but suspended the sentence because there was a realistic prospect of rehabilitation and Picton appeared motivated to address her addiction issues.

Picton was warned that any further offending during the 18-month suspension period could see the prison sentence activated.