Connect with us
Advertisement
Advertisement

Crime

Finance director to appear in court accused of £500,000 care home fraud

Published

on

A WOMAN accused of defrauding a Pembrokeshire care home out of nearly half a million pounds is due to appear in court tomorrow (Tuesday, July 29).

KAREN MURRAY, aged 57, of Prospect Place, Haverfordwest, is facing a total of nine serious fraud and forgery charges in what is expected to be one of the most significant white-collar crime cases seen at Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court in recent years.

The case is listed for first hearing at 2:00pm.

Alleged abuse of position

Murray is alleged to have abused her position as Finance Director of East Park Care Centre, Jeffreyston, near Kilgetty between 2012 and 2024 to siphon off vast sums of money for her own personal gain.

According to the charges, Murray is accused of dishonestly obtaining more than £500,000 across multiple transactions over a decade, using her trusted role to manipulate finances and authorise fraudulent payments.

In one of the most serious allegations, she is accused of unlawfully gaining £273,174.97 between June 2013 and March 2019. Another charge alleges a separate gain of £173,783.70 between April 2013 and May 2019.

Further charges detail smaller, but still significant, alleged frauds of £15,000, £4,789, and £35,777.75, all said to have been committed while she was responsible for the financial oversight of the care centre.

Forgery charges

In addition to the fraud allegations, Murray is also charged with three counts of forgery. These include allegedly forging the signature of a fellow director on a Companies House resignation form and forging company accounts between 2012 and 2018.

One specific charge states she forged the signature of Jane Haskayne on a loan application intended for The Funding Circle in 2017.

The total amount of alleged fraudulent gain across all charges exceeds £505,000.

Possible Crown Court transfer

Given the scale and complexity of the allegations, the case is likely to be transferred to Crown Court following tomorrow’s hearing. The offences carry maximum penalties ranging from six months to 12 months’ imprisonment per charge, and unlimited fines.

The Herald will be in court to report on developments as they happen.

Crime

Man charged with strangulation and assault offences after October incident

Published

on

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.

Continue Reading

Crime

Haverfordwest man sent to Crown Court on multiple serious charges

Published

on

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.

Continue Reading

Crime

Castlemartin man back before magistrates over multiple alleged assaults

Published

on

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.

Continue Reading

News12 hours ago

Search under way in Pembroke Dock for missing man Lee

Coastguard, RNLI and rescue helicopter launched as fears grow he entered the water A MAJOR search and rescue operation is...

News12 hours ago

Search under way in Pembroke as man reported missing

Rescue teams battle worsening weather ahead of amber rain warning A MULTI-AGENCY search and rescue operation is under way in...

News16 hours ago

Amber weather warning as ‘danger to life’ rain set to hit Pembrokeshire

Dyfed-Powys Police and council teams prepare as Monday deluge expected COMMUNITIES across Pembrokeshire are being urged to brace for severe...

Crime17 hours ago

Former Army Cadet leader sentenced for child abuse image offences

Judge condemns “horribly abused” victims as Carmarthen man admits offences A FORMER Army Cadet instructor from Carmarthen has been sentenced...

Crime19 hours ago

Trefin dog case ends in forfeiture order after protection notice breach

Village protest followed months of complaints about barking A WOMAN from north Pembrokeshire has been fined £1,000 and ordered to...

Crime1 day ago

Man spared jail after baseball bat incident in Milford Haven

Judge says offence was so serious only a prison sentence was justified A 44-YEAR-OLD has been given a suspended prison sentence after...

Crime2 days ago

Rural cannabis factory exposed after five-year operation in Carmarthenshire

Family-run drugs enterprise brought in millions before police raid during lockdown A FAMILY who relocated from England to a remote...

Business3 days ago

Senedd rejects calls to ‘eliminate’ rates for small businesses

A CONSERVATIVE call to abolish rates for all small businesses in Wales has been voted down by the Senedd amid...

Community4 days ago

Christmas song pokes fun at Haverfordwest’s ‘Instagram-friendly’ bridge

Rock track raises money for charity while giving a gentle dig to the council A BRAND-NEW Christmas rock song by...

Crime4 days ago

Police reassure community after school lockdown incident in Carmarthen 

DYFED-POWYS POLICE have issued reassurance to the community after Ysgol Bro Myrddin in Carmarthen was placed into a precautionary lockdown on...

Popular This Week