Crime

Campaigner remains in prison despite charges being dropped

Published

10 months ago

August 15, 2025

PRISON reform activist Zack Griffiths has been kept behind bars after what supporters are calling a “bureaucratic failure” — despite the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) dropping most of the charges against him.

Griffiths, a former inmate at HMP Parc and founder of the HMP Prisons Justice UK campaign group, was recalled to prison earlier this year while on licence following an earlier sentence. The recall came after he was accused of breaching licence conditions by posting restricted material online about HMP Parc, where he has led a campaign highlighting deaths, drug abuse, and alleged staff misconduct.

He faced three charges of malicious communications and one further allegation relating to a video posted online. Supporters have long claimed the case against him is an attempt to silence a whistleblower, while authorities insist the recall was purely for breaches of licence conditions.

At his appearance on Friday (Aug 15) Swansea Crown Court, the judge was reportedly ready to grant bail after the CPS confirmed all three malicious communications charges had been dropped, leaving only the video-related allegation outstanding.

However, the hearing was halted when it emerged the National Offender Management Service (NOMS) had not been informed that the dropped charges were no longer active. The CPS and the Probation Service have each been accused of blaming the other for the oversight, which meant the recall order remained in place and bail could not be granted.

Supporters present at the hearing described the situation as “corruption” and “a disgrace,” claiming the failure to update NOMS was deliberate rather than a simple miscommunication.

The Herald has asked the CPS and the Probation Service for comment.

Crime

Spittal man to stand trial accused of ABH

Published

3 days 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

3 days 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.