News
Tavernspite: £159,000 land fraud admitted in court
A TAVERNSPITE woman appeared in court on Monday (Jan 5) to admit carrying out land frauds worth a total of £159,000.
Carolyn Jane Henderson, aged 50, was before Judge Huw Davies at Swansea crown court for a plea and case management hearing.
Henderson, of 3 Beynons court, admitted five offences of fraud by falsely representing between 2010 and 2011 that land for sale at Briar Paddock, St Florence, could be used for caravanning and camping.
The victims were David Harries, Diane Morgan, Paul Stewart, Glyn Coward and John Boswell.
Henderson also admitted possessing an article for use in fraud, a “document of truth” purportedly signed by a C Hastings.
She also admitted between 2005 and 2006 fraudulently obtaining a money order for £15,000 from Roland Evans by claiming that land at Hafod Wen, Llanteg, was suitable for planning permission and that if permission was not granted she would return the money.
Henderson also pleaded guilty to advertising land at Hafod Wen for sale while falsely claiming it was suitable for caravanning and camping.
Henderson will be sentenced on February 13 after a probation officer has prepared a report into her background.
Judge Davies agreed to the report after being told that the “relatively large amounts of money involved” might take the offending over the custody threshold.
Henderson entered pleas of not guilty to several other charges. Huw Rees, prosecuting, said in light of her guilty pleas those cases would not be proceeded with at this stage.
Henderson’s sister, Amanda Victoria Henderson, aged 42, who lives at Hafod Wen, denied four charges of fraud relating to land at Hafod Wen.
The prosecution offered no evidence in her case and Judge Davies entered formal verdicts of not guilty. Amanda Jane Henderson was discharged.
Mr Rees said that although Carolyn Henderson, who was granted bail until the sentencing hearing, might now have little money left the prosecution wished to continue with a Proceeds of Crime Act investigation to see if any of the fraudulently obtained money could be recovered.
All the victims named in the charges had lost money, he added.
Mr Rees will provide more details of the offending on February 13.
Crime
Man who threatened to kill Herald editor given suspended prison sentence
A PEMBROKESHIRE man who sent a message threatening to kill Pembrokeshire Herald editor Tom Sinclair has been given a suspended prison sentence by magistrates.
Anthony Jones, aged 34, of Castle Quarry, Long Mains, Monkton, appeared before Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court on Monday (Feb 23) for sentencing after being found guilty of two offences following a trial earlier this month.
The court heard that on February 24, 2025, Jones sent a communication conveying a threat of death or serious harm, contrary to the Online Safety Act 2023. Magistrates were told he intended, or was reckless as to whether, the recipient would fear the threat would be carried out.
Jones was also convicted of racially aggravated intentional harassment, alarm or distress following an incident on April 8, 2025, in Pembroke involving a police officer.
Magistrates imposed a total custodial sentence of 26 weeks’ imprisonment, suspended for 12 months, for the threats against Mr Sinclair. He was also ordered to pay £500 compensation to the victim, £640 prosecution costs, and a £154 surcharge.
For the racially aggravated harassment offence, Jones received a separate 12-week prison sentence, also suspended for 12 months, to run concurrently, together with £200 compensation.
The court was told the offences were so serious that only a custodial sentence could be justified, with magistrates noting the defendant had shown a “flagrant disregard for people” and had targeted the victim with serious threats.
A victim personal statement from Mr Sinclair was read to the court by the prosecutor.
The custodial sentences were suspended after the court heard Jones had not offended for some time, was employed, had children, and was assessed by probation as not presenting a high risk of harm or reoffending.
Crime
Man remanded in custody over Tenby assault allegations
A MAN has been remanded in custody after appearing before Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court charged with causing serious injuries to a woman in Tenby.
Lewis Thompson-Gill, aged 35, of Worcester Road, Little Witley, Worcestershire, is accused of assaulting a female on December 28, 2025, causing actual bodily harm.
He also faces a further charge of inflicting grievous bodily harm without intent in relation to the same incident.
The court heard the case during a mention hearing on Monday (Feb 23).
Thompson-Gill previously entered a not guilty plea to the assault occasioning actual bodily harm charge. A plea to the grievous bodily harm charge has not yet been recorded.
Magistrates remanded him in custody due to concerns he could commit further offences, cause injury or fear of injury to an associated person, or interfere with witnesses.
The custody time limit in relation to the assault charge expires on March 9, while the limit for the grievous bodily harm allegation expires on April 13.
The case was adjourned for trial at Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court on March 2 at 2:00pm. The hearing is expected to last around two and a half hours.
The Crown Prosecution Service has been directed to serve the full case file on the defendant before the next hearing.
Crime
Eleven-year jail term for rape after judge finds victim ‘particularly vulnerable’
A MAN from Newport has been jailed for eleven years after being convicted of raping a woman who was asleep and physically vulnerable.
Yogesh Parmar, aged 35, was sentenced at Swansea Crown Court on Monday (Feb 23) following a trial in which jurors heard harrowing details of the abuse suffered by the victim.
Sentencing, Her Honour Judge Catherine Richards said the complainant had been “particularly vulnerable” at the time of the attack because of her small physical stature and the fact she was asleep when the rape occurred.
The court heard Parmar placed heavy gym weights against the bedroom door to prevent the woman from leaving the room.
In her personal statement, the victim said that when she told Parmar his behaviour was harming her, he responded by telling her to “get used to it”.
It was also heard that he dismissed her distress by describing her as “hormonal” when she reacted to his pattern of abuse. The victim told the court she regarded Parmar as “a predator”.
In mitigation, defence counsel argued the complainant had “woken to him effectively having intercourse”.
Alongside the eleven-year custodial sentence for rape, Parmar was handed a 20-year restraining order. He also received a two-year concurrent sentence on a separate count of controlling and coercive behaviour.
Judge Richards told the defendant the offences represented a grave breach of trust and had caused lasting harm to the victim.
Parmar will serve his sentence in custody before being subject to restrictions upon release.
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Steven Jones
January 6, 2015 at 1:14 pm
Myself and my brother also purchased land off Carolyn and Amanda Henderson witch was sold to us as caravan plots at Hafod Wen at a cost of £8000 each £16000 total this is not mentioned in the court case
Ken Marsh
July 8, 2017 at 2:13 pm
We were lucky(?) We gave Carolyn Henderson £500 as a deposit for land to camp on. Then we found out there was no planning permission and never would be! Needless to say we never got our deposit back!
Our dream was destroyed.