Crime

Calls grow for reform as Pentonville scandal mirrors Welsh prison crisis

Published

2 months ago

September 29, 2025

A DAMNING inspection report into HMP Pentonville has prompted renewed warnings that prisons in Wales face the same systemic failures.

The Chief Inspector of Prisons issued an Urgent Notification to the Secretary of State after finding appalling conditions at the London jail. Inspectors reported that 44% of prisoners felt unsafe, violence was being driven by widespread drug use, and men were locked in filthy, vermin-infested cells for more than 22 hours a day.

New arrivals were often left without bedding, pillows or cutlery, with some scattered around the prison and staff unable to locate or even identify them. Others at high risk of self-harm received little or no support. Inspectors described officers asleep or absent while supervising vulnerable prisoners, and three men had taken their own lives this year.

Half of those surveyed said they had been bullied or victimised by staff. Relations between prisoners and officers were “poor and often hostile”, with a noticeable lack of empathy or care. Wings were dirty, noisy and chaotic, with a pervasive smell of cannabis and infestations of mice and cockroaches.

The inspection also found serious administrative failings. Some men were held unlawfully beyond their sentence end dates because release calculations had not been properly carried out.

Not just a London problem

Campaigners say the findings expose issues that stretch across England and Wales. Nacro, which works in more than 40 prisons, warned that jails are “places of fear and neglect” rather than rehabilitation.

Chief executive Campbell Robb said: “What chance is there for rehabilitation when violence and drugs are rife, nearly half of the prison population feels unsafe, and people are confined to overcrowded, filthy cells infested with vermin? This is not just a failure of one prison, these issues are systemic.”

In Wales, HMP Parc has faced repeated criticism over violence, drug abuse and suicides, while Swansea and Cardiff prisons are regularly flagged as overcrowded and under-resourced. Local campaigners argue that the Welsh estate is under the same pressures as Pentonville, with chronic underfunding and insufficient staff undermining efforts to support rehabilitation.

Call for urgent change

Chief Inspector Charlie Taylor warned that Pentonville’s collapse showed the need for investment and reform. “We found comprehensive failures by leaders to make sure that there was effective oversight and management of some of the basic operations of a reception prison. It will take support and investment from the prison service to turn round this troubled jail,” he said.

Nacro is calling for urgent action to make prisons places of rehabilitation, with greater investment in staff, mental health services, education and employment opportunities.

With Wales facing a rising prison population and persistent failures at HMP Parc, campaigners say the Pentonville report is a stark reminder that the system is “on the brink of collapse” unless the UK Government acts.

Crime

Two Milford Haven men sent to Crown Court on GBH charges

Published

11 hours ago

November 18, 2025

Court Reporter

The incident stems from a violent incident outside The Vibe public house, Milford Haven involving three men – a woman was also wounded in the incident

TWO Milford Haven men have been sent to Swansea Crown Court charged with section 18 wounding after an alleged incident in the town on November 15.

David McCallum, 41, of Plas Peregrine, Steynton, appeared before Haverfordwest magistrates court on Monday (Nov 17). He is accused of unlawfully and maliciously wounding a woman in Milford Haven with intent to cause her grievous bodily harm, contrary to section 18 of the Offences Against the Person Act 1861.

McCallum also faces a second section 18 charge alleging that, on the same date in Milford Haven, he unlawfully and maliciously wounded a man with intent to cause him grievous bodily harm.

He was represented by solicitor Tom Lloyd, with the prosecution conducted by Nia James.

On Tuesday (Nov 18), Nathan Abbott, 31, also of Plas Peregrine, Steynton, appeared before District Judge Mark Layton at Haverfordwest magistrates court.

Abbott is charged with unlawfully and maliciously wounding a man in Milford Haven on November 15 with intent to cause him grievous bodily harm, contrary to section 18 of the Offences Against the Person Act 1861.

He was represented by Mike Kelleher, of Welch & Co.

Abbott also gave no plea, and his case was likewise sent to Swansea Crown Court under section 51 of the Crime and Disorder Act 1998.

Both McCallum and Abbott were remanded on conditional bail.

McCallum’s bail conditions include a curfew from 7:00pm to 7:00am, to be electronically monitored, not to contact directly or indirectly witnesses, and not to enter any public house, licensed club or off-licence.

Abbott’s bail conditions include living and sleeping each night at his home address , not to contact witnesses directly or indirectly, and not to enter licensed premises.

Both men must appear for a Plea and Trial Preparation Hearing at Swansea Crown Court on December 19, 2025, at 9:00am.

No pre-sentence reports were ordered and no indication was given regarding any victim personal statements at this stage.

Crime

Aberystwyth man remanded after admitting cocaine supply

Published

11 hours ago

November 18, 2025

Court Reporter

Case sent to Swansea Crown Court for sentencing

AN ABERYSTWYTH man has been remanded in custody after admitting possessing cocaine with intent to supply and having £7,000 in criminal cash.

Luke Hutton, 25, of Corporation Street, appeared before Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court on Monday (Nov 17) for his first hearing. The case was heard by a bench of Mr J Steadman, Mrs M Scott and Mr R John. He was represented by Jessica Hill and Mike Kelleher, while the prosecution was led by Nia James.

Hutton pleaded guilty to two offences arising from a police incident at Yr Hafan, Princess Street, Aberystwyth, on November 14.

The first charge was possessing £7,000 in criminal property, contrary to the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002. The second was possessing a quantity of cocaine, a Class A drug, with intent to supply.

Magistrates were told that Hutton indicated guilty pleas to both matters on the day of his appearance.

Because of the seriousness of the charges, the bench committed the case to Swansea Crown Court for sentence under Section 14 of the Sentencing Act 2020. A pre-sentence report has been ordered.

Magistrates refused bail, citing the likelihood of further offending, the seriousness of the offences and the likely custodial sentence. Hutton was remanded into custody.

He will next appear at Swansea Crown Court on December 1, 2025, at 9:00am, for a committal for sentence hearing, listed for 30 minutes.

Crime

Motorcyclist to return to court over Dinas Cross crash that seriously injured woman

Published

11 hours ago

November 18, 2025

Tom Sinclair

Case adjourned after part-heard trial at Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court

A MAN accused of causing serious injury to a woman by careless driving on the A487 at Dinas Cross will return to court next month after his trial was adjourned part-heard.

Aleksandrs Lohins, 61, of Mayfield Terrace, Newcastle upon Tyne, is charged with causing serious injury by careless or inconsiderate driving, contrary to section 2C of the Road Traffic Act. The allegation relates to a collision on April 9, 2023, in which motorcyclist Anna Titorchuk suffered serious injuries.

Lohins is alleged to have been riding a Honda GL-1800 motorcycle, registration WJ05 MDE, without due care and attention when the incident occurred.

The trial began at Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court on Monday (Nov 17), with a bench comprising Mr J Steadman, Mrs M Scott and Mr R John. Lohins was represented by defence solicitor Mike Kelleher, while the prosecution was led by Nia James.

After hearing evidence, magistrates adjourned the case part-heard.

Lohins remains on unconditional bail.

The matter will resume at Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court on December 8, 2025, at 11:00am, in Courtroom 1. The hearing is listed for an estimated 20 minutes, and the defendant must attend.