Crime

West Wales teenager jailed for preying on elderly women while posing as masseuse

Published

1 week ago

November 3, 2025

Teen posed as therapist to target vulnerable pensioners

A TEENAGER from Gorseinon who tricked elderly women into letting him into their homes by posing as a masseuse and window cleaner has been jailed for seven years.

Jimmy Tawse, aged 18, of Penyrheol Road, targeted four victims — two aged 89, one aged 85, and another aged 63 — in what the judge described as “deeply troubling” offences.

Swansea Crown Court heard how Tawse approached his victims between February and June last year, gaining their trust with false claims before carrying out sexual and fraudulent offences.

On May 15, he called at the home of an 89-year-old woman, claiming to be a therapist. Once inside, he told her to go to the bedroom and remove her clothing for a supposed massage before sexually assaulting her. When confronted, he pretended to be a “sexual therapist” who had gone to the wrong address.

She later told police: “I don’t want to leave the house. I keep thinking I might see him again. I used to go for walks, but now I just stay home because I’m frightened.”

Later that same day, Tawse visited another 89-year-old woman, saying her GP had arranged a massage for her. When she refused to undress, he left abruptly. She said the encounter had left her unable to sleep and anxious to go out alone.

On June 20, Tawse knocked on the door of an 85-year-old woman and claimed to be the son of her window cleaner. After she paid him £55, he followed her inside and made a sexual remark, gesturing towards his groin.

The next day, he targeted a housebound 63-year-old woman, claiming someone had already paid for a £55 massage and it “would be a shame to waste it.”

She said: “I am constantly frightened he’ll come back. I don’t feel safe in my own home anymore.”

The court also heard that Tawse assaulted a police officer earlier in the year after asking to be taken into custody during a dispute with his parents.

Tawse, who left school at 12 and was 17 when the first offences took place, admitted trespass with intent to commit a sexual offence, sexual assault, fraud, and assaulting an emergency worker.

Judge Geraint Walters said: “These were serious and predatory offences committed against extremely vulnerable women by a man barely out of childhood himself. It is very, very troubling indeed.”

Tawse was sentenced to seven years’ detention, including four years in custody. He was made subject to indefinite restraining orders for all four victims and placed on the sex offenders register. A sexual harm prevention order will be finalised later this month.

Crime

Neyland man in custody after late-night assault in Milford Haven

Published

14 hours ago

November 10, 2025

Court Reporter

Victim taken to hospital as police close Charles Street for several hours

A NEYLAND man has been remanded in custody following a serious assault in Milford Haven at the weekend.

Benjamin Cullen, aged nineteen, of Gordon Parry Road, Neyland, appeared before Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court on Monday (Nov 10) charged with assault occasioning actual bodily harm after an incident on Charles Street late on Saturday night (Nov 8).

The court heard that the victim, Nicholas Hammond, was taken to hospital with injuries not believed to be life-threatening.

Cullen did not formally enter a plea.

The case was committed to Swansea Crown Court, where he is due to appear on Monday, November 24.

He was remanded in custody after magistrates heard details of his previous record and concerns that he may offend or interfere with witnesses if released on bail.

A second man, aged thirty-six, was also arrested in connection with the incident and has been released on bail pending further enquiries.

Police and ambulance crews attended the scene at around 11:30pm on Charles Street, which remained closed for several hours during the investigation.

Crime

Two arrested after woman rescued from Main Street building in Pembroke

Published

21 hours ago

November 10, 2025

Tom Sinclair

POLICE have arrested two men on suspicion of rape and false imprisonment following a serious incident on Main Street, Pembroke, on Sunday morning (Nov 9).

Dyfed-Powys Police said officers were called at 9:45am to reports of a woman in distress at a property above Mehfil’s Indian restaurant. The woman was taken to hospital by ambulance.

Two men, aged 36 and 27, were arrested at the scene. They have since been released on bail while police enquiries continue.

Officers remained outside the premises for much of the morning, with several police vehicles and ambulances attending. A cordon was placed around the entrance to Willings Walk shopping arcade as forensic work was carried out.

The Herald understands that the woman’s condition is stable, and police have confirmed that an investigation into the incident is ongoing.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Dyfed-Powys Police, quoting reference DP-20251109-132.