Crime

Tenby fisherman jailed for ‘appalling’ campaign of domestic abuse

Published

7 months ago

November 4, 2025

A TENBY fisherman has been jailed after subjecting his partner to what a court described as a “campaign” of violence and intimidation throughout their relationship

Oscar Allen, 23, of St Julian’s Street, Tenby carried out repeated assaults on his partner between September last year and August, Merthyr Tydfil Crown Court heard. Prosecutor Harry Dickens said Allen’s behaviour was “violent and toxic” during the relationship, with a series of incidents that left his victim living in fear.

The court was told that in November or December last year, Allen became enraged after seeing his partner on her phone while he was cooking. In anger, he hurled a plate of food at her — narrowly missing — before it smashed against the wall. He then accused her of being “sneaky” and shouted at her.

In early May, when the victim told Allen she planned to go out with friends, he became aggressive and told her: “You’re not f***ing going out.” He pushed her around their bedroom around 15 times, snatched her phone, and locked the front door to prevent her from leaving.

After noticing a text message from a male friend, Allen’s anger escalated further. He spat in his partner’s face, called her “disgusting”, threw a washing basket at her head, and hurled her phone against the wall.

Later that month, on 26 May, the pair attended a friend’s birthday celebration at a pub in Saundersfoot. During another argument, Allen grabbed the victim’s finger and pulled it back before lifting her onto his shoulder and carrying her away. He placed her on a bench and gripped her throat with one hand.

“She describes thinking she was going to die,” Mr Dickens told the court.

Allen then took her phone and only released her after some time. The victim returned to her friends inside the pub, but Allen was refused re-entry. Undeterred, he followed the group to Sands nightclub, where he spent the night stalking his partner and threatening any men who spoke to her. Using her phone, he purchased £20 worth of drinks for himself — then poured them over her each time.

In another incident at a dance event in Narberth on 26 July, Allen threw his partner over a grass bank after she asked to dance with her friends. Weeks later, on 11 August, he slapped her twice in the face “unprompted” at an afterparty following nights out in Tenby.

Allen pleaded guilty to five offences of assault by beating, assault occasioning actual bodily harm, strangulation, fraud by false representation, and criminal damage. The court also heard he had three previous convictions for four offences and was already serving a 12-month suspended sentence at the time of the attacks.

In mitigation, defence barrister James Hartson said: “There’s very little I can say about the offences themselves that would assist either the court or the defendant. Mr Allen is rightly and thoroughly ashamed of his actions. This was an appalling series of offending against his partner.”

Mr Hartson added that Allen had undertaken courses in prison to address issues of domestic violence and anger management.

Sentencing him to 30 months in custody, Judge Daniel Williams also activated the full 12-month suspended sentence, to run consecutively.

“This was a sustained pattern of violent, controlling behaviour,” the judge said. “Your partner lived in fear because of your actions.”

Allen will serve half of his sentence in custody before being released on licence.

Crime

Drug trafficker must repay £33,000 after court rules he made nearly £500,000

Published

7 hours ago

June 17, 2026

Court Reporter

A PEMBROKESHIRE drug trafficker jailed after a major cocaine and cannabis seizure has been ordered to repay more than £33,000.

Dean Evans, 44, returned to Swansea Crown Court for a Proceeds of Crime Act hearing after prosecutors sought to recover money made through his offending.

The court heard it had been agreed that Evans benefited from criminal conduct by £496,533.94. However, his available assets were calculated at £33,337.37.

Judge Catherine Richards made a confiscation order for that amount and gave Evans three months to pay. If he fails to do so, he faces a further year in prison.

Evans, of St Clements Park, Freystrop, is already serving an eight-year sentence after admitting possession with intent to supply cocaine and cannabis.

He was caught after Dyfed-Powys Police’s Roads Policing Unit stopped his Seat Ateca on Holyland Road, Pembroke, at around 10:25am on January 2.

Officers searched the vehicle after Evans admitted they would find “stuff” inside.

They discovered around one kilogram of cocaine in a cardboard box in the boot, together with 5.4 kilograms of cannabis in a black bin bag. The cannabis had been split into ten vacuum-sealed bags.

Swansea Crown Court was previously told the drugs had a combined potential street value of up to £185,000, made up of around £125,000 of cocaine and cannabis worth up to £60,000.

A mobile phone seized from Evans revealed what prosecutors described as a “dealer’s list”, with dozens of names and sums believed to be owed. Messages also showed Evans directing dealers below him in the supply chain.

At the original sentencing hearing, the court was told Evans had 23 previous convictions for 62 offences, including rape and robbery. His previous drug matters had related only to possession.

Sarah John, mitigating, said he had pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity and had stayed out of trouble for a “fairly lengthy period”, with his last conviction in 2016.

Jailing Evans for eight years, Judge Paul Thomas KC said: “You are clearly a man with few criminal boundaries.

“You ensnared users and low-level drug dealers into debt, dragging them into a vicious circle of criminality.”

After sentencing, DC Phill Jones, of Pembrokeshire’s Serious Organised Crime Unit, said illegal drugs brought misery to local communities and would not be tolerated.

He said: “This sentence should serve as a stark warning to any others who are tempted into the illegal drugs trade. You will get caught and you will go to prison.”

Photo caption: Drugs seized:

Dean Evans was caught with cocaine and cannabis worth up to £185,000 in his car (Pic: Dyfed-Powys Police).

Crime

Man wanted by court after failing to attend hearing over alleged shop thefts

Published

9 hours ago

June 16, 2026

Court Reporter

A MAN is wanted by the courts after failing to attend a hearing relating to a series of alleged shop thefts in Pembrokeshire.

Jack Morgan, of Pembroke, was due to appear before Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday (Jun 16) but failed to attend.

The court heard that Morgan faces several allegations of shop theft from businesses in Pembrokeshire.

The charges include the alleged theft of vodka from the Co-op in Pembroke Dock, along with food and drink items including sausages, crisps and Dragon Soop from The Green Garage.

The alleged offences are said to have taken place on various dates earlier this year.

After Morgan failed to attend court, magistrates issued a warrant for his arrest without bail.

He will now be brought before the court once located by police.

Court officials heard that the matters remain before the court and no pleas have yet been entered.

Crime

Shop theft admitted after alcohol stolen from Haverfordwest store

Published

9 hours ago

June 16, 2026

Court Reporter

A WOMAN has admitted shoplifting alcohol from a Haverfordwest store.

Esme Hoyle appeared before Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday (Jun 16) charged with theft from a shop.

The court heard that Hoyle stole alcohol worth £17 from B&M in Haverfordwest on Sunday, April 6.

Hoyle pleaded guilty to the offence.

Magistrates sentenced Hoyle following her guilty plea and imposed financial penalties, including prosecution costs and a victim surcharge.

The court was told the offence related to a low-value retail theft from the town centre store.

Retail theft continues to place pressure on local businesses across Pembrokeshire, with stores increasingly reporting repeated incidents of shoplifting.