Crime

Trial opens into alleged sexual assault of seven-week-old baby

Published

7 months ago

November 20, 2025

Judge hears disturbing allegations as Swansea Crown Court begins examination of case

A TRIAL has opened at Swansea Crown Court into allegations that a Burton man sexually penetrated a seven-week-old baby at an address in Haverfordwest.

Christopher Phillips, 33, of Warrior Reach, Kiln Park, denies 11 charges.

The Crown alleges that between December 20, 2020, and January 25, 2021, Phillips sexually penetrated a baby boy — referred to as Baby C — on two occasions. He is also accused of assaulting the child causing actual bodily harm, and of causing and inflicting grievous bodily harm on four occasions.

The baby’s mother, who cannot be named for legal reasons, faces two charges of causing or allowing the child to suffer serious physical harm and two charges of child cruelty.

She denies all four charges.

Judge Paul Thomas KC heard evidence this week from the baby’s aunt, who said her sister felt “uncomfortable” whenever Phillips was alone with Baby C.

“She hadn’t known him long and she wasn’t comfortable leaving the baby with him,” the aunt told the court. “But he insisted on my sister leaving the baby alone with him. She was getting a lot of messages from him and felt uncomfortable and under pressure.”

She described occasions where Baby C cried in his sleep “as if someone was snapping his bones” and recalled the baby screaming after a loud banging noise came from a room where Phillips was alone with him.

“When she asked him what caused the banging, he said he’d crashed into something,” she said.

The mother allegedly told her sister she once saw Phillips “bouncing” Baby C in a way that caused the child’s feet to strike his naked penis. “It wasn’t erect, but it wasn’t flaccid either,” the aunt said.

The aunt also recounted concerns over a pot of Sudocrem after Phillips changed the baby’s nappy: “There was a hole inside it that looked as if he’d put his full finger in.”

In further allegations, the aunt said Phillips had used the baby’s Christmas rattle for his own sexual gratification. She said her two-year-old daughter went to pick up the rattle during a visit, but the baby’s mother immediately snatched it away.

“My sister said Phillips believed the rattle looked like a butt plug and had used it as one. I was disgusted,” she told the court.

On another occasion, she said she saw Phillips remove Baby C from a car seat and “bicep curl him like a weight”, despite the baby grizzling.

The Crown also presented professional statements from health visitors, GPs and consultant paediatricians who had seen Baby C in the weeks after his birth in November 2020. During this time the baby was treated for blood from his right ear, constipation and blood in his stools. Medics also noted a swollen left testicle and a small bruise, about 1cm in diameter, on his back. The baby’s mother was unable to explain the bruise.

Health professionals described the mother as “a loving and caring mother”, and said the baby appeared “well and comfortable”.

However, the Crown alleges that on January 25, 2021, Baby C was admitted to hospital with severe injuries said to be consistent with sexual penetration.

Details of those injuries are expected to be outlined to Judge Thomas on Friday.

The trial continues.

Crime

Scaffolder banned after cannabis smell reported from van

Published

1 hour ago

June 30, 2026

Sarah Jane Absalom

A SCAFFOLDER has been banned from driving for 14 months after an off-duty police officer smelt cannabis coming from his Volkswagen Transporter as it travelled through Slebech.

The report was made to police at around 10.30am on February 15. When officers located the vehicle, they discovered it was being driven by 46-year-old Christopher Bennett.

Further blood tests showed Bennett had 16.8 mcg of Delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol in his system. The legal limit is 2.

This week Bennett, of Queensdown Gardens, Brislington, Bristol, pleaded guilty to drug-driving when he appeared before Haverfordwest magistrates. He was represented in court by Alaw Harries.

“The defendant is remorseful for his actions and recognises the seriousness of the offence,” Ms Harries told the Bench.

“He suffers significant pain following operations to his shoulders and has been prescribed codeine. But this causes drowsiness, so he began self-medicating using cannabis.

“On the day of the offence, he was in worse pain than usual, so he used cannabis earlier than he normally does.”

Ms Harries said the conviction would have serious financial consequences for Bennett, who works as a self-employed scaffolder.

“His driving licence is fundamental to his livelihood,” she said.

“The financial consequences are going to be significant to him, as well as to those who are dependent on him.”

Magistrates fined Bennett £600 and ordered him to pay a £240 surcharge and £85 costs.

He was disqualified from driving for 14 months.

Crime

Estate agent banned after drug-drive crash in Milford Haven

Published

2 hours ago

June 30, 2026

Tom Sinclair

Alison Walker had nearly five times the legal benzoylecgonine limit in her system

A PEMBROKESHIRE estate agent has been banned from the road after admitting driving through Milford Haven with nearly five times the legal limit of a cocaine metabolite in her system.

Alison Walker, 59, was arrested on February 2 after her white MG was involved in a two-car collision on Great North Road, Milford Haven.

“Fortunately there were no injuries, just damage to the vehicles,” Crown Prosecutor Sian Vaughan told Haverfordwest magistrates this week.

After providing a positive roadside drug swipe, Walker was arrested and asked to provide blood samples. These showed she had 240mcg of benzoylecgonine in her system. The legal limit is 50mcg.

Walker, of Woodland Crescent, Milford Haven, pleaded guilty to drug-driving and was represented in court by solicitor Tom Lloyd.

He told the bench that prior to the offence, Walker had been employed as an estate agent.

“She has a good relationship with her boss, and as soon as this conviction is dealt with and her sentence has been served, he will be happy for her to return to her employment,” he said.

After considering a comprehensive probation report, magistrates disqualified Walker from driving for 20 months.

She was fined £80 and ordered to pay a £114 court surcharge and £85 costs. Walker must also carry out a 12-month community order, during which she must complete 15 rehabilitation activity requirement days.

Crime

Pembroke Dock motorist banned after driving with cocaine in system

Published

2 hours ago

June 30, 2026

Court Reporter

A PEMBROKE DOCK motorist has been banned from the roads after being caught driving with more than seven times the legal cocaine limit in her system.

Naomi Grant, 47, was stopped by police on the night of February 6 as she drove her Vauxhall Astra along the A477 near Pembroke Dock.

After providing a positive roadside drug swipe, Grant, of Cheriton Road, Pennar, Pembroke Dock, was taken for further tests.

Blood analysis showed she had 74mcg of cocaine in her system. The legal limit is 10mcg. She also had 1,200mcg of benzoylecgonine, a breakdown product of cocaine, where the legal limit is 50mcg.

This week Grant, who has no previous convictions, pleaded guilty to two charges of drug-driving when she appeared before Haverfordwest magistrates.

She was represented by solicitor Tom Lloyd, who told the court that his client is currently prescribed a considerable amount of medication for a number of medical issues.

“She also has her own personal assistant as a result of her medical needs,” he said.

“She has done everything that has been asked of her in relation to this offence and has engaged with the Dyfed Drug and Alcohol Service to help her move forward.”

Magistrates disqualified Grant from driving for 12 months and fined her £120.

She must also pay £85 court costs and a £48 surcharge.