Crime

Man denies causing baby’s injuries as police interviews read to jury

Published

4 months ago

November 28, 2025

THE JURY at Swansea Crown Court has heard police interviews with a man accused of physically and sexually assaulting a baby who was taken to Glangwili Hospital in the early hours of January 24, 2021.

Christopher Phillips, aged 34, of Kiln Park, Burton, denies two offences of sexual assault by penetration, one count of assault causing actual bodily harm, and four counts of inflicting grievous bodily harm.

The baby’s mother – who cannot be named to protect the child’s identity – denies child cruelty and allowing the child to suffer serious physical harm.

Interviews read to the court

Prosecutor Joshua Scouller read to the jury the transcript of Phillips’ initial interview with Dyfed-Powys Police.

Officers asked: “Are you responsible for causing these injuries?”

“I’m not, no,” Phillips replied.

He added: “When I’m there, she’s always with me… ninety-five per cent of the time she’s in the room.”

Phillips suggested the baby had been “crying more” because of an ear problem during the week before hospital admission. He said the child also had a “nappy rash” and blood in the nappy, but he did not notice anything else that concerned him.

The defendant was asked about a message the mother had sent him asking whether he had bumped the child’s head. A later CT scan found a fractured skull and a bleed on the brain.

Phillips said he had walked into a table while carrying the baby and struck his own leg.

Officers pressed him on why the mother had asked about the baby’s head: “I don’t know if she was spotting anything,” he said, adding the message had been sent days before the hospital visit.

Mother’s police interview

In a separate police interview, the baby’s mother – whose identity is protected – alleged that she had once walked into a room and seen Phillips “bouncing the baby up and down on his penis” after stepping out of the shower.

When asked what he had been wearing, she replied: “He was naked.”

Officers asked: “What did he do when he saw you?”

“I gave him a look and he just pulled the baby up higher,” she said.

She further alleged that Phillips had inserted the baby’s rattle into his anus, describing it as being used like “a butt plug”. Asked what she thought of this, she said: “Disgusted.” She told officers she took the rattle away and put it in the kitchen, adding that she had intended to wash it but did not, and later saw it fall behind the fridge.

“I didn’t want the baby touching it again,” she said.

When questioned about how long she had known Phillips before they began a sexual relationship, she said: “Two or three weeks,” explaining that they had met on Tinder.

Asked why she had used a profile picture of herself and the baby together on the dating app, she said: “People have got to know if you have kids.”

Officers asked whether the relationship had been “highly controlling and sexual”, and she replied: “Yes.”

When asked if Phillips had ever shown any interest in helping to care for the baby, she replied: “No.”

She went on to say she had become concerned after seeing Phillips with Sudocrem on his finger, “as if he had put his finger in a pot of it”.

“It was like a ring of Sudocrem around his finger, all the way down his finger near the first knuckle,” she said.

The court heard that there were no pots of Sudocrem in the house – only tubes.

Officers asked: “When you realised that the defendant may have put his finger into your baby’s bottom, how did you feel?”

“I was disgusted,” she said.

Expert evidence

Consultant paediatrician Dr Louise Newbury, an experienced specialist in child sexual abuse cases, was asked to review the medical findings for Dyfed-Powys Police.

She told the court it was most likely the baby’s anal injuries were caused by “penetrative blunt force trauma”.

Dr Newbury said the baby appeared to have two clusters of injuries: one likely between January 12 and 17, and another between January 23 and 24.

She told the jury the child was “in extreme distress” when examined at hospital, presenting as “a very different baby” to footage filmed on January 23.

Adjournment

Before the jury was discharged for the weekend, the court heard that there would be more interviews being read out on Monday, as well as some admin to do to the jury bundles which would greatly assist the court.

The trial continues.

Crime

Woman fined over £1,000 for illegally collecting rent without a licence

Published

1 day ago

March 13, 2026

Tom Sinclair

A HAVERFORDWEST woman has been ordered to pay more than £1,000 after admitting to unlawfully collecting rent at a property she was not licensed to manage.

Majeda Sikdar appeared at Cardiff Magistrates’ Court where she pleaded guilty to the offence, which took place at a property on Tasker Way in the town last April.

The court handed Sikdar a total bill of £1,046, made up of a £293 fine, £636 in costs, and a £117 surcharge.

Crime

Dangerous driver sentenced following a police chase through Carmarthenshire streets

Published

1 day ago

March 13, 2026

Tom Sinclair

A DANGEROUS driver has been sentenced after attempting to evade the police and hitting speeds of up to 70mph in residential streets.

Liam Williams, 31, from Station Road in Llanelli, was arrested on February 23 after he failed to stop for officers whilst driving without a valid licence and under the influence of drugs.

His black Jaguar XF was spotted travelling along New Dock Road, Llanelli, at around 2am. Williams quickly accelerated away from officers after turning into a residential area. Despite being warned to stop with blue lights, he reached an estimated speed of 50mph over the speed bumps on the 20mph road.

He then cut across a junction and turned on to the 40mph coastal road on the wrong side of a bollard. He continued to reach around 80mph to try and get away from pursuing officers.

Williams was unaware that Dyfed-Powys officers had set up a stinger site to puncture his tyres further along the road. He sped through the stinger site and continued towards the sandpiper roundabout. He reached speeds of 70mph and then appeared to lose control of the car at the roundabout. Officers noted that his front offside tyre was deflated and his brake disc was red hot and sparking.

Despite this, Williams exited the roundabout towards Llanelli town centre and appeared to lose control again. Officers attempted to pass him as he accelerated back up to speeds around 50mph on the 20mph road. Williams turned into smaller side streets to try and escape but was quickly followed by supporting officers.

As he returned to the main road towards Llanelli town centre, officers moved to box the vehicle in. The pursuit quickly came to an end and Williams was arrested for multiple offences.

A drug wipe showed that Williams was under the influence of cocaine. A further blood specimen was taken in custody, before he was charged and remanded.

He appeared in Llanelli Magistrates Court on Tuesday 10th March. He was found guilty of dangerous driving, failing to stop for police, driving without a licence and driving without insurance.

Williams was handed a 34-week prison sentence, suspended for 24 months. He was disqualified from driving for 34 months, followed by an extended re-test. He must also complete 100 hours of unpaid work within 12 months and pay £85 in court costs and a £187 surcharge.

Crime

Man jailed for romance fraud after conning three women out of nearly £50,000

Published

2 days ago

March 12, 2026

Court Reporter

A CARDIFF man who used fake identities on dating sites to defraud three women of almost £50,000 has been jailed.

Rodney Roberts, aged 40, of Trowbridge, Cardiff, was sentenced at Newport Crown Court to five years and one month in prison after pleading guilty to fraud by false representation.

Officers from the Proactive Economic Crime Team at the Tarian Regional Organised Crime Unit (ROCU), working with South Wales Police, found that Roberts defrauded three victims of a combined £49,580 between 2021 and 2024. He contacted the women through online dating and social media platforms while using the false name “Paul Smith”.

Roberts first contacted a victim in February 2021. He initially claimed to be an American from California working in the UK as an attorney and financier. He later told the victim this was merely a cover story and that he was in fact an intelligence agent. Roberts claimed that because of his work he did not have direct control of his finances and asked the victim for financial help.

During the relationship he persuaded the woman to invest money in a fictitious investment company. He also assisted her in selling her home so she could invest more money into the scheme and encouraged her to open a bank account in her name for him to use. Unknown to the victim, Roberts also opened a cryptocurrency account in her name.

Roberts contacted a second victim in October 2022. Again he encouraged her to invest in what he claimed was a lucrative opportunity promising high returns. He showed her screenshots which appeared to show the investment growing in value, but these images were fabricated. Throughout the relationship Roberts repeatedly gave excuses for why he was unable to repay the money.

He contacted a third victim in March 2024, this time claiming to be an American television producer working for the BBC on a two-year visa. Roberts told the victim he was struggling to access his American bank accounts and asked for money to help him put down a deposit on a flat. As before, he used fake screenshots of accounts to convince her the investment was genuine, before providing excuses as to why the borrowed money could not be returned.

The third victim eventually became suspicious and carried out online searches, which led her to two historic news reports detailing previous fraud offences committed by Roberts under the alias Paul Smith. She then contacted South Wales Police.

Detective Constable Amanda Davies, of Tarian ROCU, said romance fraud was a growing and highly damaging crime.

“Offenders deliberately exploit trust and vulnerability,” she said. “Victims are often left with not only significant financial losses but also psychological distress and embarrassment, which can prevent them from reporting the offence.

“I am pleased with the sentence handed down today and hope it sends a message to others who would behave in such an abhorrent way for financial gain.

“I would also like to recognise the courage shown by the victims in helping us pursue a conviction and bring Roberts to justice.”

DC Davies urged anyone forming relationships online to remain cautious.

“Common warning signs include requests for money, reluctance to meet in person or by video call, or pressure to keep a relationship secret. Another warning sign is ‘love bombing’, where a new or prospective partner overwhelms someone with excessive attention, affection or grand gestures early in the relationship.

“Fraudsters are skilled at creating narratives that sound believable. If something feels too good to be true, trust your instincts and speak to friends or family.

“If you believe you may have been a victim of romance fraud, report it to Action Fraud.”

She added that Tarian ROCU would continue to pursue fraudsters and bring them before the courts.