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Crime

Whitland farmer, 70, jailed for “serious and prolonged” animal welfare offences

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A WHITLAND farmer has been jailed for eighteen weeks after being convicted of a string of serious animal welfare and cattle-identification offences at Penycraig Farm.

Ten-year ban from keeping animals

Thomas Raymond Jones, aged 70, of St John Street, Whitland, appeared before Llanelli Magistrates’ Court on Thursday (Nov 27), where he was handed an immediate custodial sentence and banned from owning or keeping animals for ten years.

The court also ordered that no application to lift the ban can be made for at least five years.

Jones was convicted following a series of prosecutions brought by Carmarthenshire County Council, relating to the condition and treatment of cattle and a dog kept at the farm between February and March 2024.

Dog left without suitable food, environment or vet care

Magistrates found Jones guilty of causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal—a dog—by failing to provide a suitable environment, diet, or veterinary treatment. He had pleaded not guilty but was convicted after trial on 21 October.

For this offence alone, the court said the matter crossed the custody threshold because of the seriousness, Jones’s lack of remorse, and his failure to engage with probation.

Cattle left lame, exposed to carcasses and inadequate shelters

Jones was also found guilty of failing to meet the needs of multiple bovine animals by not providing dry lying areas, allowing cattle access to a cow carcass, and failing to provide feed or water to various animals. One charge relating to failing to feed a cow and calf was dismissed at a later hearing.

In another case, he was convicted of causing unnecessary suffering to nine lame bovines by failing to obtain treatment.

Magistrates imposed a concurrent eight-week sentence for these welfare-needs offences, leaving the overall prison term at eighteen weeks.

Major breaches of cattle ID and veterinary medicine rules

Jones was additionally convicted of:

  • failing to keep purchase records for veterinary medicines
  • failing to record the acquisition and use of Closamectin
  • failing to retain documentation for at least five years
  • failing to notify the deaths of two cows without passports
  • failing to register two bulls
  • failing to tag bison within the required time
  • failing to report missing or destroyed passports
  • failing to supply cattle-tracking information to Welsh Ministers
  • failing to notify movements of cattle
  • intentionally obstructing an inspector during a Veterinary Medicines Regulations investigation
  • failing to collect and secure animal by-products, including carcasses, on two separate occasions

Many of these matters carried no separate penalty but contributed to the overall disqualification and deprivation orders.

Animals seized and removed from Jones’s control

Under Section 33 of the Animal Welfare Act, magistrates ordered that Jones be deprived of ownership of all remaining cattle and calves on the holding, identified by their official tag numbers in the court register. The animals are to be removed and disposed of as directed.

More than £26,000 in costs

Jones was ordered to pay £26,805.10 in prosecution costs, along with a £154 victim services surcharge.
A collection order was made, with the full balance due by 28 May 2026.

Sentence

  • 18 weeks’ immediate custody
  • Eight weeks concurrent on secondary welfare charges (overall term remains 18 weeks)
  • £26,805.10 costs
  • £154 surcharge
  • Disqualified from owning or keeping animals for ten years
  • Deprivation order removing all animals from his control

The court emphasised that the offences were “so serious” that only a custodial sentence was appropriate.

 

Crime

70-year-old denies assault and restraining order breach

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A PENSIONER from Pembroke Dock has denied breaching a restraining order and assaulting another man.

Henry Howlett, 70, of Market Street, appeared before Swansea Crown Court today (Friday, May 1), charged with breaching a restraining order and common assault.

The charges relate to an alleged incident on November 9 last year.

Howlett has previously appeared before magistrates in connection with a separate alleged incident involving a neighbour.

Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court previously heard that a dispute arose on July 17 after neighbour Steven Bromhall was washing his car outside his home in Market Street.

Prosecutor Nia James told the court that, as a taxi arrived to collect Howlett, the driver opened the window while passing and Mr Bromhall inadvertently sprayed the taxi driver with water from a hosepipe.

“The taxi driver started remonstrating, and the defendant then began waving his walking stick in the air, towards Mr Bromhall,” she said.

The court heard Mr Bromhall sustained an injury to his back, although it remained unclear whether he had been struck by Howlett’s stick.

Howlett pleaded not guilty to common assault in relation to that incident and was released on unconditional bail. A trial date was set at Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court.

At Swansea Crown Court today, His Honour Judge P H Thomas KC asked Howlett whether he was legally represented.

“I can’t find anyone decent, I’m still searching, my lord,” Howlett replied.

When the court attempted to take his pleas, Howlett repeatedly interrupted in an effort to give an explanation, prompting the judge to tell him: “Be quiet, Mr Howlett.”

Howlett then pleaded not guilty to the charges, telling the court: “Definitely not guilty.”

As he left the courtroom, Howlett said: “I will get the truth out and I hope you all hang your heads in shame… this is all fixed.”

A trial date was set for January 14, 2027.

 

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Crime

Crymych parent denies failing to comply with school attendance order

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A CRYMYCH parent has denied failing to comply with a school attendance order, a court has heard.

The defendant appeared before Haverfordwest magistrates charged under the Education Act 1996.

The court heard that the defendant is accused of failing, as a parent, to ensure that a child attended school in accordance with the requirements of a School Attendance Order.

It is alleged that after being served with the order, the defendant did not comply within the required 15-day period.

A plea of not guilty was entered.

Magistrates adjourned the case for a case management hearing, which is scheduled to take place at Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday, May 14.

A reporting restriction remains in force.

 

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Crime

Cockle fisherman fined £3,450 for multiple breaches at protected site

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A GOODWICK man has been ordered to pay £3,450 after breaching fishing regulations at a protected cockle fishery.

Richard William Edwards, 45, of Goodwick, appeared before Haverfordwest magistrates charged with a series of offences at the Burry Inlet cockle fishery.

The court heard that Edwards had fished for cockles without a valid permit and breached conditions imposed under fisheries management rules. He was also found to have used an unauthorised vehicle in the fishery area, contrary to restrictions in place to protect the site.

Magistrates were told the offences took place on September 9, 2025, within the Burry Inlet Cockle Fishery, a designated and regulated area subject to strict controls.

Edwards was fined £1,000 and ordered to pay a victim services surcharge of £800, along with costs of £650, bringing the total to £3,450. A collection order was made.

The case was brought under fisheries legislation including the Cockle Fisheries Management and Permitting (Specified Area) (Wales) Order 2024.

The court heard that Edwards had been in breach of a prohibition imposed by the permitting system and had failed to comply with the terms of his permit.

The offences are part of ongoing enforcement efforts to protect the sustainability of cockle stocks and ensure compliance within the fishery.

 

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