JAKE DIGHTON, 31, of Bridge Street, Llanelli, has been sentenced to three years and three months in prison after admitting to snatching a woman’s handbag as she walked home after a work’s night out in Llanelli.

Describing the incident that happened late on Friday 20 June, the victim explained how she noticed a shadow appear over her left shoulder as she walked home with colleagues along Glenalla Road.

She recalled thinking the shadow was just a passer-by, but then felt someone forcefully grab her handbag, causing her to fall to the ground.

Despite suffering cuts and bruises, she attempted to chase the suspect as he ran away with her handbag, but lost sight of him and made her way home.

A report was made to police who launched an investigation to identify the suspect. Thanks to CCTV in the local area, the suspect was identified as Jake Dighton who was swiftly arrested on suspicion of robbery.

The strength of evidence against Dighton led him to plead guilty to the charge when he appeared at Swansea Crown Court on Friday 25 July.

On Friday 5 December, he was sentenced to three years and three months for the offence.

The officer in this case, DC Rhydian Davies, said: “We welcome the sentencing of Jake Dighto. This was a traumatic incident for the victim who has been reliving the incident since that night.

“I’m hopeful that this sentencing will help the victim, who has struggled to go out in public since the ordeal, to continue her progress in returning to her ‘old self’.

“Dighton’s predatory behaviour is completely unacceptable, and no one should fear walking the streets of their hometown.

“The impact on the victim cannot be underestimated, and I commend her for her bravery and the strength with which she supported our investigation and the court proceedings that followed.

“It was evident that the incident had had an impact on the victim’s family too, and I’m grateful to her friends, family, and the wider Llanelli community for their support. The level of support shown clearly illustrates that this behaviour will not be tolerated on our streets.

“This was an excellent example of how several departments within Dyfed-Powys Police worked together to bring the perpetrator to justice. I extend special thanks to Llanelli’s Criminal Investigation Department, the Local Investigation Unit, our Neighbourhood Policing and Prevention Team, and our response colleagues.

“Thank you to the local community and wider public who responded to our appeal for information and for supporting our investigation.”

Defendant due back in court on Monday ahead of February trial

A PEMBROKE man has appeared in court accused of threatening to kill local newspaper editor Tom Sinclair during a phone call, as well as a separate racially aggravated harassment charge involving a police officer.

Anthony Jones, aged thirty-four, of Castle Quarry, Long Mains, Monkton, was in Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court earlier this week and will return on Monday (Dec 8) for a further mention. His full trial is listed for February.

Jones faces two charges.

Racially aggravated harassment

The first allegation relates to an incident on 8 April 2025 in Pembroke. He is accused of using threatening or abusive words or behaviour towards PC823 Stuart Gray, causing harassment, alarm or distress. Prosecutors say the offence was racially aggravated under section 28 of the Crime and Disorder Act 1998.

Threat to kill during phone call

The second charge alleges that on 24 February 2025, also in Pembroke, Jones made a phone call in which he threatened to kill Mr Sinclair, contrary to section 181 of the Online Safety Act 2023.

Prosecutors say the call conveyed a threat of death and that Jones intended — or was reckless as to whether — the threat would make the recipient fear it would be carried out.

Next steps

Monday’s hearing will be an administrative mention. Jones remains on court bail, and a full trial is scheduled for February 2026.

A LLANDOVERY man has been handed a three-year community order after officers discovered an illegal child-abuse video playing on his mobile phone during a search of his home.

Police executed a warrant at the property of Lawrence Cooper, aged 69, of Lon Rhys Pritchard, on 19 September last year. When officers entered the bedroom, a video involving two underage girls was found playing on his device.

Two phones, two laptops, a hard drive and an SD card were seized. Cooper told officers at the scene that they would find further illegal material on the equipment.

Digital analysis confirmed more than 1,000 indecent images of children stored across his devices. These included Category A, B and C still images and videos, featuring victims aged between two and 16. The court heard that Cooper had also used search terms associated with child-sexual-abuse content and incest.

Cooper answered “no comment” in two police interviews but later admitted three counts of making indecent images of children.

At Swansea Crown Court, Hannah George, defending, said Cooper had no previous convictions and had entered early guilty pleas. She told the court he accepted gaining gratification from the material, despite denying a sexual interest in children, and said he felt “shame” about his actions.

Passing sentence, Judge Paul Hobson said Cooper had been actively seeking out illegal content and was watching such material at the moment officers arrived.

Cooper was made subject to a three-year community order requiring 180 hours of unpaid work and 25 days of rehabilitation activity.

He must also sign the sex-offenders register for five years and comply with a sexual harm prevention order for the same period.