Prolific shoplifter jailed after stealing nearly £300 of goods from Cardigan store

Published

6 days ago

January 6, 2026

District judge says custody was only option due to persistent offending

A PROLIFIC north Pembrokeshire shoplifter has been jailed after stealing almost £300 worth of goods from a B&M store in Cardigan.

Andrew O’Connell, 38, was seen entering the store on Sunday (Jan 5) before leaving carrying two large carrier bags.

“Both bags were full of items, including groceries and electrical goods,” Crown Prosecutor Nia James told District Judge Mark Layton at Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court this week.

O’Connell walked along Aberystwyth Road before being arrested by police at the bus stop adjacent to the Tesco store.

O’Connell pleaded guilty to the B&M theft and to stealing a van containing two dogs from John Street car park in Carmarthen in June 2024.

“The van was owned by Richard Bramley, who was a stallholder at the street market adjacent to Marks and Spencer in Carmarthen,” Ms James said.

“He had left his two dogs inside the van, along with stock for his plant stall, and the vehicle was unlocked. When he returned a short time later, the van had gone.

“He was emotionally distressed and particularly concerned about the whereabouts of the dogs.”

Street CCTV footage traced the vehicle, which was later recovered by police. The court was told that nothing had been stolen from the van and both dogs were returned to their owner unharmed.

O’Connell was represented by solicitor Alan Lewis.

“Money was tight after Christmas, so he went to B&M and took the items,” Mr Lewis said. “All of the goods were later recovered.”

Mr Lewis told the court that O’Connell’s offending began around three years ago following the death of his mother.

“This affected him deeply,” he said. “Around the same time, he separated from his partner, and that is when drug and alcohol misuse began, which he is now trying to address.

“Prior to this, he was supervising adults at a care farm, so this represents a significant fall from grace. It is very sad.”

However, probation officer Julie Norman said repeated attempts to support O’Connell had been ignored.

Sentencing him to eight weeks in custody, District Judge Layton said O’Connell’s record left the court with no alternative.

“Your pattern of offending shows you are constantly going into shops and stealing,” he said. “There is no slowdown in your behaviour, so the only option is custody.”

O’Connell was also ordered to pay a £154 surcharge and £85 in costs.

Man accused of GBH, threats to kill and weapons offence remanded on bail

Published

4 hours ago

January 12, 2026

Court Reporter

Multiple serious allegations before Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court

A MAN accused of a series of serious violent and public order offences has been remanded on conditional bail by magistrates.

Jamie Clews, aged 39, of Spring Gardens, Hubberston, appeared before Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court on Monday (Jan 12) in connection with multiple alleged offences spanning 2024 and 2025.

The court heard that Clews is charged with threatening a person with an offensive weapon or bladed article on January 1, 2024.

He also faces an allegation of wounding or inflicting grievous bodily harm without intent, contrary to section 20 of the Offences Against the Person Act, said to have been committed on June 7, 2024.

Further charges include making threats to kill on June 1, 2024, and criminal damage to property valued under £5,000, also alleged to have occurred on January 1, 2024.

In addition, Clews is accused of assault occasioning actual bodily harm on December 21, 2025.

The court was also told that on January 7, 2026, Clews was arrested by a police officer for breaking, or being likely to break, bail conditions, an issue which was addressed during the hearing.

Magistrates dealt with the case as an ongoing matter and remanded Clews on conditional bail. The specific conditions were not outlined in open court.

The case was adjourned for a further hearing at Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court on a date yet to be fixed.

Pembroke Dock man fined for harassment offence

Published

4 hours ago

January 12, 2026

Court Reporter

Guilty plea entered at Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court

A PEMBROKE DOCK man has been fined after admitting a harassment offence.

Ryan Winterford, aged 33, of Cuckoo Wood, Pembroke Dock, appeared before Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court on Monday (Jan 12) where he pleaded guilty to a single charge of harassment without violence.

The offence, contrary to section 2 of the Protection from Harassment Act 1997, was committed on December 25, 2025.

Winterford entered his guilty plea at the first hearing, and the conviction was formally recorded by the court on Monday.

Magistrates imposed a fine of £153 and ordered Winterford to pay prosecution costs to the Crown Prosecution Service.

Man admits harassment, assault and sharing intimate image

Published

4 hours ago

January 12, 2026

Tom Sinclair

Guilty pleas entered at Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court

A MAN with no fixed address has admitted a series of offences including harassment, assault, and sharing an intimate image without consent.

Brandon Pugh, aged 26, appeared before Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court on Monday (Jan 12) where he pleaded guilty to three separate offences committed in Pembrokeshire last autumn.

The court heard that on October 30, 2025, Pugh carried out harassment without violence, contrary to section 2 of the Protection from Harassment Act 1997.

He also admitted assault by beating, an offence under section 39 of the Criminal Justice Act 1988, committed on November 6, 2025.

In addition, Pugh pleaded guilty to sharing a photograph or film of a person in an intimate state without their consent, an offence under section 33 of the Criminal Justice and Courts Act 2015, also committed on November 6, 2025.

All three guilty pleas were entered on December 23, 2025, and were taken into account by the court when sentence was passed.

As part of the outcome, Pugh was ordered to pay £200 in compensation. He was also ordered to pay costs to the Crown Prosecution Service.