Crime

Man jailed after samurai sword brandished in Pembroke Dock street brawl

Published

3 months ago

January 13, 2026

15-month sentence after “ugly” disturbance left members of the public fearing for their safety

MICHEL VALMONT has been jailed for 15 months after brandishing a samurai sword during a violent disturbance in Pembroke Dock which left members of the public fearing for their safety.

Swansea Crown Court heard the incident unfolded on Pembroke Street on Saturday (June 15, 2024), prompting multiple calls to police from alarmed witnesses.

Prosecutor Craig Jones told the court officers were contacted as the street fight developed, with members of the public reporting several men involved in violence in the street.

The court heard that while two men were already engaged in a brawl, Valmont emerged from a nearby property dressed in black and carrying the sword. He was then seen chasing the men while wielding the weapon, heightening concern about what he intended to do.

Police arrived to find Stephen Charge and Trevor Herridge still fighting. They were separated and arrested at the scene.

A search of the area later uncovered a samurai sword and a black hooded top in a nearby garden. Valmont was subsequently identified and arrested.

Valmont, 48, of Water Street, Pembroke Dock, and Charge, 52, of Pembroke Street, Pembroke Dock, had both previously pleaded guilty to affray. Valmont also admitted possession of an offensive weapon.

The court heard Valmont has 74 previous convictions for 203 offences, including violence, weapons offences, dishonesty and public disorder. Charge’s record includes assault occasioning actual bodily harm, battery, criminal damage and dishonesty offences.

Defending Valmont, Jon Tarrant said his client had not been involved at the outset but made what he described as a “ridiculous and stupid” decision to intervene after realising a friend was caught up in the incident.

He told the court Valmont accepted a prison sentence was inevitable, adding that “walking around the centre of Pembroke Dock with a samurai sword is not going to result in any other outcome”.

The court was told Valmont had used heroin for around 30 years but was now testing clean.

Emily Bennett, representing Charge, said her client accepted his actions went beyond lawful self-defence and was extremely remorseful.

She told the court Charge began using drugs at 13 and later became addicted to heroin, but was now abstinent. He has four children, whom he sees regularly.

Passing sentence, Judge Paul Thomas KC described the incident as an “ugly brawl” and said the scenes were “more reminiscent of the Wild West of America in the 19th Century than West Wales in the 21st”.

While the cause of the disturbance was unclear, the judge said Valmont had escalated matters by introducing a “fearsome” weapon.

After receiving a one-quarter reduction for his guilty plea, Valmont was sentenced to 15 months in prison and will serve up to half the term in custody before being released on licence.

Charge received an eight-month prison sentence, suspended for two years, with a 20% reduction for his guilty plea. He was ordered to complete a rehabilitation requirement and fined £400 for breaching a suspended sentence.

The judge told him he had avoided immediate custody “by the skin of your teeth” and warned he was now “drinking in the last chance saloon”.

The court heard Herridge, 47, who had been charged with affray in connection with the incident, has since died.

(Pic: CPS Cymru)

Crime

Man cleared after prosecution offers no evidence at Crown Court

Published

23 hours ago

April 18, 2026

Court Reporter

Swansea Crown Court entered formal not guilty verdicts on all counts, bringing the case to an end

A HAVERFORDWEST man has been cleared after the prosecution offered no evidence against him at Swansea Crown Court.

Luke Phillips, 23, of Woodlands Park, Haverfordwest, had previously faced charges relating to indecent images of children and extreme pornography.

The case came before His Honour Judge Thomas KC on Monday (Apr 13).

When the matter was called on, the prosecution offered no evidence on all counts.

Formal not guilty verdicts were then entered on each count, bringing the proceedings to an end.

Phillips was represented by barrister Ian Ibrahim.

The outcome means there is no further action to be taken in relation to the case.

It is understood that property seized during the investigation can now be returned following the conclusion of the proceedings.

Crime

Man found staggering in street after brutal caravan attack

Published

2 days ago

April 17, 2026

Court Reporter

Victim suffered fractured wrist and suspected broken jaw after assault in Pembroke Dock

A MAN was found staggering around Pembroke Dock town centre covered in blood after a brutal attack inside a caravan, Swansea Crown Court has heard.

The victim had gone to the mobile home in the early hours of January 29 intending to buy cocaine. But after arriving at an address in Pembroke Dock, he was directed to a caravan parked behind another house, where he encountered two men, including Zack Ian Craig High.

Prosecutor Sian Cutter told the court that while the complainant was making his way to the caravan, he received a phone call telling him to make an online payment.

***There was a huge police response on the day of the incident (Image: Herald)***

Once inside, an argument broke out between the complainant and High. The confrontation quickly turned violent, with High punching the victim to the floor before repeatedly punching and kicking him.

After the attack, the injured man managed to leave the caravan and walk back towards Pembroke Dock town centre. While doing so, he made a video call to a friend. Alarmed by the bloodied state of the complainant, the friend contacted police.

Officers later found the victim staggering through the town with blood on his face. He was taken to hospital, where medics found significant bruising to his face as well as bruising to his back, arms and legs. He was also found to have suffered a possible fracture to his upper jaw and a fractured wrist bone.

***Police cordoned off the town centre of Pembroke Dock on January 29 (Pic: Herald)***

High, aged 26, of no fixed abode, was arrested and gave a “no comment” interview.

He had originally been charged with inflicting grievous bodily harm with intent, but later pleaded guilty to the lesser offence of assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

The court heard that at the time of the assault, High was already subject to a suspended sentence.

Defending, Stuart John said High denied any involvement in drug dealing. He suggested the background to the incident may have involved the fact that his client was in a relationship with the complainant’s former partner.

Sentencing, Judge Geraint Walters described the attack as “brutal” and said it had caused significant injuries.

With credit for his guilty plea, High was jailed for 18 months. He will serve 40 per cent of the sentence in custody before being released on licence for the remainder.

The judge also imposed a five-year restraining order banning High from contacting the victim.

Top photo caption: Zack High was jailed for 18 months after a brutal attack in Pembroke Dock left a man with serious injuries (Pic: Dyfed-Powys Police)