Crime

Covid loan fraudster ordered to repay almost £200,000 after Swansea hearing

Published

1 minute ago

January 19, 2026

A HAVERFORDWEST man who fraudulently secured £150,000 in Covid support for mobile phone businesses has been ordered to repay almost £200,000 — and faces prison if he fails to pay.

Zahid Afzal, 37, of Albert Street, appeared at Swansea Crown Court on Monday (Jan 19) for a confiscation hearing under the Proceeds of Crime Act. The court ordered him to pay £197,306 within three months.

Afzal was previously handed a two-year prison sentence suspended for two years in June 2025 after pleading guilty to fraud offences following an Insolvency Service investigation. He was also ordered to complete 300 hours of unpaid work.

The Insolvency Service said Afzal made two legitimate applications for Bounce Back Loans in 2020, totalling £52,500, for his companies Phone Bits Limited and Phones Onn Ltd. However, it said he then exploited the scheme by applying for three additional maximum-value loans of £50,000 each, despite companies only being entitled to one Bounce Back Loan.

The £150,000 was paid between May and November 2020 — one £50,000 loan for Phone Bits Limited and two £50,000 loans for Phones Onn Ltd.

Investigators said Afzal falsely declared that Phone Bits Limited had not already received a Bounce Back Loan when he made a further application in May 2020, despite £32,500 having been paid into the company’s account the day before.

They also said he inflated the turnover figure for Phones Onn Ltd on applications in July and November 2020, stating it was £200,000 — the minimum required to secure a £50,000 loan — after earlier declaring turnover of £80,000 when applying legitimately for a £20,000 loan.

The Insolvency Service said significant amounts of the money paid into the businesses were later transferred into Afzal’s personal accounts, contrary to scheme rules which required the loans to be used for the economic benefit of the business.

Afzal has repaid only £2,722 in the more than five years since the applications were made, the Insolvency Service said. If he fails to repay the £197,306 within the time allowed, he faces two years in prison — and will still be required to repay the money even if jailed.

The confiscation figure includes the three £50,000 loans and indexation to reflect changes in the value of money since 2020.

The Insolvency Service said it also secured a restraint order against Afzal’s accounts, preventing assets from being moved or spent while proceeds of crime action was pursued.

Afzal’s businesses operated mobile phone shops or kiosks in Carmarthen, Shropshire, Andover in Hampshire and North Devon.

Crime

Armed police operation in Milford Haven leads to drugs arrests

Published

38 minutes ago

January 19, 2026

Tom Sinclair

Two young men held after officers attend addresses in Vicary Crescent and Hakin

ARMED police were called to addresses in Milford Haven on Sunday morning as part of an operation which has now led to the arrest of two young men on suspicion of drugs offences.

Officers attended Vicary Crescent and St Laurence Avenue at around 8:45am on Sunday (Jan 18), prompting concern among residents after a significant police presence was seen on the usually quiet residential streets.

Witnesses reported at least six police vehicles in Vicary Crescent, including two police vans, with armed officers seen at the scene shortly after 9:00am. Police were also seen in numbers at St Laurence Avenue in Hakin at the same time, which is understood to be linked to the same operation.

At the time, residents described the scenes as alarming.

One woman told The Herald: “I’ve never seen anything like this down here. It really was a shock first thing on a Sunday morning.”

Dyfed-Powys Police have now confirmed that the operation resulted in arrests the following day.

In a statement issued to The Herald, police said two men, aged eighteen and nineteen, both from Milford Haven, were arrested in the early hours of Monday (Jan 19) on suspicion of being concerned in the supply of Class A controlled drugs.

Both men remain in police custody while enquiries continue.

Police have not confirmed what prompted the armed response, and no further details about the circumstances of the arrests or any items seized have been released at this stage.

The investigation remains ongoing.

Crime

Rape trial set for May as Saundersfoot teenager denies charge

Published

3 hours ago

January 19, 2026

Rieve Nesbitt-Marr

AN 18-YEAR OLD youth accused of rape in Saundersfoot has pleaded not guilty and is due to stand trial at Swansea Crown Court in May.

Josh Probert, aged eighteen, appeared before Judge Geraint Walters on Monday (Jan 19) for a pre-trial preparation hearing.

The court heard the case is progressing under the custody time limit, meaning it is being managed to a strict timetable while the defendant remains in custody.

Mr Probert entered not guilty pleas. The hearing dealt with case management issues and set dates for pre-trial stages leading up to the trial.

A four-day trial is listed to begin on Tuesday (May 26), with a certificate of trial readiness due on Tuesday (Apr 28).

In relation to bail His Honour said that these were serious allegations and that the defendant would remain in custody, despite his age and being of clean character hitherto.

Crime

Pembroke RFC U11s looking to add new players as squad continues to grow

Published

6 hours ago

January 19, 2026

Herald Sport

YOUNG rugby players in Pembroke are being invited to join a thriving under-11s squad as the town’s rugby club looks to bring in a few new faces.

Pembroke RFC U11s coach Gary Nevinson has appealed for more local children to get involved, saying the team has built a strong group on and off the pitch and wants to keep that momentum going.

The squad trains every Thursday from 6.30pm to 7.30pm at Crickmarren Field, Pembroke, and is particularly keen to hear from children in Year 6 who would like to try rugby in a friendly, supportive environment.

Mr Nevinson said the club is proud of the progress the group has made and believes the under-11s set-up is a positive place for youngsters to develop confidence, teamwork and fitness.

Parents who would like more information, or who want to bring their child along to a session, are asked to contact the coaches directly.

Message Dai on 07837 979079 or Gary on 07736 289892.