News

Milford Haven man expelled from Russia amid spy allegations

Published

4 weeks ago

January 20, 2026

A MAN originally from Milford Haven has been expelled from Russia after being accused of espionage by the country’s security services — claims that have been strongly denied by both the British government and people who know him locally.

Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) said that a British Embassy employee in Moscow, 45-year-old Gareth Samuel Davies, had been operating as an undercover intelligence officer and ordered him to leave the country within two weeks.

Mr Davies is understood to have attended Milford Haven School and previously lived in Steynton, before pursuing a career in diplomacy.

Russian authorities said he was working under diplomatic cover as Second Secretary in the administrative section of the British Embassy in Moscow, and that his accreditation had been revoked under the 1961 Vienna Convention.

However, people in Pembrokeshire who know Mr Davies have disputed the espionage claim. According to those familiar with him and his work, he was not involved in spying, but was instead carrying out a legitimate embassy security and administrative role.

They say his responsibilities focused on internal security procedures, staff safety, and operational administration — duties that are standard within embassies worldwide and should not be confused with intelligence gathering. Those close to him locally describe the Russian allegations as a mischaracterisation of a routine diplomatic post.

It is understood that disruption to Mr Davies has been minimised, as his family had not yet joined him in Moscow as planned.

He is due to return to the UK in the coming days, it is understood.

The British government has dismissed the accusations as “baseless.” A spokesperson for the British Embassy in Moscow said: “This is not the first time the Kremlin has made malicious and baseless accusations against our staff. Their targeting of British diplomats comes out of desperation.”

The spokesperson added that the UK is “carefully considering its options in response.”

Russia’s Foreign Ministry said it had summoned Britain’s chargé d’affaires to issue a formal protest and warned of a “decisive tit-for-tat response” should the UK escalate the situation.

Since 2024, Russia has expelled at least nine British diplomats on similar espionage allegations, all of which have been denied by London. No public evidence has been released to support the claims in this case.

Diplomatic expulsions of this kind are widely regarded as political acts rather than legal judgments, and have become increasingly common amid deteriorating relations between the UK and Russia following the invasion of Ukraine.

An FCDO spokesperson said: “This is not the first time the Kremlin has made malicious and baseless accusations against our staff. Their targeting of British diplomats comes out of desperation and actions like this undermine the basic conditions required for diplomatic missions to operate.

“We are carefully considering our options in response.”

Crime

Man who threw corrosive liquid at guest and fled abroad jailed

Published

14 hours ago

February 18, 2026

Court Reporter

A BUSINESSMAN who threw a corrosive liquid into a guest’s face during a row at a spiritual retreat before fleeing the country has been jailed for 18 months.

Dean Mayze, aged 38, from Abercrave in Powys, admitted inflicting grievous bodily harm following the attack at his Hafan-y-Coed retreat in December 2022.

Swansea Crown Court heard the assault happened after an argument with guest Keifer Price, who had complained about the condition of his accommodation, including a lack of heating and washing facilities.

During the confrontation, Mayze produced a blue container and threw its contents upwards into the victim’s face.

The liquid — described as smelling like ammonia — entered Mr Price’s eyes, nose and mouth, leaving him in severe pain and struggling to breathe.

Medical evidence confirmed injuries consistent with a chemical burn to both eyes. He suffered abrasions, a corneal defect and the loss of the outer corneal layer in one eye, requiring significant treatment to prevent permanent sight loss. He has since recovered without lasting injury.

Fled across Europe

Following the attack, Mayze fled the UK, triggering an international search.

The court heard he travelled across several European countries, including Ireland, France, Italy, Croatia and Greece, before eventually being arrested in Romania in 2025.

Despite being on the run, he remained in regular contact with police by text and email, at one point telling officers he would not be returning to Wales.

His partner initially claimed responsibility for the assault and later received a suspended prison sentence after admitting perverting the course of justice.

Previous conviction

The court was told Mayze has a previous conviction for wounding involving a corrosive substance in Kent in 2013.

Defence barrister Andrew Taylor said his client had experienced harsh conditions while detained in Romania, including contracting scabies without treatment, and described him as remorseful.

However, Judge Geraint Walters said it was “pure luck” the victim had not suffered permanent injuries, describing the attack as a “particularly wicked way of inflicting violence”.

Sentence and order

Mayze, who appeared via video link from prison, had previously denied a more serious charge of causing grievous bodily harm with intent.

He was sentenced to 18 months’ imprisonment and made subject to a three-year restraining order.

Crime

Police appeal after man injured in St Davids incident

Published

19 hours ago

February 18, 2026

Tom Sinclair

DYFED-POWYS POLICE are appealing for witnesses following an incident in St Davids which left one man injured.

The incident happened in Nun Street at around 11:10am on Tuesday, December 30. The injured man was taken to hospital for treatment.

Officers confirmed that a man has been arrested on suspicion of assault in connection with the incident.

Police are now asking anyone with information, dash cam footage, or CCTV that could assist the investigation to come forward.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Dyfed-Powys Police online at:
https://www.dyfed-powys.police.uk/contact/af/contact-us-beta/contact-us/

Alternatively, email [email protected], send a direct message via social media, or call 101 quoting reference DP20251230094.

Information can also be provided anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555111 or via crimestoppers-uk.org.

Crime

Sexual assault allegation to be tried

Published

20 hours ago

February 18, 2026

Tamsin Mathias

Accused granted conditional bail

A SEXUAL assault allegation has been listed for trial following a hearing before magistrates.

David Fletcher, 45, of Chestnut Way, Mount Estate, Milford Haven, Pembrokeshire, appeared before magistrates in Llanelli on Thursday (Feb 12) charged with sexual assault, contrary to section 3 of the Sexual Offences Act 2003.

The charge alleges that on March 16, 2025, at Johnston, Pembrokeshire, he intentionally touched a woman aged 16 or over and that the touching was sexual when she did not consent and he did not reasonably believe that she was consenting.

The matter was adjourned for trial and Fletcher was remanded on conditional bail.

The trial is listed for March 9, 2026 at Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court. Bail conditions prohibit him from entering a specified premises in Johnston, from contacting directly or indirectly the complainant or any prosecution witnesses, and from posting any information relating to the investigation on social media. The conditions were imposed to prevent further offending and to prevent interference with witnesses or obstruction of justice.