Crime

Man who sprayed officer with red substance and ‘shrugged off’ Taser sentenced

Published

2 minutes ago

January 21, 2026

Police stop on A40 near Haverfordwest ended in violent struggle and knife discovery

A MAN who sprayed an unidentified red substance at a police officer — and appeared unaffected by repeated Taser deployments — has been sentenced following a dramatic arrest near Haverfordwest.

Mark Logan, 41, was stopped by police on Friday (Nov 1) after officers saw him driving an Audi onto the A40 from Haverfordwest. PC Dylan Davies activated his blue lights after checks showed the vehicle was registered in a woman’s name, bringing the car to a stop close to the Toyota garage.

What followed, the court heard, left the officer fearing for his safety.

In a victim impact statement read to Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court, PC Davies said he was sprayed several times with a red substance and did not know what it was or what harm it could cause.

“I had no idea what it was nor what harm it would do to me,” he said.

“After being a police officer for four years, this was the first time I have ever had to request assistance.”

The court heard Logan got out of the car and immediately appeared wide-eyed and unsteady on his feet. As PC Davies attempted to arrest him, Logan struck the officer’s hands, preventing him from taking hold.

“He became more aggressive and I was fearful he was going to assault me due to his erratic behaviour,” PC Davies said.

Logan then walked towards the officer and sprayed him, with PC Davies saying he felt the substance land on his body and believed Logan intended to harm him.

“He remained incredibly hostile and I didn’t know what other weapons he had on him,” he added.

Taser had ‘no effect’

PC Davies drew his Taser and repeatedly told Logan to get on the ground, but Logan ran towards the Toyota garage. The officer said he “red-dotted” Logan and continued to issue commands, but he ignored them.

When Logan then turned and walked back towards the officer, PC Davies deployed his Taser. However, he told the court it appeared to have no effect.

“But he appeared totally unbothered and began pulling at the Taser wires,” he said.

“I re-engaged it and Tasered him again, instructing him to lie face-down on the ground, but again he refused. The Taser had no effect on him whatsoever.”

A further attempt to restrain Logan using physical contact also failed, and additional officers were called to assist. They succeeded in bringing him to the ground and handcuffing him.

Knife found in jacket pocket

Logan later confirmed during a police interview that he had a knife on him. A search found a black locking knife in his jacket pocket, with a blade measuring 10cm.

PC Davies suffered facial irritation from the spray and “overwhelming” pain to his arm as a result of the incident.

Logan, of Glandwr House, Lower Cwmtwrch, Swansea, pleaded guilty to possessing a knife in a public place and assaulting an emergency worker by beating.

He was represented by solicitor Alaw Harries, who told the court Logan was attempting to deal with a number of mental health issues, including paranoia, post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety and psychotic tendencies.

“This man has become a shadow of his former self as a result of his mental health needs,” she said.

“He fully accepts that his behaviour was unacceptable, and has already taken significant and pro-active steps to address his mental health. He is now desperate to engage with the mental health services to help him address these issues.”

Ms Harries said the red spray used by Logan was a self-defence device which can be legally purchased online, including via Amazon.

Sentence and orders

Magistrates retired for more than an hour before returning to pass sentence.

Logan was given a 26-week prison sentence, suspended for 18 months. He must observe a daily curfew between 7:00pm and 7:00am and complete 15 rehabilitation activity requirement days.

He was ordered to pay £250 compensation to PC Dylan Davies, along with a £154 court surcharge and £85 costs. A destruction order was imposed on the knife.

Crime

Fireworks enthusiast fined after letting off rockets in Haverfordwest town centre

Published

9 minutes ago

January 21, 2026

Sarah Jane Absalom

A LOCAL described in court as “a fireworks enthusiast” has been sentenced by magistrates after letting off rockets in Haverfordwest town centre.

CCTV footage shown to Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court this week captured Michael Glover, 58, walking into Castle Square on the night of Friday, November 8, before igniting around ten rockets close to a group of men.

Crown Prosecutor Dennis Davies told the court: “You can see from the men’s reaction that they felt this could have been a danger to them.”

The court heard the offence also breached a Community Order imposed by Swansea Crown Court in October 2025, after Glover was convicted of assaulting an emergency worker and causing criminal damage. It was also a breach of a conditional discharge imposed in July 2025.

Glover, of St Bridges View, Roch, pleaded guilty to discharging fireworks within fifty feet of the highway. He was represented by Tom Lloyd.

Mr Lloyd said: “This is a man who’s enthusiastic about fireworks. He had some left over from November 5 and decided to set them off in a place where this wasn’t allowed to happen. That’s as far as it goes.”

Glover was fined £80 and ordered to pay £85 in court costs and a £32 surcharge.

Crime

Haverfordwest man denies sexual assaults on three primary schoolgirls

Published

20 hours ago

January 20, 2026

Sarah Jane Absalom

Accused learning support teacher faces six charges linked to Milford Haven area school

A HAVERFORDWEST man has appeared before magistrates charged with sexually assaulting three children at a Pembrokeshire primary school.

Dion Lewtas is accused of six sexual assaults involving three girls aged between nine and eleven. The allegations relate to incidents said to have taken place at a primary school in the Milford Haven area between August 2021 and August 2023.

The prosecution alleges Lewtas was employed at the school as a learning support teacher at the time. He is accused of hugging the children on separate occasions and touching their bottoms.

Lewtas, aged 29, of St Marks Close, Merlin’s Bridge, appeared before Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court this week, where he denied all six charges.

Magistrates declined jurisdiction and the case was sent to the Crown Court. Proceedings are due to continue on Thursday, February 20, when the case will be listed at Swansea Crown Court.

Lewtas was released on unconditional bail.

Crime

Two female police officers assaulted during arrest in Haverfordwest

Published

22 hours ago

January 20, 2026

Tom Sinclair

Pensioner describes ‘terrifying’ struggle as suspect made off before being arrested again

A RETIRED Haverfordwest woman has described a “terrifying” incident in which she said a man assaulted two female police officers during an arrest in the town on Monday night (Jan 19).

The pensioner told The Herald she witnessed the incident at around 8:15pm in City Road, where she said officers were detaining a barefoot man and attempting to handcuff him on the ground.

She claimed the man got back to his feet during the struggle, grabbed one of the officers’ batons and began striking out, assaulting both officers.

The woman said she was left shaken by what she saw, and that a young man who also witnessed events told her he did not want to intervene because he “didn’t know if he was carrying anything.”

She said police quickly put out a distress call and a number of officers were mobilised to search for the suspect, who she claimed ran off with the baton.

Dyfed-Powys Police have since confirmed officers were called “just before 8.20pm” on Monday to reports of assault and criminal damage at a property in Haverfordwest.

A police spokesperson said the man left the scene but was “quickly located and arrested on St David’s Road.” Police said he resisted arrest during which he assaulted two officers, before making off again.

The spokesperson added: “The man made off and was later located and arrested on suspicion of assault and criminal damage. He currently remains in police custody.”

Police said both officers attended hospital for treatment and were later discharged.

Chief Inspector Mike Llewellyn said: “Assaults on police officers should never be considered as ‘part of the job’. Both officers acted with courage in an incredibly difficult situation. Neither took a step backward and did everything they could to detain the man.”

Anyone with information is asked to contact Dyfed-Powys Police on 101.

(Image: File)