Crime

Man raped 15-year-old girl in caravan while she was on family holiday in west Wales

Published

2 days ago

March 8, 2026

Jury convicts Pendine man after court hears he raped intoxicated teenager in caravan during family holiday

A MAN who raped a teenage girl in a caravan while she was on holiday with her family in west Wales has been jailed for ten years.

Leon Kidner, aged 34, attacked the 15-year-old at a caravan site in Pendine, Carmarthenshire, after giving her cannabis while knowing she had also consumed alcohol.

Swansea Crown Court heard that in the early hours of the morning Kidner sexually assaulted the girl before raping her inside the caravan.

Prosecutor Christopher Rees KC told the court that the victim was in an intoxicated state at the time of the attack.

A forensic examination later confirmed that Kidner had ejaculated inside the victim.

After the attack was reported to police, Kidner claimed during interview that the girl had initiated the sexual activity and that it had been consensual.

He repeated that account during the trial, but a jury rejected his version of events. He was convicted of two counts of sexual assault by penetration and one count of rape.

In a statement read to the court, the victim said the rape had left her feeling “violated” and “like something was taken away from me”.

She said she now struggles to sleep and suffers from nightmares, and that her schoolwork has suffered as a result of what happened.

The girl said she had found it difficult to talk to anyone about the attack because “nobody truly understands what I have been through”.

She added: “I feel hollow and unstable. Every day feels like a struggle to feel normal again.”

The victim said the assault in the caravan had affected every part of her life, including her relationships, her education, her wellbeing and how she sees herself.

Kidner, of Castell Toch Caravan Park, Pendine, has 34 previous convictions for 71 offences including violence and robbery, although none were sexual offences.

His barrister, Lowri Wyn Morgan, told the court that her client was “deeply sorry” for the pain and suffering he had caused. She said that during childhood he had been “passed between family members”, had left school at 14, and that drink and drugs had affected much of his adult life.

The court heard that Kidner now accepts his guilt and described what happened in Pendine as “one huge huge mistake”. Judge Geraint Walters told the defendant that the “wickedness” of this type of offending was that it “leaves a life-long scar” on victims, and leaves them feeling violated. Kidner was sentenced to 10 years in prison. He will be a registered sex offender for the rest of his life and was made subject to an indefinite sexual harm prevention order to manage his access to girls.

Speaking after sentencing, investigating officer Detective Constable Katie Rees of Dyfed-Powys Police said: “I would like to extend my heartfelt thanks and gratitude to the victim in this case who showed profound courage from the very outset of the investigation, despite her young age.

“The victim showed immense strength, character and resilience and should be proud of how she has conducted herself throughout the investigation. It is thanks to her bravery that Leon Kidner will now spend a significant period in prison.

“I welcome the sentence passed today, which highlights the seriousness of the offences. While it cannot undo the harm caused, it will hopefully provide the victim with a degree of closure.”

Crime

Driver caught with three illegal drugs in system on way to MOT test

Published

4 hours ago

March 10, 2026

Sarah Jane Absalom

Tenby stop check revealed cocaine and cannabis in motorist’s blood

ATTEMPTS to take his vehicle for its annual MOT has backfired after the vehicle’s owner was found to be driving with a cocktail of illegal drugs in his system.

Bradley Bostock, 27, was stopped by officers on December 16 as he drove his Ford Fiesta along Heywood Lane, Tenby.

But further investigations by officers confirmed he had 108 mcg of benzoylecgonine in his system together with 17 mcg of cocaine and 2.4 mcg of Delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol. The legal limits are 50, 10 and 2 respectively.

“There’s no detail of the rationale behind why he was stopped, but three drugs were noted in his blood,” said Crown Prosecutor Sian Vaughan when Bostock appeared before Haverfordwest magistrates this week.

Bostock pleaded guilty to three charges of drug driving and was represented in court by Jess Hill.

“He was taking his vehicle to Tenby for an MOT that day but was stopped by officers for a stop check,” she said.

“He’s from Yorkshire and often feels isolated here as he has no family and uses drugs to help deal with his loneliness.”

Bostock, of Corston Cottages, Axton Hill, Pembroke was sentenced to a 12 month community order during which he must complete 10 rehabilitation activity requirement days and 90 hours of unpaid work.

He was disqualified from driving for 17 months and ordered to pay a £114 court surcharge and £85 costs.

Crime

Father-of-three ordered to pay for bus stop damage after drinking binge

Published

4 hours ago

March 10, 2026

Sarah Jane Absalom

Blood trail led police from damaged shelter to defendant’s home

A FATHER-OF-THREE had admitted carrying out over £500 worth of damage to a bus stop after a drinking binge in Milford town centre.

A blood trail led officers from the bus stop to Hawthorn Way, to the home of Hayden Dimond.

This week Dimond, 31, appeared before Haverfordwest magistrates where he admitted the criminal damage offence.

Crown Prosecutor Sian Vaughan informed magistrates that the damage caused to the bus stop totalled £530.60.

“The defendant accepted responsibility in his police interview and pointed them in the direction of the damaged bus stop,” Diamond’s solicitor, Jess Hill, informed the Bench.

“At the time he was highly intoxicated and acted upon impulse.

“He had problems with binge drinking but now rarely consumes alcohol, but whenever he does, it’s monitored so he remains on an acceptable level.”

“What happened that night was not intentional.”

Dimond, Hawthorn Path, Milford Haven, was ordered to pay £530 compensation to Pembrokeshire County Council and was fined £40. He must also pay £85 court costs and a £16 surcharge.

Crime

Driver banned after cocaine found in system during A40 stop check

Published

4 hours ago

March 10, 2026

Sarah Jane Absalom

Motorist told court he had taken drugs the night before socialising with friends

A DRUG DRIVER who was arrested during a routine stop check was this week ordered off the roads for 12 months.

A stop check carried out on Dean Browne as he drove his Volvo V50 along the A40 at Slebech last December prompted officers to carry out a roadside drugs swipe. When it proved positive, further blood tests were carried out at the police station which showed that Browne had 240 mcg of the cocaine metabolism benzoylecgonine in his system. The legal limit is 50.

Browne, who has no previous convictions, accepted that he’d taken cocaine the night before whilst socialising with friends.

“He is sorry for his actions and understands now that the drug can remain in the system for some time,” said his solicitor Jess Hill, after Browne pleaded guilty to the drug-driving offence when he appeared before Haverfordwest magistrates this week.

In addition to the 12-month driving ban, Browne, of Horeb Road, Mynydd y Garreg, Kidwelly, was fined £120 and ordered to pay £85 court costs and a £48 surcharge.