Connect with us
Advertisement
Advertisement

Crime

Former Pembrokeshire Army officer stripped of MBE after fraud conviction

Published

on

A FOMER Army officer from Pembrokeshire has been stripped of his MBE following a criminal conviction for fraud.

Major Lloyd Hamilton

Major Lloyd Hamilton, who grew up in Haverfordwest and attended Sir Thomas Picton School, had been awarded the honour in 2011 for his service in Afghanistan and his involvement with a charity supporting injured service personnel.

Hamilton was a founding member of the sailing charity Toe in the Water, which provided competitive sailing opportunities for wounded servicemen and women. The organisation later dissolved in 2018, according to Companies House records.

However, the honour has now been revoked following a decision by the Honours Forfeiture Committee.

Fraud conviction

Hamilton was convicted in 2021 after unlawfully claiming more than £13,000 in allowances while serving overseas.

The court heard that between January and August 2018 he continued to claim education allowance payments from the Ministry of Defence to help cover the cost of sending his children to a private boarding school.

The payments were only permitted while his wife was living with him at his overseas posting. After the breakdown of their marriage, she remained at the family home in Hampshire, making him ineligible for the allowance.

Despite this, Hamilton continued claiming the payments to help fund his children’s education at Queen Ethelburga’s Collegiate in North Yorkshire, where fees were reported to be close to £50,000 a year.

At court he was convicted of fraud and given a three-month prison sentence suspended for 18 months. He was also ordered to complete 150 hours of unpaid work.

Following the conviction he was dismissed from the Army.

Honour removed

The Cabinet Office confirmed that Hamilton was among nine people whose honours have been forfeited in the latest update to the Honours Forfeiture list.

Honours can be removed when the Honours Forfeiture Committee determines that the recipient’s actions have brought the honours system into disrepute.

Hamilton’s MBE had originally recognised both his military service and his voluntary work supporting injured veterans through sailing.

The forfeiture means he is no longer entitled to use the MBE title.

 

Crime

Man who assaulted woman remanded after failing to attend court

Published

on

A 50-YEAR-OLD man of no fixed abode has been remanded in custody after admitting failing to surrender to court bail.

Michael Sudbury, whose address was listed as no fixed abode, Llangunnor Road, Llangunnor, Carmarthen, appeared before Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court on Thursday (Apr 23) following the execution of a bench warrant.

Sudbury admitted failing without reasonable cause to surrender to custody at Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court on Monday (Apr 20), having previously been released on bail at Llanelli Magistrates’ Court on March 30.

The court also dealt with a common assault matter. Sudbury had denied assaulting the female in Haverfordwest on October 22, 2025, but was found guilty on Monday (Apr 20).

Magistrates Mr S Weatherall, Mr C Rees and Mr J Ross committed Sudbury to Swansea Crown Court for sentence.

He was remanded in custody on the basis that inquiries are needed and to determine the most suitable way of dealing with the case. The court recorded bail exceptions including a likelihood of further offending and a risk of causing injury or fear of injury to an associated person.

A pre-sentence report was ordered and a victim personal statement is expected to be presented to the court.

Sudbury will next appear at Swansea Crown Court on Thursday, May 7, at 9:00am.

 

Continue Reading

Crime

Hakin resident fined £1,330 over repeated noise and intimidation breaches

Published

on

A HAKIN resident has been ordered to pay £1,330 after repeatedly breaching a community protection notice over loud music, shouting and intimidation.

Tania Evans, aged 47, of James Street, Hakin, appeared before Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday (Apr 23), where guilty pleas were entered to six offences.

The court heard that Evans had been issued with a community protection notice requiring behaviour at the property not to have an unreasonable and detrimental effect on people living nearby.

However, the notice was breached on six separate dates: October 28, December 3, December 9, December 23, Christmas Day, and New Year’s Eve.

The breaches involved excessive and persistent loud music, abusive or excessive shouting, and the use of intimidation by Evans or visitors to the property.

One of the later breaches stated that Evans failed to ensure that people at the property did not act in a way likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress through amplified music, shouting or intimidation in the local area.

Magistrates fined Evans £162 for each of the first three offences. No separate penalty was imposed for the remaining three matters, but the guilty pleas were taken into account.

Evans was also ordered to pay a £194 victim surcharge and £650 costs, bringing the total to £1,330.

A collection order was made, with the court noting that deductions from benefits could be used if necessary.

The full amount must be paid by May 20.

Speaking after the case, Nathan Miles, Public Protection Manager at Pembrokeshire County Council, said: “This is the first time that this joint approach to tackling ASB between PCC and ateb has resulted in court action.

“Hopefully this will provide some respite for the local community who have had to
endure ongoing noise from this address and the impacts on their lives such as sleep
loss, stress and anxiety.

“PCC and partners will not hesitate to prosecute where the community is impacted
by ASB and continues despite warnings.”

 

Continue Reading

Crime

Man admits Mount Estate burglary at Swansea Crown Court

Published

on

Safe and contents stolen during break-in on Birch Mead estate

A 31-YEAR-OLD man has admitted breaking into a property on the Mount Estate and stealing a safe containing valuables.

Daniel Fairlie, of Observatory Avenue, appeared before Swansea Crown Court today charged in connection with a burglary at a property in Birch Mead.

The offence took place on October 30, 2023.

The court heard that a safe was taken from the address during the break-in, along with items contained inside it.

Fairlie entered a guilty plea during the hearing.

He will be sentenced at a later date.

 

Continue Reading

News30 minutes ago

Residents told to stay indoors as derelict building destroyed in Haverfordwest fire

EMERGENCY SERVICS were called to a major overnight fire in Haverfordwest which led to residents being urged to remain indoors...

Local Government20 hours ago

Council pays tribute to long-serving councillor Brian Hall

PEMBROKESHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL has paid tribute to long-serving Pembroke Dock Market councillor Brian Hall, following his death. Cllr Hall first...

Sport2 days ago

Bluebirds reach European play-off final after penalty drama in Barry

Haverfordwest County beat Barry Town United 3-1 on spot-kicks after 1-1 draw at Jenner Park HAVERFORDWEST COUNTY are one win...

News3 days ago

Barley Saturday brings bumper crowds to Cardigan

CROWDS lined the streets of Cardigan on Saturday (Apr 25) as Barley Saturday once again brought the town centre to...

Community3 days ago

Freshwater West memorial honours crews lost in wartime tragedy

VETERANS, standard bearers and civic representatives gathered at Freshwater West on Saturday (Apr 25) for a moving service of remembrance...

News3 days ago

Haverfordwest Hemp hustings to explore role in Wales’ future economy

Debate at Haverhub to link agriculture, sustainability and Senedd election issues A UNIQUE political and environmental debate is set to...

News3 days ago

Parties use postcode-targeted social media adverts in Senedd campaign

LABOUR has spent more than twice as much as any other Welsh political party on Facebook and Instagram advertising in...

News4 days ago

Pressure builds as Labour ducks farming hustings

NOT one of Labour’s seven list candidates for the Ceredigion Penfro seat turned up for farming hustings in either Pembrokeshire...

News5 days ago

Kemi Badenoch warns over loss of industry during Valero visit

Conservative leader says Wales cannot afford to lose more strategic jobs as she attacks Reform and backs Darren Millar KEMI...

News5 days ago

Waiting lists fall for ninth month — but cancer, A&E and ambulance pressures grow

Labour points to “real progress” on treatment backlogs as surgeons and Conservatives warn the next Welsh Government still faces a...

Popular This Week