Crime

Pembroke man to be sentenced over attempted child sex offences

Published

1 month ago

March 10, 2026

Case sent to Crown Court as magistrates rule offences too serious

A PEMBROKE man who indicated he intends to plead guilty to a series of child sex offences has been sent to the Crown Court for sentencing.

David Lewis, 42, of Ashdale Lane in Pembroke, first appeared before Llanelli Magistrates’ Court on January 30, where he indicated guilty pleas to attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child and attempting to cause or incite a female child under 13 to engage in sexual activity.

A further charge of attempting to cause a child under 13 to engage in sexual activity was also put to him.

Magistrates ruled the case was too serious to be dealt with at their level and committed Lewis to Swansea Crown Court for sentencing.

The offences relate to online communications with what Lewis believed to be a 12-year-old girl, but which was in fact a decoy account.

Prosecutors said Lewis reached out to the account and continued messaging over several days in November.

During the exchanges he falsely claimed to be 20 years old and sent a photograph of a young male who was not him.

When the decoy account indicated the user was in school, Lewis continued to message and asked if he could see the girl in her school uniform. He also suggested she go to the toilet at school and open her shirt so he could see her.

The court heard Lewis also attempted to get the child to watch adult content and asked about meeting either her or a friend.

Police arrested Lewis on January 29 and took him to Haverfordwest police station, where his mobile phone was seized and linked to the Snapchat account used in the communications. During interview he answered “no comment” to police questions.

Further investigation of his devices uncovered indecent images of children. Officers seized seven devices, one of which contained 261 Category A images, 71 Category B images, and 51 Category C images.

Lewis has as one previous conviction for handling stolen goods. He had been on police bail since August 6 while officers investigated the offences.

At a recent hearing the case was adjourned for four weeks, with the judge indicating a suspended sentence may be considered.

Lewis was granted bail and is due to appear again at Swansea Crown Court for sentencing on April 9.

Crime

Man cleared after prosecution offers no evidence at Crown Court

Published

19 hours ago

April 18, 2026

Court Reporter

Swansea Crown Court entered formal not guilty verdicts on all counts, bringing the case to an end

A HAVERFORDWEST man has been cleared after the prosecution offered no evidence against him at Swansea Crown Court.

Luke Phillips, 23, of Woodlands Park, Haverfordwest, had previously faced charges relating to indecent images of children and extreme pornography.

The case came before His Honour Judge Thomas KC on Monday (Apr 13).

When the matter was called on, the prosecution offered no evidence on all counts.

Formal not guilty verdicts were then entered on each count, bringing the proceedings to an end.

Phillips was represented by barrister Ian Ibrahim.

The outcome means there is no further action to be taken in relation to the case.

It is understood that property seized during the investigation can now be returned following the conclusion of the proceedings.

Crime

Man found staggering in street after brutal caravan attack

Published

2 days ago

April 17, 2026

Court Reporter

Victim suffered fractured wrist and suspected broken jaw after assault in Pembroke Dock

A MAN was found staggering around Pembroke Dock town centre covered in blood after a brutal attack inside a caravan, Swansea Crown Court has heard.

The victim had gone to the mobile home in the early hours of January 29 intending to buy cocaine. But after arriving at an address in Pembroke Dock, he was directed to a caravan parked behind another house, where he encountered two men, including Zack Ian Craig High.

Prosecutor Sian Cutter told the court that while the complainant was making his way to the caravan, he received a phone call telling him to make an online payment.

***There was a huge police response on the day of the incident (Image: Herald)***

Once inside, an argument broke out between the complainant and High. The confrontation quickly turned violent, with High punching the victim to the floor before repeatedly punching and kicking him.

After the attack, the injured man managed to leave the caravan and walk back towards Pembroke Dock town centre. While doing so, he made a video call to a friend. Alarmed by the bloodied state of the complainant, the friend contacted police.

Officers later found the victim staggering through the town with blood on his face. He was taken to hospital, where medics found significant bruising to his face as well as bruising to his back, arms and legs. He was also found to have suffered a possible fracture to his upper jaw and a fractured wrist bone.

***Police cordoned off the town centre of Pembroke Dock on January 29 (Pic: Herald)***

High, aged 26, of no fixed abode, was arrested and gave a “no comment” interview.

He had originally been charged with inflicting grievous bodily harm with intent, but later pleaded guilty to the lesser offence of assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

The court heard that at the time of the assault, High was already subject to a suspended sentence.

Defending, Stuart John said High denied any involvement in drug dealing. He suggested the background to the incident may have involved the fact that his client was in a relationship with the complainant’s former partner.

Sentencing, Judge Geraint Walters described the attack as “brutal” and said it had caused significant injuries.

With credit for his guilty plea, High was jailed for 18 months. He will serve 40 per cent of the sentence in custody before being released on licence for the remainder.

The judge also imposed a five-year restraining order banning High from contacting the victim.

Top photo caption: Zack High was jailed for 18 months after a brutal attack in Pembroke Dock left a man with serious injuries (Pic: Dyfed-Powys Police)