Crime

Pembrokeshire broadband service severely disrupted by cable-cutting vandal

Published

2 months ago

April 22, 2026

A PEMBROKESHIRE man has been sentenced for disrupting an entire town’s broadband connection by causing over £26,000 worth of damage to Ogi’s underground cabling and fibre-optic network.

Between September 2023 and January 2024, Mickey Probert, 37, gained access to five of Ogi’s protected underground chambers extending from Wavell Crescent to Hamilton Court, Pembroke Dock. Using wire snippers, Probert caused a total of £26,237.73 worth of damage to the Ogi network.

On January 23, 2024, Probert was caught red-handed after once again gaining entry to one of Ogi’s chambers armed with wire snippers, a screwdriver and a metal crowbar.

This week Swansea Crown Court heard that suspicions were raised when Ogi’s alarm system confirmed that numerous cables had been affected in the Pembroke Dock area between September, 2023 and January 2024. When fault engineers began assessing the damage, they discovered that someone had gained access to the Ogi protected chambers and had cut numerous cables. Five different locations were flagged with six separate findings of damage.

Mickey Probert was subsequently discovered by police officers in the Wavell Crescent site as they carried out a search following reports of what the Crown described as ‘suspicious activities’ near one of the Ogi junction boxes.

Judge Huw Rees was told that when officers arrived at the scene at 3.55 am, they located the defendant hunched over a metal manhole cover. He had in his possession a pair of wire snippers and a screwdriver, and was wearing a head torch and latex gloves. A metal crowbar was also found nearby.

“His actions severely impacted the network services of the Pembroke Dock area, but also OGI’s reputation,” the Crown counsel told Judge Rees. “As a result, they suffered a cascade of negative effects and the 999 services were also affected. Many people rely on these services for their lives.”

Probert, of Laugharne Close, Pembroke, pleaded guilty to causing criminal damage to the Ogi network and Judge Huw Rees described the defendant’s actions as ‘very serious offending’.

“I take a serious view of this as a result of the damage that was caused, and this is a serious example of a crime to an independent public network provider in Wales,” he said.

“People who use that network and people who wanted to make emergency calls in dire circumstances, were prevented from doing so by your actions. Your actions disrupted essential services.”

But Judge Rees went on to say that as a result of Probert’s ‘realistic prospect’ of rehabilitation, his custodial sentence will be suspended.

“There’s been a period of non-offending when you’ve shown your ability to live a normal life,” he said. “ You’ve got it in you to keep out of trouble and there’s a realistic prospect of rehabilitation.”

Probert was sentenced to 16 months in custody suspended for two years. During this time he must carry out 20 rehabilitation activity requirement days and a 120-day alcohol abstinence monitoring programme.

Crime

Begelly man remanded over alleged May Day assault

Published

18 hours ago

June 9, 2026

Sarah-Jane Absalom

A PEMBROKESHIRE man has been remanded in custody following an alleged May Day assault against a woman in Begelly.

Tomas Baker, 34, of Ty Dee, New Road, Begelly, is accused of assaulting the woman, causing actual bodily harm, at an undisclosed location in Begelly on May 1.

Baker appeared before Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court this week by video link from Swansea Prison.

He pleaded not guilty to the charge.

His trial will take place at Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court on June 22.

Crime

Waterston man denies child rape and sexual assault charges

Published

19 hours ago

June 9, 2026

Tom Sinclair

A WATERSTON man has appeared before magistrates charged with 13 sexual offences against children, including three allegations of raping a girl under the age of 13.

Chaisee Price, 25, of Biggins Hill, Waterston, Milford Haven, appeared before Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court this week.

He faces three charges of raping a girl under 13, eight charges of sexually assaulting girls aged between five and eight, and two charges of intentionally inciting girls under 13 to engage in sexual activity.

The offences are alleged to have taken place between 2014 and 2019.

Price denied all charges.

Because of the seriousness of the allegations, magistrates declined jurisdiction and the case will now proceed to Swansea Crown Court on July 10.

Price was released on conditional bail.

The conditions include a daily electronically monitored curfew between 6:00pm and 6:00am, no contact with the prosecution witness, no unsupervised contact with children under 18, and a requirement to surrender his passport to police.

Crime

Haverfordwest pair accused of £80,000 rogue trading frauds

Published

19 hours ago

June 9, 2026

Sarah-Jane Absalom

TWO men from a Haverfordwest traveller family have been described in court as “rogue traders” following a series of alleged frauds totalling almost £80,000.

Billy Alfred Gary Lovell, 38, and Timothy Dean Lovell, 36, both of Under the Hills, Merlins Bridge, appeared before Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court this week.

They are accused of offences linked to ground clearance and gardening work in Mathry, Sardis and two addresses in Carmarthenshire.

Prosecuting on behalf of Pembrokeshire County Council’s Trading Standards Department, barrister Harry Dickens told the court: “These men have to be described as rogue traders.”

Billy Lovell faces 16 charges, including fraud by false representation, fraud by failing to disclose information, and unfair commercial practices.

The most serious allegation relates to Diana and Martin Hearnshaw, of Sardis. It is alleged that between January 30, 2022, and January 16, 2025, Billy Lovell dishonestly represented that he would complete clearance and gardening works worth £71,631, but failed to carry out work to that value.

He is also accused of offences involving Richard Gardner, of Penygroes, Carmarthenshire, Irene Williams, of Mathry, and Daniel Watts, of Ty Croes, Carmarthenshire.

Timothy Lovell faces ten charges arising from alleged incidents involving Richard Gardner and Irene Williams.

The allegations include claims that the defendants failed to provide accurate invoices, receipts, written contractual terms, cancellation rights and refund information. Some charges also allege that aggressive commercial practices were used, including harassment, coercion or undue influence.

No pleas were recorded. Because of the seriousness of the allegations, District Judge Mark Layton declined jurisdiction.

The case will now proceed to Swansea Crown Court on June 12.

Both defendants were granted conditional bail. They must not contact prosecution witnesses directly or indirectly, must live and sleep each night at their respective addresses in Under the Hills, Merlins Bridge, and must not undertake any gardening or landscaping work.