News

St Florence land fraud woman jailed

Published

11 years ago

February 13, 2015

Swansea Crown Court

A WOMAN who fraudulently sold land in west Wales to unsuspecting holidaymakers has been jailed for three years this afternoon (Feb 13).

Carolyn Jane Henderson, aged 50, pretended “for years and years” that land at two locations could be used for new homes, log cabins, caravans and tents.

But planning permission had not been granted and Henderson had not even bothered applying for any.

Swansea Crown Court heard how Henderson netted £159,000 before she was arrested. She was now bankrupt and there was no prospect of her paying back any of the money.

Henderson, more recently of Beynons Court, Tavernspite near Whitland, had admitted five offences of fraud by falsely representing between 2010 and 2011 that land for sale at Briar Paddock, St Florence, could be used for caravanning and camping.

The victims were David Harries, Diane Morgan, Paul Stewart, Glyn Coward and John Boswell.

Henderson also admitted possessing an article for use in fraud, a “document of truth” purportedly signed by a C Hastings.

She also admitted between 2005 and 2006 fraudulently obtaining a money order for £15,000 from Roland Evans by claiming that land at Hafod Wen, Llanteg, was suitable for planning permission and that if permission was not granted she would return the money.

Henderson also pleaded guilty to advertising land at Hafod Wen for sale while falsely claiming it was suitable for caravanning and camping.

During an earlier hearing, Henderson’s sister, Amanda Victoria Henderson, aged 42, of Hafod Wen, had denied four charges of fraud relating to land at Hafod Wen. The pleas were accepted and she was discharged after the judge had entered formal verdicts of not guilty.

Huw Rees, prosecuting, said Carolyn Henderson had lived at Hafod Wen with her sister but they had run into difficulties keeping up with mortgage repayments.

Carolyn Henderson began advertising for sale parcels of land at Hafod Wen, where the sisters had five acres of agricultural land, as suitable for caravans and tents. Buyers were duped by an offer by Henderson to buy back the land within three years should there be difficulty with planning issues.

Mr Rees said Henderson went on to carry out similar frauds at Briar Paddock, this time advertising the plots as suitable for houses or log cabins even though she didn’t even own the land.

Mr Rees said Henderson managed to achieve several sales, one alone for £25,000, before getting round to actually buying the land from Anne Marie Wilkinson for £53,000.

He said Henderson made £52,900 out of Hafod Wen and £94,500 from Briar Paddock.

Mr Rees said Henderson, apparently acting on behalf of Hafod Wen Organics, went on to commission a company to drill a water hole on land she owned at Wolves Newton, near Usk. But she refused to pay the £8,500 bill and, in an effort to avoid making payment, forged an invoice from another company in a bid to make it look as if they had carried out the work.

She admitted possessing an article in the use of fraud.

Mr Rees told a packed court room that Henderson’s previous convictions included one for the fraudulent importation of goods and for obtaining property by deception.

Her barrister, Nathanial Wade, said Henderson suffered from complex health issues, both physical and mental, and would find a prison sentence very difficult.

“Many people would like to see her punished, understandably so. She would like to repay them but cannot.

“She is now bankrupt and living in social housing. Hafod Wen has been sold or is about to be sold,” he added.

Judge Huw Davies said Henderson has been “cunning, bold, calculated and persistent” in her offending.

“You knew there was no prospect of getting planning permission because you had already had brushes with the planning authority.”

Judge Davies said many of Henderson’s victims had lost money they would not be able to replace.

Crime

Haverfordwest father stole groceries amid cost-of-living struggle

Published

6 minutes ago

June 24, 2026

Sarah Jane Absalom

Court hears shop theft was a ‘split-second decision’ while family finances were under pressure

A HAVERFORDWEST man who stole more than £90 worth of groceries from Iceland has been sentenced after a court heard he was struggling to support his family during the cost-of-living crisis.

Michael Tomlin, 41, of Coronation Avenue, Haverfordwest, entered the town’s Iceland store on March 21 and removed a number of items from the shelves before leaving without paying.

Staff witnessed the incident and CCTV footage later showed Tomlin exiting the store without making any attempt to pay for the goods. The total value of the stolen items was £93.62.

Tomlin appeared before Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court this week, where he pleaded guilty to theft.

Representing him in court, solicitor Alaw Harries said Tomlin and his wife had been experiencing significant financial difficulties while trying to provide for their two young children.

“At the time, he and his wife were struggling financially while trying to support their two young children,” she said.

“But the weekly food shop has become more difficult. When he entered the store, he fully intended to pay for the items, but it was a foolish, split-second decision that he made to steal.”

The court heard that Tomlin made a full admission when interviewed by police.

Magistrates fined him £80 and ordered him to pay £93.62 compensation to Iceland. He was also ordered to pay £85 court costs and a £32 victim surcharge.

Crime

Hakin man stole Tesco goods to fund drink and gambling addictions

Published

22 minutes ago

June 24, 2026

Court Reporter

A 35-YEAR-OLD man stole almost £800 worth of goods from Tesco Extra in Haverfordwest to fund his alcohol and gambling addictions, a court has heard.

Five thefts from same store

Luke Brunton, 35, visited the store on five separate occasions between February and May 2025, taking items including pillows, duvets, Lego sets, Pokémon cards, alcohol, crisps and a saucepan set.

The first theft took place on February 27, when Brunton stole four packs of pillows, a double duvet, a cool pillow, a cuddle cushion, a Batman Lego set and a BMW Lego set, worth £167.50.

On March 1 he returned and stole Pokémon cards valued at £144. Three days later, he stole Baileys, vodka, Jack Daniel’s, three pillows, crisps and a saucepan set, worth £192.69.

The final offence took place on May 21, when Brunton again stole alcohol, pillows and toilet roll. The value of those items was not given to the court.

Addictions reduced

Brunton, of St Lawrence Close, Hakin, Milford Haven, appeared before Haverfordwest magistrates this week, where he pleaded guilty to five charges of theft.

The court was told the offences also breached a conditional discharge imposed by Kent Court for previous theft matters.

His solicitor, Michael Kelleher, said: “At the time, he was drinking to excess and was also gambling to excess.

“The shoplifts funded those habits, both of which were addictions.”

Mr Kelleher said Brunton’s drinking and gambling had significantly reduced since the offending.

Brunton was sentenced to a 24-month community order. He must complete 15 rehabilitation activity requirement days and 66 hours of unpaid work.

He must also pay £761.79 compensation to Tesco, a £114 surcharge and £85 costs.

Crime

Uxbridge motorist banned after Pembrokeshire drug-drive stop

Published

2 hours ago

June 24, 2026

Sarah Jane Absalom

Driver was heading home after visiting former girlfriend when police stopped him on the A477

A WEST London motorist has been banned after being caught driving on the A477 in Broadmoor with a cocaine metabolite and cannabis in his system.

Danny Small, 32, was stopped by police carrying out routine checks at around 11:30am on January 28.

After providing a positive roadside drug swipe, Small was taken to a police station, where blood tests showed he had 157mcg of benzoylecgonine in his system. The legal limit is 50mcg.

He also had 2.9mcg of Delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol in his system. The legal limit is 2mcg.

Small, of Little London Close, Uxbridge, appeared before Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court this week, where he pleaded guilty to two drug-driving offences.

Probation officer Julie Norman told the bench that Small had been visiting his former girlfriend in Pembrokeshire and was driving home to Uxbridge at the time of the offence.

Ms Norman said Small was a regular cannabis and cocaine user.

“This helps treat his undiagnosed ADHD,” she said.

“He didn’t think the drugs would still have been in his system, as he’d consumed the drugs several days earlier. But drugs can often remain in the system for several weeks.”

Small was sentenced to a 12-month community order, during which he must complete 15 rehabilitation activity requirement days.

He was fined £80 and ordered to pay a £114 court surcharge and £85 costs. He was disqualified from driving for 15 months.