News

Former police officer jailed for 42 months for sexually abusing a teenage girl

Published

10 years ago

July 24, 2015

Former police officer John Caffrey leaving Swansea Crown Court after a previous hearing

A FORMER Haverfordwest police officer who sexually abused a teenage girl has been jailed today (Jul 24) for 42 months.

John Brian Caffrey, aged 72, committed multiple offences dating back more than 30 years, including tying her to a door while she was naked.

Caffrey, of Castle View, Simpson Cross, had denied all the allegations against him and Swansea crown court heard today he continued to maintain his innocence despite the jury’s verdicts.

During a week long trial at Swansea Crown Court the jury heard that he once ordered her to strip naked and used a belt to tie her to a door before photographing her.

Robin Rouch, prosecuting, said his victim had made an impact statement in which she said she would have killed herself if the jury had returned verdicts of not guilty.

“I have struggled ever since (the offending.) He destroyed my life,” she said. “He enjoyed watching me squirm.”

The victim, now a woman, accused Haverfordwest police of betraying her. She had told the court how, as a 15 year old, she had gone to the station and complained about what Caffrey had done to her.

But no action had been taken, she said.

And she said that, following a road traffic accident, colleagues loaned him pornographic films which had been seized during operations to help speed his recovery.

She said he made her watch one of them.

Caffrey, once a champion motor cycle racer who took part in events across Europe, told the jury he recalled two officers telling him at the time that a complaint had been made against him but that it had already been withdrawn.

At Caffrey’s sentencing hearing Judge Peter Heywood said it was tragic to see a man who had served his country in the Royal Navy and then the police in court for such serious offending.

But, he added, Caffrey had a darker side to him and could be compared to a Jekyll and Hyde character.

Caffrey’s barrister, Carina Hughes, said he had concerns for his own welfare as a prison sentence could be particularly difficult for a former police officer.

Judge Heywood told Caffrey, “There is clearly a darker and more sinister side to your character. You have warped her view. In short, you have destroyed her life.”

Caffrey was also made the subject of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order, restricting his access to girls aged under 16, and ordered to register with the police as a sex offender until further notice.

Motorcycle enthusiast: John Caffrey pictured at around the time of the alleged offences

Motorcycle enthusiast: John Caffrey pictured at around the time of the offences

News

Car crashes into house in St Davids

Published

11 hours ago

April 25, 2025

Tom Sinclair

EMERGENCY services were called after a car crashed into a house on Nun Street in St Davids on Thursday (Apr 24).

Dyfed-Powys Police and Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service attended the scene at around 4:35pm following reports of a single-vehicle collision.

On arrival, they found that a car had collided with a residential property. Fortunately, no injuries were reported.

The road remained open while the vehicle was recovered.

A spokesperson for Dyfed-Powys Police said: “Dyfed-Powys Police attended a report of a single-vehicle road traffic collision where a car collided with a property on Nun Street, St Davids, at around 4:35pm yesterday. No injuries were reported, and the road remained open while the vehicle was recovered.”

Community

Milford Haven and Neyland Police issue appeal for missing man

Published

12 hours ago

April 25, 2025

Tom Sinclair

POLICE are appealing for information to help locate a 54-year-old man who has been reported missing from the Milford Haven area.

Neil is described as being around 6ft 2in tall with a shaved head. He has tattoos on his arms and one of his fingers, and sometimes wears glasses.

He was last seen on Friday afternoon (Apr 26) wearing a black Superdry hoodie, ripped jeans, and orange and black Nike Air trainers. Neil is believed to be on foot.

Anyone with information that could help is urged to contact Dyfed-Powys Police: 🖥️ | Online portal
📧 | [email protected]
📞 | Call 101, quoting reference 262 of April 26.

Community

Fire service delivers vital kit to Ukraine

Published

17 hours ago

April 25, 2025

Tom Sinclair

Wales joins UK’s largest firefighting aid convoy

MID and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service (MAWWFRS) has taken part in the UK’s largest ever convoy delivering vital firefighting equipment to Ukraine, joining 17 other Fire and Rescue Services (FRSs) from across the country.

The convoy, coordinated by FIRE AID and supported by the UK Government, left the UK in early April. It travelled through France, Germany and Poland, delivering over 30 fire service vehicles and more than 15,000 items of equipment to support Ukrainian firefighters on the front line of the ongoing war.

Since the Russian invasion in 2022, UK fire services have donated 119 vehicles and over 200,000 pieces of equipment to Ukraine. Each participating service ensured local needs were met before donating surplus kit.

Watch Manager Rob Kershaw represented MAWWFRS on the convoy. He said:
“It’s been a privilege to be part of this convoy and to represent both FIRE AID and Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service.
We received invaluable support and assistance from fire and police services across every country we passed through. Their help in coordinating, escorting, and hosting the convoy was outstanding.”

Chief Fire Officer Roger Thomas KFSM added:
“MAWWFRS is proud to support our colleagues in Ukraine by donating and delivering essential equipment.
The events in Ukraine have deeply affected the fire and rescue community, and this convoy is a demonstration of our ongoing commitment to helping those still working under extreme conditions.”

The donated equipment will support firefighters in Ukraine who continue to operate in war zones to save lives and protect property—often at great personal risk. Since the conflict began, 100 Ukrainian firefighters have been killed and 431 injured. A total of 411 fire stations and 1,700 firefighting vehicles have been destroyed.