News
Police arrested one of their own during hate mail investigation
A HAVERFORDWEST woman’s self hate campaign took a bizarre twist when police arrested one of their own officers and accused her of being responsible, a judge heard on Friday (Nov 13).
Special police sergeant Kayleigh Davies was detained overnight and questioned about threatening letters that had been received by Glesni Phillips.
Eventually, Phillips confessed to writing the letters herself.
Phillips, aged 20, of Vawers Close, admitted perverting the course of justice and was jailed for 12 months, suspended for 12 months. She was also ordered to carry out 240 hours of unpaid work for the community and to pay Kayleigh Davies £1,100 in compensation.
Swansea Crown Court heard that Kayleigh Davies had since changed her mind about joining Dyfed Powys police full time.
Janet Gedrych, prosecuting, said Phillips worked at the Bristol Trader pub and had links to the Brownies and to the St John Ambulance service. In September, 2014, she went to Haverfordwest police station to complain about a letter she had received which indicated the author knew about her day to day life.
She made two more complaints, one about receiving a letter containing razor blades and a message to “use these.” And Phillips also complained of receiving a text message stating “Glesni Phillips is dead.”
Miss Gedrych said while a major police investigation was underway Phillips was found collapsed on cliffs above Solva. A nurse, Helen Thomas, came across her and saw a knife sticking out of the ground nearby.
Phillips told her she had been attacked from behind while taking photographs.
Miss Gedrych said a decision was taken to arrest special sergeant Kayleigh Davies and to take away her computer and mobile telephone for examination.
On November 20 the truth emerged when an officer examined Phillips’ mobile and discovered a draft of the “Glesni Phillips is dead” message.
Kayleigh Davies made a victim impact statement about how embarrassed she was to be arrested in front of colleagues at the hospital where she worked. She missed six weeks of work due to anxiety.
Phillips’ barrister, James Jenkins, said he wanted to make it clear that she had never named Kayleigh Davies as the author of the letters and he was mystified as to why she was ever arrested.
After Phillips had been arrested she confessed, at first, to writing only some of the letters but now accepted full responsibility.
The judge, Mr Recorder H J Furness told Phillips,”Your conduct can only be described as appalling, manipulative and disgusting.
“The nature of the letters caused the police, your family, people you worked with and people who loved you to believe you were the subject of a stalker who wished you harm.”
Crime
Police arrest suspects following vehicle interferences in Haverfordwest
HAVERFORDWEST police responded swiftly after reports of multiple vehicle interferences in the Tasker Way area on Sunday night/early Monday morning (Nov 4).
Officers from the Neighbourhood Policing Team (NPPT) conducted extensive house-to-house enquiries, gathering evidence and reassuring the community. These efforts led to the identification of two suspects.
Both NPPT and Response teams acted promptly, locating and arresting the suspects, who are now in police custody.
News
Ancient Welsh hymns brought into 21st century with unique collaboration between Lleuwen Steffan and National Eisteddfod
Some of Wales’ long-forgotten hymn tunes are being brought vividly back to life this month, thanks to award-winning singer, songwriter and composer Lleuwen Steffan and her unique collaboration with the National Eisteddfod of Wales.
Performing as ‘Tafod Arian’ (Silver Tongue), the collaboration pays homage to the lost voices of the past, and infuses these timeless melodies with some highly contemporary electronic arrangements.
The project originated in 2012 when Lleuwen was working on a music project at St Fagan’s National History Museum where she came across some long-forgotten recordings of hymns which had been left in the sound archives. None of these hymns could be found in the official hymn books nor the older hymnal editions, possibly as the result of their informal, conversational lyrics, or because they often delved into the world of addiction, mental illness and the darker side of the psyche.
But now these unpublished and unknown hymns will be heard for the first time in over a hundred years when Tabernacl Chapel, Maenclochog, will be one of 50 Welsh chapels to be visited by Tafod Arian.
With translations and insights, the tour breathes new life into archive recordings, ensuring these cherished sacred songs rightfully claim their place in today’s spotlight. Lleuwen masterfully combines electronic and acoustic instrumentation, seamlessly blending the past with the present, and takes the stage alongside a dynamic quintet of international musicians including Sioned Webb and Gethin Elis from Wales, and Nolwenn Korbell and Brieg Guerveno from Brittany.
Despite the hymns’ long-distant past, the music is firmly in the present as Lleuwen uses various instruments to provide angular electronic accompaniment as well as her soulful vocals and guitar. She provides translations and explanations as she proudly puts the archive recordings of the lost |Welsh hymns on centre stage. As a result, these sacred songs are being passed on orally rather than via the hymn book which is precisely how Welsh folk music was conveyed.
The long-forgotten hymns will be heard once again in all their glory at Tabernacle Chapel, Maenclochog on Sunday, November 17 at 6.30pm.
Crime
Suspended sentence for Goodwick man who sent sexual messages to young girl
THE FATHER of a young girl sent sexual messages to an individual he believed to be a 12-year-old girl online, Swansea Crown Court heard this week.
An undercover police officer posed as a 12-year-old girl on the website RandoChat, with the decoy’s profile stating they were 18.
James Roberts messaged the decoy on 9 August, stating he was “looking for a naughty girl”.
The decoy promptly informed him that she was 12 years old; however, the defendant continued to send messages referencing sexual acts and self-gratification.
Roberts added the decoy on Snapchat, claiming to be 19 and living in England.
He again sent sexualised messages and, referring to the decoy’s age, said they were “never too young to start sending pictures”.
The defendant also told the decoy that he was having similar sexual conversations with a 14-year-old, Mr Dickens said.
Police attended Roberts’ home in Goodwick on 17 August, and he was arrested. He denied having a mobile phone, claiming he “had sent it off to Samsung to be fixed” but was “extremely vague” when asked for further details. Mr Dickens said no phone was ever recovered by police.
The 28-year-old Roberts pleaded guilty to attempted sexual communication with a child. The court heard that he had no previous convictions.
Hannah George, in mitigation, said the defendant showed “some degree of remorse” and that there was a realistic prospect of rehabilitation.
“In the 13 months since he was interviewed there have been no further offences,” she said.
Ms George said Roberts had suffered “significant” shame and embarrassment as a result of the offences, and it had led to him losing his job.
He had previously been diagnosed with PTSD and suffered “deep periods of depression”, Ms George said.
She added that his contact with his young daughter “has been diminished” following these offences.
“You were in contact online with who you firmly believed to be a 12-year-old girl,” said Judge Paul Thomas KC, addressing Roberts.
“You have a two-year-old daughter. Just think how you would feel if a man in his thirties tried to have that sort of conversation with her in 10 years’ time.”
Roberts was sentenced to 30 weeks’ imprisonment, suspended for two years. He must complete 35 days of an accredited programme and 25 rehabilitation activity requirement programme days.
He must also register as a sex offender for 10 years and was made the subject of a three-year sexual harm prevention order.
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