Court hears he was found covered in blood and “very intoxicated” at a bus stop

A HOMELESS man who hurled abuse at police officers after being found covered in blood at a bus stop in Goodwick has been fined by magistrates.

Scott Hughes, aged 26, was discovered by officers just after 6:30pm on October 22, sitting in a bus shelter opposite the Glendower Hotel.

“Police had received a call from a member of the public who was concerned about the defendant’s wellbeing,” Crown Prosecutor Sian Vaughan told Haverfordwest magistrates this week.

“He was sitting on a bench in the bus stop, covered in blood, and was very intoxicated, having difficulty standing.”

When officers suggested taking Hughes to hospital for treatment, he became verbally aggressive.

“He told the police he wanted to be left alone and that’s when the bad language started,” said Ms Vaughan. “His obscenities continued, and this was what led to his arrest.”

Hughes later pleaded guilty to being drunk and disorderly in a public place.

Defending solicitor Alaw Harries said the offence was aggravated by Hughes’ difficult circumstances.

“He’s been homeless for some time,” she said. “He’s finding it very difficult to obtain support, and the current housing situation in Pembrokeshire certainly isn’t helping.

“He’s extremely sorry for what happened, but that evening he had gone to the Glendower pub to use the phone because he’d injured his finger, and he began drinking to cope with his situation.”

After considering the mitigation, magistrates fined Hughes £40 and ordered him to pay £85 in court costs and a £16 victim surcharge.

AN 84-year-old convicted Pembrokeshire sex offender faces another custodial sentence after breaching a Sexual Harm Prevention Order imposed following his previous conviction.

On October 2, police officers discovered that Barry Hollingsworth, of Slade Park, Haverfordwest, was in possession of a new mobile phone. Despite being a registered sex offender and subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order, Hollingsworth had failed to register the device with police as required.

Crown Prosecutor Sian Vaughan told Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court that further investigation revealed a text message from Vodafone confirming that Hollingsworth had requested a ‘pay-as-you-go’ SIM card for the phone.

Ms Vaughan described Hollingsworth as a persistent breacher of his Sexual Harm Prevention Order, noting that his last breach resulted in a 27-month custodial sentence.

This week he pleaded guilty to the latest breach, and the court was told that he now faces a further custodial term of at least 12 months.

Following submissions from both the Crown Prosecution Service and the court’s senior legal manager, Nathan Chapman, magistrates declined jurisdiction on sentencing. Hollingsworth will be sentenced by a judge at Swansea Crown Court on November 25.

He was released on unconditional bail.

A LONG-RUNNING row over dog noise in the small coastal village of Trefin has taken a new turn after a local woman admitted breaching a Community Protection Notice — while multiple other charges were dropped by Pembrokeshire County Council.

Julia Goodgame, aged 58, of Bryn Y Derwydd, appeared before Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court on Monday (Nov 10) facing nine allegations of failing to keep her dogs under control, contrary to the terms of a Community Protection Notice (CPN) issued by the council in June.

The case, prosecuted by David Wheel of Welch & Co on behalf of the council, followed months of complaints from neighbours and a protest in the village earlier this year over what residents described as “constant barking” and “uncontrolled dogs”.

Residents’ frustration

In August, residents of Bryn Y Derwydd staged a small protest calling for stronger action, claiming that up to ten dogs were being kept at one property and that the noise had become intolerable.

One pensioner told The Herald they had been “kept awake for months”, while others complained of dogs roaming freely and fouling gardens.

Local councillor Neil Prior, who represents Llanrhian, said at the time that the situation had been “slow and frustrating” for all involved, adding that council officers, housing staff and police had been in discussion for over a year about possible enforcement.

Court proceedings

The council issued the CPN on June 17, requiring Ms Goodgame to keep her dogs under control and prevent excessive noise. She was later accused of breaching the notice on nine occasions between June 17 and July 15, with further allegations in July and September.

At Monday’s hearing, Ms Goodgame — who represented herself — pleaded guilty to one count, relating to June 20. The remaining eight counts were dismissed after the council offered no evidence.

Magistrates adjourned the case until December 11 for sentencing and to consider the council’s application for a Criminal Behaviour Order (CBO) and costs.

Ongoing dispute

The case has divided opinion in Trefin, with some residents welcoming the prosecution and others calling for mediation and support rather than legal action.

The outcome of next month’s hearing will determine whether longer-term restrictions are imposed under the proposed CBO.