St Clears: Burger van knife threat leads to jail

Published

10 years ago

January 15, 2016

A ST CLEARS man who tried to sort out a dispute about a hamburger van with a six inch kitchen knife has been jailed for four months today.

Michael Bramley, aged 46, threatened to stab the owner of a taxi company.

Swansea crown court heard that Bramley, who admitted a charge of possessing a bladed article in a public place, lived in Maes y Bryn and next door to the JRV Cars taxi business.

Kevin Jones, prosecuting, said the owner of the business, Jason Vaughan, had been allowed to park the hamburger van on Bramley’s land.

Bramley asked him to remove it but there was a delay while Mr Vaughan found a vehicle with a towbar attached.

However, Bramley became fed up of waiting and early on December 17 he went to the taxi firm while still dressed in his pyjamas.

Mr Jones said a driver arrived and noticed that Bramley appeared to be drunk and had a knife tucked into his sleeve.

“He swore and said he would cut Mr Vaughan,” added Mr Jones.

A second driver arrived and told Bramley to go home before telephoning Mr Vaughan and advising him to stay away.

Judge Peter Heywood said, “Heaven knows what might have happened had he shown up.

“You could have been looking at far more serious charges. You had a vicious looking knife with you and you made it clear you were looking for Mr Vaughan.

“And you made various obscene comments about what you would do when you saw him.”

Bramley’s barrister, James Hartson, said he had not used the knife to actually hurt anyone.

Judge Heywood said the Court of Appeal had made it very clear what approach courts should take when dealing with someone armed with a knife.

Bramley was also made the subject of a restraining order for two years banning him from approaching Mr Vaughan or his business.

Man charged with strangulation and assault offences after October incident

Published

3 hours ago

December 14, 2025

Court Reporter

A MAN recorded in court as having no fixed abode has appeared before magistrates charged with intentional strangulation and two further assault offences.

Michael Sudbury, 50, whose address was not read out in court, but in Herald records is Glan Hafan, Llangwm, appeared before the bench facing multiple charges.

The charges relate to an incident on 22 October 2025 and include:

Intentional strangulation, contrary to section 75A of the Serious Crime Act 2015
Common assault
Assault by beating

No further details of the alleged incident were opened in court, and no plea was entered at this stage.

Sudbury was remanded on conditional bail, with the case listed to return to magistrates later this month.

Haverfordwest man sent to Crown Court on multiple serious charges

Published

3 hours ago

December 14, 2025

Court Reporter

Defendant remanded in custody

A HAVERFORDWEST man has been sent to Swansea Crown Court to stand trial on a series of A 49-year-old Haverfordwest resident has been committed to Swansea Crown Court to face trial on multiple serious charges deemed too grave for magistrates to handle.

David Guy, of Market Street, Haverfordwest, appeared before Haverfordwest magistrates facing a series of allegations stemming from a single case. The charges, which were not detailed in open court, include:

Assault occasioning actual bodily harm (ABH)
A second count of assault
Criminal damage
An additional allegation of interpersonal violence
A public order offence

Magistrates declined jurisdiction, determining that the matters exceeded their sentencing powers, and sent the case in its entirety to Swansea Crown Court.

Guy was remanded in custody pending his next appearance. The court register notes: “Sent to Crown Court for trial in custody – next hearing at Swansea Crown Court.”

A date for the initial Crown Court hearing will be set administratively. Guy will remain in custody until then.

The Pembrokeshire Herald will provide further updates as the case progresses in the Crown Court.

Crime

Castlemartin man back before magistrates over multiple alleged assaults

Published

4 hours ago

December 14, 2025

Court Reporter

Defendant remanded on conditional bail ahead of further hearing

A CASTLEMARTIN man has appeared repeatedly before magistrates this month over a string A 40-year-old man from Castlemartin has made repeated appearances before magistrates this month in connection with a series of serious alleged offences, including assault occasioning actual bodily harm (ABH), intentional non-fatal strangulation, common assault, and criminal damage.

Anthony Alcock, of Pwll Street, Castlemartin, is facing six linked charges stemming from incidents said to have occurred earlier this year. These appear to relate to the same complainant in what is understood to be a single ongoing domestic abuse prosecution.

During recent administrative hearings at Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court, Alcock did not enter pleas while matters of bail and case management were addressed.

Charges Include:

Assault occasioning actual bodily harm (ABH)
Intentional non-fatal strangulation
Common assault on a woman
Criminal damage in a domestic context
Additional assault allegations involving the same complainant
Breach of bail conditions

Alcock was initially granted conditional bail but was subsequently brought before the court on two occasions for alleged breaches. On those instances, magistrates remanded him in custody ahead of further hearings. He was later re-granted conditional bail, subject to strict conditions such as no contact with the complainant and exclusion from specified locations.

Magistrates have now declined jurisdiction, ruling that the case—particularly the more serious charges involving non-fatal strangulation—is too grave for summary trial. It has been committed to Swansea Crown Court for plea, trial, or sentencing.

No detailed evidence has been presented in open court at this preliminary stage. Alcock remains on conditional bail pending his next appearance at the Crown Court.