News

Brothers sent to prison after sustained attack

Published

9 years ago

February 23, 2016

TWO brothers were sent to prison on Wednesday (Feb 3) after assaulting a female by beating.

Elliot Jack Lewis, aged 20 and Nyle Shaun Lewis, aged 24 of Stranraer Road in Pennar Pembroke Dock, appeared at the court for a trial after pleading not guilty to the charge.

However, they pleaded guilty ten minutes before the trial was due to start.

Vaughan Pritchard-Jones of the Crown Prosecution Service said: “The complainant was in an on and off relationship with Nyle, and had moved in together in September 2015. The incident occurred two months later.

“The victim had an affair, and Nyle didn’t want to let her forget that. She had attended a party with him on November 28, and had drank a lot of alcohol. She left at midnight, walked home alone and went to bed.

“The next thing she remembered was that Nyle was in her bedroom pulling the covers off her. She said his face was red and screwed up, and he was shouting and angry. He said ‘You’ve messaged him again. I’ve been through your phone’.”

The court heard how Nyle took the phone into the bathroom with him, locking the door behind him. He proceeded to read out messages that had been sent between the complainant and the person she had been having an affair with, and demanded he give her back her phone.

Mr Pritchard-Jones continued: “The next thing she remembers is Nyle taking his temper out on things. He ripped a 40” TV from a wall bracket and threw it on the floor. This made her feel scared. He continued to swipe items from shelves and smash her belongings, including a birthday flute she received for her 21st birthday.

“The complainant also owns a 5ft driftwood tree, which she cannot lift by herself. The court heard how Nyle managed to pick this up and throw it down the stairs. She says these are typical actions when he gets angry.”

Mr Pritchard-Jones said: “The next distinct and vivid memory she has, is of Nyle pulling her hair with such force that it felt like her scalp was on fire. He pulled her down the stairs by her hair on hands and knees. She was stumbling down the stairs, and she pleaded with him saying ‘let me go’ but he wouldn’t. She remembered he kept calling her a liar.”

Nyle’s younger brother, Elliot arrived, and refused to leave when told to get out. Nyle claimed that the only reason they had got back together was because she wanted his money to buy Christmas presents, and that he had paid for most of the items in the house.

“Elliot grabbed the hood of her hooded top and dragged her out of the house,” said Mr Pritchard-Jones, “and pulled her so hard that she was struggling to breathe. She tried to scream but couldn’t, and was worried she was going to pass out.

“She then tried to pull the neck of her hooded top down, but could only manage to get a few fingers in between.”

He continued: “She could hear Nyle shouting leave it, and Elliot pulled her outside and ran back in the house. She says she thought ‘This is my house, and I’m not going to be locked out of my own house’.

“She went to the back door and then to the front. Nyle saw her, grabbed her hair and pulled her back in, and the argument continued.”

A neighbour who heard the ongoing argument attended the property, and tried to get the Lewis brothers to leave. They didn’t listen, and proceeded to go upstairs with the complainant.

Nyle began questioning her about the messages he had seen on her phone, when Elliot pushed her on the bed. The court heard how she went into the fetal position as Elliot straddled over her, with his legs either side, and repeatedly punched her.

“She can’t remember how many times he hit her,” said Mr Pritchard-Jones, “but she managed to deflect some of the blows, which resulted in injuries on her arms. She doesn’t know why he stopped, but he got off.”

After the incident, the complainant felt extremely angry, and attempted to retaliate. Nyle stopped her from advancing, and grabbed her by the wrists, therefore she headbutted him twice.

Her neighbour persuaded them to leave and took them away in her car. Mr Pritchard-Jones said: “The aggravating features are the level of injuries, it’s the top end of the common assault, and it’s two men versus one woman.

“She was drunk, and wasn’t in a position to defend herself.” Photographs of her injuries were shown to the court, which showed her to have two black eyes, and multiple cuts, grazes and bruises scattered around her body.

Defending Nyle, Matthew Greenish of Red Kite Law said: “Nyle had come back because his medication was there, and Elliot attended. Nyle accepts he took his frustrations out on the property, and a scuffle broke out.

“Incidents have taken place, and Nyle grabbed her to stop her hitting Elliot, and she headbutted him twice. It takes two to tango, or in this case, three. Nobody is innocent and nobody has the blame on their door.

“The use of excessive force was to get his tablets. He accepts in hindsight he should have dealt with it differently. He is a pleasant young man.”

Michael Kelleher, defending Elliot, said: “The photographs are extremely serious, and when Elliot saw them he gasped. Incidents like this happen quickly and you don’t see the consequence until after. However, there’s nothing more than bruises.

“The lady’s version of events is difficult to read, as she couldn’t remember bits because of intoxication. Elliot was going in to restrain her so Nyle could get his medication.”

After hearing this, Mr Pritchard- Jones exclaimed: “To say they were going to get his medication is nonsensical and ludicrous.”

The victim’s statement was read to the court, where she described how she is fearful to be in her own home, and has been staying at a different address since the incident.

She explained that she was embarrassed to go into work and knew that people were looking at her and feeling sorry for her. She said that her world had been turned upside down, and said: “I have never seen Nyle with so much hate. I didn’t deserve to be assaulted.”

After listening carefully to all the evidence, Magistrates sent both men into immediate custody for 23 weeks. They must also pay £400 compensation each to the victim, and £80 victim surcharge each.

A restraining order was also put in place.

News

2024 Sport Pembrokeshire Awards Finalists announced

Published

2 hours ago

November 15, 2024

Tom Sinclair

THE finalists for the 2024 Sport Pembrokeshire Awards have been announced.

In total, 252 nominations were received and, following a selection meeting, the judging panel has named 39 finalists.

Matt Freeman, Manager of Sport Pembrokeshire, said: “I want to thank everyone who has taken the time to provide nominations.

“Every year it gets harder to narrow the nominations down to three finalists and once again the quality of the nominees was enormously high.

“The number and quality of nominees just shows the strength of the sporting scene here in Pembrokeshire.

All the finalists will be invited to a grand presentation ceremony at Folly Farm on Friday, November 29th, where the winners will be announced.

The ceremony will also reveal the winners of two further categories – the Lifetime Achievement Award and the Chairman’s Special Achievement Award.

The awards are organised by Sport Pembrokeshire, Pembrokeshire County Council’s sport development team.

They are sponsored by Sport Pembrokeshire, Valero, Folly Farm and Pure West Radio.

The awards aim to recognise those people who have excelled in sport over the last 12 months, or who have given their time to coaching and organising grass roots sport.

Sport Pembrokeshire Awards 2024 – Finalists

(In alphabetical order)

Coach of the Year

Francesca Morgan (Swimming)

Philippa Gale (Netball)

Tom Richards (Tennis)

Female Sporting Achievement

Gracie Griffiths (Race Walking)

Helen Carrington (Powerlifting)

Seren Thorne (Shooting)

Male Sporting Achievement

Jeremy Cross (Tennis)

Rhys Llewellyn (Athletics)

Sam Coleman (Powerboat Racing)

Boys (U16) Sporting Achievement

Carter Heywood (Football)

Hugo Boyce (Cycling)

Ned Rees-Wigmore (Hockey)

Girls (U16) Sporting Achievement

Cerys Griffiths (Swimming)

Chloe John-Driscoll (Shooting)

Ffion Bowen (Football)

Disability Sport Award

Evelyn Thomas (Powerlifting)

Jules King (Crossfit)

Marc Evans (Cricket)

Junior (U16) Disability Sport Award

Finnley Walters (Boxing)

Jac Johnson (Gymnastics)

Lewis Crawford (Boccia)

Unsung Hero

John Laugharne (Rugby)

Owen Shanklin (Pool)

Sue Christopher (Surf Lifesaving)

Team Achievement of the Year

Alan Evans, Andrew Evans & Michael John (Short Mat Bowls)

Fishguard & Goodwick Ladies Hockey Club

Pembrokeshire County Bowls Team

Junior (U16) Team Achievement of the Year

Chaos Thunder U12’s Netball Team

Hakin United AFC u16’s

Neyland Yacht Club Junior Sailing Team

Young Volunteer of the Year

Anna May (Tennis & Surfing)

Caitlin Chapman (Netball)

George Richards (Cricket)

Club Organiser

Nadine Tyrrell (Gymnastics)

Nick Shelmerdine (Cricket)

Paul Hudson (Short Mat Bowls)

Club of the Year

Camrose AFC Women & Girls Football

Haverfordwest Gymnastics Club

Strength Academy Wales Cymru

Pictured above: The 2023 Club of the Year winner – Pembroke Cricket Club.

Crime

Man jailed for Pembroke Dock cannabis farm involvement

Published

4 hours ago

November 15, 2024

Madeline Knox

AN ALBANIAN man, Armando Beti, 37, was sentenced to two years and eight months in prison at Swansea Crown Court on Friday (Nov 15) for his role in producing class B drugs.

Beti, who has prior convictions in 2022 and 2023, was arrested on October 3, 2024, at 10:00am after police found him hiding in a neighbouring building’s attic. The arrest followed a raid on the former Woolworths building on Dimond Street, Pembroke Dock, where officers discovered three rooms containing 594 cannabis plants. The crop was described as part of a wholesale operation, with an estimated street value of between £64,000 and £196,000, depending on yield.

Using an aerial drone, police tracked Beti as he attempted to escape by crossing two rooftops. He pleaded guilty immediately after his capture, claiming the cannabis farm was already operational when he arrived 10 days earlier. Beti described himself as merely the gardener, tasked with watering the plants, and alleged he was coerced into the role by individuals he met at an immigration detention centre to repay a debt.

Beti’s defence counsel stated: “He is under no illusion regarding the seriousness of his offending. He is eager to start his prison sentence so he can ultimately reunite with his wife in Albania.”

However, Judge Geraint Walters rejected Beti’s claims, citing a pattern of similar excuses in previous cases. The judge noted that Beti had been convicted in Cardiff in 2022 for cultivating over 600 cannabis plants, during which he also claimed to be a coerced gardener with little knowledge of the operation.

In delivering the sentence, Judge Walters said: “People like you need to understand that judges are not completely naive. We know what is going on. We are well aware of the activities of criminal Albanian gangs in this country, as are you.”

Police believe the operation uncovered in Pembroke Dock is linked to a wider network of organised crime targeting rural locations for cannabis cultivation.

Community

Pembs Agricultural Society’s Christmas Fair expands to an all-weekend event

Published

8 hours ago

November 15, 2024

Tom Sinclair

PEMBROKESHIRE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY’S Christmas Fair will be an all-weekend event next month. The Christmas shopping extravaganza is all set to take place on Saturday, 14 December as well as Sunday, 15 December.

The Parkhouse building on the Haverfordwest Showground will be transformed into a Christmas paradise. There will be even more stalls this year with a wide variety of quality local businesses exhibiting as well as festive music, Santa in his Grotto and an outdoor food court.

Judith Roach and Emma Thomas, the event organisers, said, “We are excited to be able to announce that our Christmas Fair will be on for two days rather than just one this year. We continue to build on the success of last year’s event with twice the opportunities to attend and even more stallholders. It will be the perfect start to the festive season as the Parkhouse Building will be transformed into a one-stop-shop for those preparing for Christmas.”

The Fair will be open from 10am until 4pm and admission is free. Visitors will find unique gifts, handmade decorations, art and beautiful homeware. Some of the county’s very best food and drink producers will also have stalls to give visitors the opportunity to stock up on all their festive treats. From decadent chocolate brownies, fudge, festive spirits to Welsh cheeses, there’s something to tantalise everyone’s tastebuds. There will also be a range of outlets for ‘on the go’ eating and drinking.

One special guest at the event will be everyone’s favourite bearded gentleman in red – Santa will be taking time out from his busy schedule to attend the event. There will be a charge of £3 per child to visit Santa and all proceeds will go directly to Sandy Bear charity to support their work. Each child will receive a small gift from Santa as part of their visit. Parents can book in advance via the website: www.sandybear.co.uk/santa

Adam Thorne, Pembrokeshire Agricultural Society’s President is looking forward to the festive event. He said, “The Society would like to thank Judith and Emma for all the hours they have put in, voluntarily, to organise the two-day Christmas event. We’re delighted to be able to offer visitors the opportunity to do all their Christmas shopping whilst enjoying the festive atmosphere.”

Follow Pembrokeshire County Show’s Christmas Fair event page on Facebook for a full list of stallholders in the run up to the event.