Pembroke Dock: Rapist Stephen Bladen has appeal application refused

Published

9 years ago

May 6, 2016

Stephen Bladen: Jailed for child rape on December 21

A SICK deviant caged for a 30-year spree of child sex crimes had his bid to clear his name rejected by senior judges on Thursday (May 5).

Stephen Bladen, 56, received a crushing 21-year jail term at Swansea Crown Court last December after he was convicted of a catalogue of sexual offences.

He was sentenced in relation to 31 charges – including eight counts of possessing indecent photos of children, Mr Justice Foskett told London’s Appeal Court.

The depraved decorator, of Sycamore Gardens, Pembroke Dock, was found guilty of eight rapes, 10 counts of indecent assault, and other vile sex acts.

Bladen attacked five victims in all – two of whom he raped.

His crimes were committed between 1985 and last year, with one of his victims aged just five when he sexually assaulted her.

He terrorised one of his rape victims, who was just eight, by threatening to kill her favourite bunny rabbit if she resisted.

All his victims were left acutely traumatised by their ordeals.

One of them – now an adult – told of the “continuing nightmare” caused by his attacks, with her life now dogged by sleeping pills and depression.

At trial Bladen persistently denied his accusers’ claims, insisting their accounts were simply “false”.

“He said he never behaved inappropriately towards children,” explained Mr Justice Foskett.

Bladen’s case reached the Appeal Court as he unsuccessfully challenged the jury’s verdicts.

He maintained that the verdicts were “against the weight of the evidence”, but Mr Justice Foskett said this was simply unarguable.

“The jury plainly disbelieved his evidence and accepted the evidence of his victims,” he concluded.

“We consider this was a case in which none of the convictions can properly be challenged.

“The application is refused.”

Tractor run lights up Pembrokeshire and raises funds for charity

Published

1 day ago

December 21, 2024

Tom Sinclair

THE PEMBROKESHIRE ILLUMINATED TRACTOR RUN took place today (Dec 21), raising funds for two vital charities: the Catrin Vaughan Foundation and Wales Air Ambulance.

Starting at Clarbeston Road AFC at 6:00pm, the brightly lit convoy of nearly 200 tractors made its way through Withybush Hospital and Haverfordwest High Street before finishing at the Pembrokeshire County Showground.

The annual event has become a highlight of the festive calendar, drawing large crowds to witness the spectacle of tractors adorned with colourful lights and decorations.

Funds raised from the event will support the Catrin Vaughan Foundation, which provides crucial assistance to families facing hardship, and the Wales Air Ambulance, delivering life-saving emergency medical care across the region.

Organisers praised the dedication of local farmers and volunteers, whose commitment ensures the event’s continued success year after year.

(Image: Nia Marshall/Facebook)

Business

Ferry Terminal ‘extremely busy’ due to ongoing Holyhead closure

Published

1 day ago

December 21, 2024

Tom Sinclair

PEMBROKE DOCK Ferry Terminal has been experiencing significant congestion today as ferry services remain under immense pressure following the closure of Holyhead Port earlier this month.

The disruption, caused by storm damage, has rerouted ferry traffic through Pembrokeshire, leading to long queues and crowded facilities at the terminal.

The Herald can confirm that it has been very busy today with cars, lorries, and foot passengers queuing in large numbers. Staff are working tirelessly to manage the influx, directing vehicles and assisting passengers as they prepare to board the heavily booked ferries.

A spokesperson for the Port of Milford Haven said: “We are working closely with ferry operators and local authorities to ensure traffic flows as smoothly as possible, but the sheer volume of vehicles is causing unavoidable delays.”

Travelers are being urged to arrive early for their sailings and to remain patient as the terminal operates at full capacity.

Both Stena Line and Irish Ferries have increased capacity on their Pembrokeshire routes, deploying larger vessels, including the Stena Adventurer and the MV James Joyce, to handle the surge in demand.

From our position at the terminal, our photographer has captured photos showing long lines of vehicles, groups of foot passengers carrying luggage, and port staff coordinating efforts to ease congestion.

Authorities are advising non-essential travelers to consider rescheduling their journeys where possible and to monitor updates from ferry operators closely.

(Photos: Martin Cavaney/Herald)

Community

Festive celebrations at St Davids Cathedral this weekend

Published

1 day ago

December 21, 2024

Tom Sinclair

ST DAVIDS Cathedral is set to host two special events on Sunday (Dec 22), offering a blend of joyful participation and traditional carol singing to mark the Christmas season.

In the morning, families are invited to the Scratch Nativity at 11:00am. Attendees are encouraged to come dressed as wise men, angels, sheep, or shepherds and take part in an unrehearsed retelling of the Christmas story. Canon Leigh described the event as: “Complete, wonderful chaos for an hour… but with some poignant, thought-provoking moments to centre ourselves on the real meaning of Christmas.”

Later in the evening, the Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols by Candlelight will take place at 7:00pm, featuring the Cathedral Choir. The event, steeped in tradition, will see the cathedral bathed in candlelight as carols and scripture readings fill the historic space.

Doors will open at 5:45pm for those seeking unreserved seating, and a large turnout is expected for this beloved Christmas celebration.