Ex-councillor jailed for obscene text messages

Published

9 years ago

August 24, 2016

Caged: Former town councillor Stephen Evans

A FORMER member of Haverfordwest town council has been jailed this week for sending obscene text messages to a 15 year old girl.

Stephen David Evans, aged 57, who won a by-election in 2010, admitted sending her a string of messages but without revealing his identity.

But she researched his telephone number and the police were called in.

Two of the messages were sent before her 16^th birthday and Evans admitted two offences of inciting a child to engage in sexual activities.

Evans, of Slade Park, off Slade Lane, was jailed on Wednesday (Aug 24) for 16 months.

Robin Rouch, prosecuting, told Swansea Crown Court how the girl was shocked to receive a text message at 7.22am on September 6, 2014, in which Evans said, bluntly, that he wanted to shag her.

The following day she received another message from Evans in which he wrote that he was masturbating and thinking about having oral sex with her.

“Further messages followed, including one suggesting that they meet up, but she had no idea who they were from,” added Mr Rouch.

Mr Rouch said the messages continued until the following May, but by then she had reached 16 and they did not constitute offences.

After Evans had been traced and arrested experts examined his computer and found that he had been researching the girl on the internet.

Mr Rouch said the messages had upset the victim so much that she failed to achieve the examination grades that she had expected.

Jim Davis, representing Evans, said he had been a voluntary worker and a well known soccer referee as well as a councillor and had suffered extreme shame and embarrassment.

At the time, he added, his wife had been seriously ill and he had been abusing alcohol.

“He accepts that they were horrible messages and wants to apologise to her,” added Mr Davis.

Judge Peter Heywood said he would be failing in his public duty if he did not send Evans to jail immediately.

“You blighted her life in what was an important school year,” he added.

Evans was also ordered to register with the police as a sex offender for 10 years and on his release from prison will be banned from working with children.

Judge Heywood also issued a retraining order banning Evans from contacting the girl “to give her peace of mind.”

Man who threw corrosive liquid at guest and fled abroad jailed

Published

12 hours ago

February 18, 2026

Court Reporter

A BUSINESSMAN who threw a corrosive liquid into a guest’s face during a row at a spiritual retreat before fleeing the country has been jailed for 18 months.

Dean Mayze, aged 38, from Abercrave in Powys, admitted inflicting grievous bodily harm following the attack at his Hafan-y-Coed retreat in December 2022.

Swansea Crown Court heard the assault happened after an argument with guest Keifer Price, who had complained about the condition of his accommodation, including a lack of heating and washing facilities.

During the confrontation, Mayze produced a blue container and threw its contents upwards into the victim’s face.

The liquid — described as smelling like ammonia — entered Mr Price’s eyes, nose and mouth, leaving him in severe pain and struggling to breathe.

Medical evidence confirmed injuries consistent with a chemical burn to both eyes. He suffered abrasions, a corneal defect and the loss of the outer corneal layer in one eye, requiring significant treatment to prevent permanent sight loss. He has since recovered without lasting injury.

Fled across Europe

Following the attack, Mayze fled the UK, triggering an international search.

The court heard he travelled across several European countries, including Ireland, France, Italy, Croatia and Greece, before eventually being arrested in Romania in 2025.

Despite being on the run, he remained in regular contact with police by text and email, at one point telling officers he would not be returning to Wales.

His partner initially claimed responsibility for the assault and later received a suspended prison sentence after admitting perverting the course of justice.

Previous conviction

The court was told Mayze has a previous conviction for wounding involving a corrosive substance in Kent in 2013.

Defence barrister Andrew Taylor said his client had experienced harsh conditions while detained in Romania, including contracting scabies without treatment, and described him as remorseful.

However, Judge Geraint Walters said it was “pure luck” the victim had not suffered permanent injuries, describing the attack as a “particularly wicked way of inflicting violence”.

Sentence and order

Mayze, who appeared via video link from prison, had previously denied a more serious charge of causing grievous bodily harm with intent.

He was sentenced to 18 months’ imprisonment and made subject to a three-year restraining order.

Crime

Police appeal after man injured in St Davids incident

Published

17 hours ago

February 18, 2026

Tom Sinclair

DYFED-POWYS POLICE are appealing for witnesses following an incident in St Davids which left one man injured.

The incident happened in Nun Street at around 11:10am on Tuesday, December 30. The injured man was taken to hospital for treatment.

Officers confirmed that a man has been arrested on suspicion of assault in connection with the incident.

Police are now asking anyone with information, dash cam footage, or CCTV that could assist the investigation to come forward.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Dyfed-Powys Police online at:
https://www.dyfed-powys.police.uk/contact/af/contact-us-beta/contact-us/

Alternatively, email [email protected], send a direct message via social media, or call 101 quoting reference DP20251230094.

Information can also be provided anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555111 or via crimestoppers-uk.org.

Crime

Sexual assault allegation to be tried

Published

18 hours ago

February 18, 2026

Tamsin Mathias

Accused granted conditional bail

A SEXUAL assault allegation has been listed for trial following a hearing before magistrates.

David Fletcher, 45, of Chestnut Way, Mount Estate, Milford Haven, Pembrokeshire, appeared before magistrates in Llanelli on Thursday (Feb 12) charged with sexual assault, contrary to section 3 of the Sexual Offences Act 2003.

The charge alleges that on March 16, 2025, at Johnston, Pembrokeshire, he intentionally touched a woman aged 16 or over and that the touching was sexual when she did not consent and he did not reasonably believe that she was consenting.

The matter was adjourned for trial and Fletcher was remanded on conditional bail.

The trial is listed for March 9, 2026 at Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court. Bail conditions prohibit him from entering a specified premises in Johnston, from contacting directly or indirectly the complainant or any prosecution witnesses, and from posting any information relating to the investigation on social media. The conditions were imposed to prevent further offending and to prevent interference with witnesses or obstruction of justice.