News

Two arrested for distraction thefts

Published

9 years ago

November 23, 2016

Welsh-police

A ROMANIAN national who conned three different Pembrokeshire businesses out of £200 each using a “sophisticated” sleight of hand technique was jailed for 40 weeks yesterday (Nov 22).

Baron Rostas, 27, who gave an address in Rotherham, pleaded guilty to three charges of theft from a shop, all of which took place on November 17, at Ultracomida in Narberth, Monkton Post Office, and The Best One in Charles Street, Milford Haven.

Bobi Anghel, 18, pleaded not guilty to the same charges, along with charges of driving without a valid licence and insurance.

Prosecuting, Abul Hussein said that Rostas had gone into various premises and purchased items. He had then produced a large quantity of £20 notes, and asked for them to be changed in to £10 notes. He then discreetly pocketed a quantity of the cash, before telling the cashier that he had changed his mind and swapping the money back.

“He has confused the cashier, and distracted them, so they don’t realise that he has taken the money,” Mr Hussein added.

The theft of £200 in each case was not noticed until the till were cashed up at the end of the day.

The court was shown CCTV footage of one of the incidents, which indicated Rostas palming money to one side, and concealing a number of notes in his left hand.

Defending, Mark Layton said that Rostas was willing to pay compensation of £600.

Describing his previous offending as “limited”, Mr Layton said that Rostas, who has previously been convicted for a similar matter, was employed as a car washer in Rotherham.

It had been claimed that he had travelled to the Pembrokeshire area to purchase a car, only to find that it had a serious defect when he arrived, but this was not verified.

“These were thoroughly unpleasant offences, but the defendant could only have obtained a limited amount through the deception,” Mr Layton added.

Speaking through an interpreter, Rostas told the court that he was “extremely sorry” for his behaviour, and assured magistrates that there would be no repetition.

Magistrates told Rostas that the offences were so serious that only a custodial sentence was appropriate.
“These were planned, professional and sophisticated offences, which cause significant harm to small businesses,” they added.

In addition to the 40 week custodial sentence, Rostas was ordered to pay compensation of £600, costs of £85 and a victim surcharge of £140.

Anghel will be tried at Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court on December 19. He was released on conditional bail until then.

Inspector Aled Davies said: “We are very pleased with the sentence handed out to Rostas. It was obvious that these two passing offenders were intent on committing crime and offences during their travels and I am pleased to say that their crime spree came to an abrupt halt in Pembrokeshire.

“Travelling criminals such as these are greedy, dishonest and do not care who they target. Their sole purpose in committing such crimes is to steal money for their own personal benefit. It was a pleasure to be part of the team who eventually arrested and detained these two offenders.”

This week (Nov 21-25) Dyfed-Powys Police are working with partners across the UK to stop criminals using the road networks both within and coming from outside the UK as part of Operation Trivium. Officers will be stopping vehicles and checking drivers’ details with the purpose of dealing a major blow to mobile criminality.

Inspector Davies continued: “Travelling criminals cause distress, annoyance and loss to their victims. Our role is to protect and safeguard the communities that we police. My message to all mobile criminals would be to stay away from Dyfed-Powys – we will always take positive action against travelling criminals and if caught they will be taken to court and prosecuted.

“I would like to take this opportunity to warn people in the Dyfed-Powys community to be wary of money changing scams. Always be vigilant and suspicious of these types of offenders, whose sole purpose is to confuse, using sleight of hand trickery to steal your money.

“If you believe that someone is attempting to commit such offences, do not engage or interact with them and report the incident at your earliest opportunity by calling 101.”

Business

First wind turbine components arrive as LNG project moves ahead

Published

3 hours ago

December 4, 2025

Tom Sinclair

THE FIRST ship carrying major components for Dragon LNG’s new onshore wind turbines docked at Pembroke Port yesterday afternoon, marking the start of physical deliveries for the multi-million-pound renewable energy project.

The Maltese-registered general cargo vessel Peak Bergen berthed at Pembroke Dock shortly after 4pm on Wednesday, bringing tower sections and other heavy components for the three Enercon turbines that will eventually stand on land adjacent to the existing gas terminal at Waterston.

A second vessel, the Irish-flagged Wilson Flex IV, is due to arrive in the early hours of this morning (Thursday) carrying the giant rotor blades.

The deliveries follow a successful trial convoy on 25 November, when police-escorted low-loader trailers carried dummy loads along the planned route from the port through Pembroke, past Waterloo roundabout and up the A477 to the Dragon LNG site.

Dragon LNG’s Community and Social Performance Officer, Lynette Round, confirmed the latest movements in emails to the Herald.

“The Peak Bergen arrived yesterday with the first components,” she said. “We are expecting another delivery tomorrow (Thursday) onboard the Wilson Flex IV. This will be blades and is currently showing an ETA of approximately 03:30.”

The £14.3 million project, approved by Welsh Ministers last year, will see three turbines with a combined capacity of up to 13.5 MW erected on company-owned land next to the LNG terminal. Once operational – expected in late 2026 – they will generate enough electricity to power the entire site, significantly reducing its carbon footprint.

Port of Milford Haven shipping movements showed the Peak Bergen approaching the Haven throughout Wednesday morning before finally tying up at the cargo berth in Pembroke Dock. Cranes began unloading operations yesterday evening.

Weather conditions are currently favourable for this morning’s arrival of the Wilson Flex IV, which was tracking south of the Smalls at midnight.

The abnormal-load convoys carrying the components from the port to Waterston are expected to begin next week, subject to final police and highway approvals.

A community benefit fund linked to the project will provide training opportunities and energy-bill support for residents in nearby Waterston, Llanstadwell and Neyland.

Further updates will be issued by Dragon LNG as the Port of Milford Haven as the delivery programme continues.

Photo: Martin Cavaney

Crime

Banned for 40 months after driving with cocaine breakdown product in blood

Published

3 hours ago

December 4, 2025

Sarah-Jane Absalom

A MILFORD HAVEN woman has been handed a lengthy driving ban after admitting driving with a controlled drug in her system more than ten times over the legal limit.

SENTENCED AT HAVERFORDWEST

Sally Allen, 43, of Wentworth Close, Hubberston, appeared before Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court on Thursday (Dec 4) for sentencing, having pleaded guilty on November 25 to driving with a proportion of a specified controlled drug above the prescribed limit.

The court heard that Allen was stopped on August 25 on the Old Hakin Road at Tiers Cross while driving an Audi A3. Blood analysis showed 509µg/l of Benzoylecgonine, a breakdown product of cocaine. The legal limit is 50µg/l.

COMMUNITY ORDER AND REHABILITATION

Magistrates imposed a 40-month driving ban, backdated to her interim disqualification which began on November 25.

Allen was also handed a 12-month community order, requiring her to complete 10 days of rehabilitation activities as directed by the Probation Service.

She was fined £120, ordered to pay £85 prosecution costs and a £114 surcharge. Her financial penalties will be paid in £25 monthly instalments from January 1, 2026.

The bench—Mrs H Roberts, Mr M Shankland and Mrs J Morris—said her guilty plea had been taken into account when passing sentence.

Local Government

Sewage leak at Pembroke Commons prompts urgent clean-up works

Published

4 hours ago

December 4, 2025

Tom Sinclair

Council pollution officers say they have no enforcement powers over Welsh Water infrastructure

SEWAGE contamination on the Commons in Pembroke has prompted an urgent response from pollution officers, after a leak was reported by a member of the public on Tuesday.

Pembrokeshire County Council’s Pollution Control Team confirmed they were alerted yesterday afternoon to sewage surrounding a manhole cover on the site. The Herald understands that officers immediately notified Welsh Water (DCWW) network technicians to investigate the incident “as a matter of urgency”.

County councillor Jonathan Grimes, who represents Pembroke St Mary South and Monkton, said the authority had been clear that it holds no enforcement powers over Welsh Water assets.

“Whilst we work constructively with Welsh Water, we have no authority to intervene on their apparatus or to carry out enforcement action against them for such pollution incidents,” the Pollution Control Team said in a statement shared with the councillor.

Urgent works underway

Council officers visited the site on Wednesday morning alongside contractors and Welsh Water technicians to assess clean-up options. According to the team, works will include cleaning the contaminated ground in and around the manhole cover and fencing off the affected area “until safe”.

Cllr Grimes said officers would return to the scene on Thursday to check on progress and ensure the area is properly secured.

Residents who notice any further issues have been urged to contact the Pollution Control Team directly.

Further updates are expected later this week.