Judge critical of licensees as man is jailed for 3 years

Published

9 years ago

December 5, 2016

beer2 A JUDGE has today (Dec 5) criticised licensees in Pembrokeshire who serve alcohol to people who are already drunk.

Judge Peter Heywood made his comments as he jailed a Milford Haven man for three years.

There was a time, said Judge Heywood, when licensees would tell a customer “you’ve had enough, on your way home.”

Now, too many were willing to serve anyone at any time of day or night never mind what condition they were in because they “just wanted to clock up the money.”

The criticism came after Swansea Crown Court heard that Tristan McSparron, aged 19, could not even remember being inside El Rio nightclub in Haverfordwest let alone attacking Jo Moncrieff

But the attack was caught on a CCTV camera and McSparron, of St Davids Road, admitted wounding Mr Moncrieff on March 6 with intent.

Dean Pulling, prosecuting, said the footage showed McSparron grabbing Mr Moncrieff by the neck and banging his head against a stone wall five times until he was unconscious.

Then he punched him several times to his head.

McSparron left the club but a doorman and police officers found him in Castle Square and he was arrested.

Mr Moncrieff, an RAF serviceman based at RAF Cosford, was taken to Withybush Hospital where doctors inserted nine stitches into head wounds.

McSparron’s barrister, John Hipkin, said it was a great shame to see him before the court. He had no previous convictions and had an excellent work record.

He said Mr Moncrieff had been a complete stranger to McSparron, who could not explain why he had attacked him.

Judge Heywood said it was “hugely disappointing” to have to sentence a young man for a “moment of madness.”

McSparron, he said, had drunk so much alcohol that he lost all self control.

How many times, he asked, do the courts have to deal with people who drank so much that all sense of responsibility just evaporated.

Judge Heywood said he had to impose an immediate jail sentence partly to deter others from behaving like McSparron did when they went out drinking.

Man charged with strangulation and assault offences after October incident

Published

5 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

6 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

6 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.