News

Police officer thought about suicide on ‘daily basis’ after false rape allegation

Published

7 years ago

October 16, 2017

A WOMAN who made a false allegation of rape against a serving Dyfed-Powys Police officer has been jailed for 27 months.

PC Paul Morgan thought about committing suicide ‘on a daily basis’ after he was arrested and suspended following a false complaint by Samantha Murray-Evans.

PC Morgan was under suspicion for five weeks before fellow officers were able to prove that she had been lying.

Murray-Evans, aged 44, of Birchgrove, Swansea, admitted attempting to pervert the course of justice.

Catherine Richards, prosecuting, told Swansea Crown Court the pair had met online in October, 2014.

In her complaint to police she said she had agreed to go to his house because he was a police officer and she felt safe.

She said that as soon as she arrived PC Morgan began to kiss her and pushed her onto a sofa despite her making it clear she did not want to have sex.

Then, she claimed, he raped her.

The following day, she said, she realised she had lost a ring at his home and went back. But he said he couldn’t find it and she left.

PC Morgan was arrested, kept in a police cell over night and suspended from duty.

Miss Richards said officers investigating the complaint discovered that in the days following Murray-Evans had sent PC Morgan a series of Whats App messages, one describing the sex as the best she had ever had and telling him that it had made her toes curl.

In another she attached a photograph of one of breasts naked.

Miss Richards said that PC Morgan told police that sex had been consensual and that she had initiated it, and that she had asked for more sex after visiting him to retrieve the lost ring.

PC Morgan, who has a bravery award for pulling a suicidal woman out of the River Tawe, was told, five weeks after being arrested, that the complaint would not be pursued.

But he suffered long term harm and was allowed to read a statement to the court.

PC Morgan said the false allegation had devastated his life and that he had considered suicide daily. In fact, the thought that ‘suicide was a way out was all that kept me going’.

He said he had had to put up with walking through Llanelli and hearing people accusing him of being a rapist.

He now suffered from depression and anxiety and was off work sick.

Jim Davis, representing Murray-Evans, said she still maintained that she had been raped but wanted to admit the charge.

The court heard that Murray-Evans had a conviction for molesting a former partner by making contact despite a court order not to.

Judge Paul Thomas told Murray-Evans it was difficult to think of a more wicked lie to tell, especially about a police officer.

Judge Thomas said he was convinced that Murray-Evans had wanted a relationship and had devised a ‘vicious and sinister’ way of getting her own back after PC Morgan rejected her.

The lie, he added, had been planned and calculated and she had been callous and persistent during an 80 minute police interview.

“The worrying fact is that if you had not sent those WhatsApp messages to him it would have been your word against his with an unpredictable outcome.

“You knew it would have a devastating effect on him and I believe that the fact that he was a police officer was in your thoughts.

“He suffered five weeks of torment and even contemplated suicide. The consequences remain with him three years later.”

Judge Thomas said the damage went further–false complaints helped to undermine the credibility of genuine rape victims.

And he noted that Murray-Evans had not shown a trace of remorse.

News

2024 Sport Pembrokeshire Awards Finalists announced

Published

15 mins 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

3 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

7 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.