News

Dealer’s jail term cut

Published

12 years ago

March 14, 2014

A DRUG DEALER, who was violently sick in the dock as he was sent to prison for six years, has won a cut in his jail term on appeal.

Gary John Newell vomited at Swansea Crown Court as he was handed the sentence in October last year after admitting a string of drugs charges.

The 25-year-old pleaded guilty to two counts of possessing cocaine with intent to supply – in December 2012 and April 2013 – having a bladed article and possessing the class B drug mephedrone, also known as M-Cat.

But Newell, of Tenby Court, Monkton, Pembroke, on Tuesday had his jail term cut to five years by judges sitting at London’s Criminal Appeal Court, who said the original sentence was ‘excessive’.

The court heard Newell was stopped by police while he was driving near Haverfordwest on 7 December 2012 and officers found a bag of cocaine hidden in his underwear, as well as a kitchen knife under the passenger seat.

The drugs had a street value of up to £2,450 and he also had £790 in cash. Analysis of his mobile phone revealed he had been dealing mephedrone in the months before his arrest.

Newell was released on bail and, undeterred by his brush with the law, continued peddling the illicit substances.

Officers were monitoring him on April 17 last year, when they saw him in Skomer Court, Haverfordwest, remove a bag from a shed and later return it. After he did the same the following day, police stopped him near Kilgetty and found he had nearly £2,000 cash on him. A search of the shed where he had been seen uncovered a stash of mephedrone worth £1,680 and cocaine divided in to eight street deals – worth £400.

The court heard Newell had become addicted to drugs after witnessing the death of an ex-partner and turned to drug-dealing to fund his habit.

His lawyers argued that his sentence was over the top, given his admissions of guilt, the relatively low amount of drugs involved, the motivation for his dealing and the personal tragedy which prompted him to start taking drugs.

Allowing his appeal, Mr Justice Jeremy Baker said that, while he deserved a tough sentence, he admitted his guilt at the first opportunity and there were no ‘aggravating features’ – apart from his continued offending while on bail.

Sitting with Lord Justice Davis and Judge Simon Tonking QC, he added: “Although the quantities of cocaine involved may be towards the lower end of the scale, it is evident from the amounts of cash seized on each occasion that significant profits were being made from drug dealing.

“Not only was he involved in the unlawful supply of cocaine, but also of mephedrone.

“However, we are mindful that he pleaded guilty at the first opportunity and thus was entitled to a full one-third discount.”

Crime

Man charged with strangulation and assault offences after October incident

Published

3 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.

Crime

Haverfordwest man sent to Crown Court on multiple serious charges

Published

4 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

4 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.