CARMARTHENSHIRE man Robert Smith, 26, of Penygarn Road, Ammanford, admitted to committing rape when he appeared at Swansea Crown Cour earlier this week.

On Friday (Feb 28) he was sentenced to five years and four months in prison for the offence.

At his sentencing today, the court heard how Smith entered the victim’s home and raped her while she slept in her bed on the evening on Tuesday 2 July, 2024.

The court was told how the defendant entered the woman’s home under the guise of performing a “welfare check” and took advantage of her while she slept.

Prior to the that evening, Smith and the victim were not acquainted with one another other. It was purely coincidental that they had met earlier that evening as they both happened to be at a mutual friends’ address where alcohol was consumed. 

The victim asserted that Smith would not have had any reason to enter her address later that evening to perform a ‘welfare check’.

On the morning of Wednesday 3 July 2024, the victim awoke with no recollection of the night before but believed she had been the victim of a serious sexual offence after waking up undressed and in pain.

The victim then contacted police to make an official report.

In a statement, the victim reported feeling “physically dirty and disgusting in the aftermath of the assault”, explaining how it was almost impossible to put into words how the incident had affected her.

The victim stated that she felt she had been treated like an animal, describing the attack as “inhumane” and a violation of her right to make a choice.

The court heard how the woman’s “life had been turned upside down” after being raped in her own home and subsequently moved away from the area out of fear for her personal safety.

Not only has the victim had to front the financial cost and emotional turmoil of moving away from a home she once adored, she has also had to deal with the psychological impact of the rape since the incident last summer.

The victim explained how she now struggles with her short-term memory and described feeling exhausted, vulnerable, and lost.

Summarising the lasting impact of the rape, the victim told the court: “I will never escape what that man did to me”. 

Following today’s sentencing at Swansea Crown Court, Detective Sergeant Carl Pocock told The Herald: “I want to commend the victim’s bravery in coming forward and reporting what can only be described as a hideous, predatory, and selfish crime. A person’s home should always be considered a place of safety and sanctuary, but Robert Smith’s actions in July last year destroyed the victim’s ability to live peacefully in her home. The impact of his offending cannot be underestimated.

“This case has been proven by the strength of the DNA evidence leaving Smith with very little option but to admit his guilt in court. Despite the victim having no recollection of events, the DNA evidence has spoken on her behalf”.

“While no sentence can ever undo Robert Smith’s heinous act, I hope that today’s outcome provides the victim with some form of solace as she starts to rebuild her life.

“I’d like to encourage anyone who has been a victim of rape or sexual assault to come forward and report these offences. I hope that today’s conviction shows that our specialist trained officers will act with compassion, explore all reasonable lines of enquiry, and ensure that victims of sexual offences within our communities are provided with expert support. We will work relentlessly in the pursuit of such offenders and do everything we can to bring them to justice.”

The victim wished to pass on her thanks to the officers involved in the investigation who have supported her through the entire investigative process and kept her updated with developments in the case. In addition, she wished to pass on her thanks to her independent sexual violence advisor (ISVA) who has provided practical and emotional support throughout the process.

The victim also stressed that she hopes that the public do not speculate on the case on social media, adding “I am not the only victim in this case”, referring to the impact on the defendant’s family. She stated that she feels a great deal of sympathy for Robert Smith’s wider family who will all be deeply affected by his prison sentence and wanted to stress that she hopes his family are not the target for any online abuse. The victim wished to make it clear that targeting Robert Smith’s family in any way would be unfair and added that “they are not responsible for his actions”.

CONCERNS have been raised over the actions of local Neighborhood Watch (NHW) coordinators after it emerged that the village of Crundale, near Haverfordwest, was being singled out for crime monitoring. Former Dyfed-Powys Neighbourhood Watch Interim Chair and Development Lead, Ajay Owen, has criticised the move, arguing that the village does not have high crime levels and is being unfairly targeted.

Mr Owen, who previously oversaw NHW schemes in the area, stated that while his focus was on tackling crime across Pembrokeshire, he had explicitly objected to any specific targeting of Crundale. He noted that most incidents in the village were minor anti-social behaviour cases that had already been resolved.

“I do not condone the actions of the coordinators within the Haverfordwest scheme who appear to be targeting Crundale,” he said. “Their actions are damaging the reputation of residents and the Neighbourhood Watch Scheme across the Haverfordwest locality.”

The controversy was sparked by an article in another local newspaper referring to Crundale as having “rough streets.” This characterisation has been met with disbelief by residents, with many questioning why additional monitoring is being implemented in a village with minimal crime.

One local resident expressed shock at the claim on social media. She said: “I’m sorry, am I reading that right? ‘Rough streets of Crundale’? Am I missing something? Since when has Crundale been ‘rough’?” she commented online. Others echoed her concerns, arguing that resources should be used more effectively elsewhere.

Mr Owen has also highlighted concerns regarding the allocation of NHW grants, suggesting that there could be a conflict of interest in how funding is distributed. “The grant was supplied by NHW themselves for that exact reason – however, it would be a conflict of interest if [the coordinator] was to apply for any grants to use in the area. It should be done by a separate coordinator,” he explained.

He has urged residents unhappy with the current NHW actions to file formal complaints with the national Neighbourhood Watch network. “If you are unhappy with the actions of your local Neighbourhood Watch coordinators, I strongly urge you to file a formal complaint at enquiries@ourwatch.org.uk. This applies not only to residents of Crundale and Haverfordwest but to anyone in the Dyfed-Powys area who has concerns about their local scheme.”

Crundale, a small village on the outskirts of Haverfordwest, has historically had low crime levels. The controversy has now raised questions about how NHW schemes are managed and whether some communities are being unfairly scrutinised.

The Herald has contacted Dyfed-Powys Neighbourhood Watch for comment.

A FURTHER 200 nurses and doctors from Kerala in India will be recruited to join the health service in Wales.

The announcement strengthens the agreement made between the Welsh Government and the Government of Kerala last year to support ethical recruitment from India to Wales, and on the basis of mutual benefit.

The NHS in Wales now has more staff than at any point in its history, directly employing almost 97,000 full-time equivalent staff, and the Welsh Government is committed to continue investing in the current workforce and in training the NHS workforce of the future.

By welcoming healthcare professionals from Kerala, the NHS is benefiting from a wealth of knowledge which bring skills and experience that enrich the healthcare system.

More than 300 healthcare professionals have already taken up positions across NHS Wales from the Indian state since the agreement was signed in March 2024.

Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care Jeremy Miles met staff coming to Wales and thanked them for their support of NHS Wales.

Staff Nurse Teena Thomas from Karunagappally is set to join NHS Wales soon and said: “I’m drawn to NHS Wales’ commitment to providing high-quality patient care and its reputation for excellence in healthcare.

“I’m excited to be part of a team that values compassion, kindness, and respect. The opportunity to work in a multicultural environment and contribute to the well-being of the Welsh community is truly fulfilling. I’m looking forward to developing my skills and expertise in a supportive and inclusive work environment.”

The Health Secretary also met with Minister for Health, Woman and Child Development, Veena George, to reaffirm and strengthen the working relationship between Wales and Kerala.

Health Secretary, Jeremy Miles said: “We are committed to delivering a sustainable NHS workforce which can handle present demands and meet the needs of the future.

“Wales has a long and proud tradition of welcoming healthcare professionals from all over the world and ethical international recruitment is a key part of our workforce strategy to ensure that the NHS in Wales has the right people and skills it needs.

“I am pleased a further 200 healthcare professionals from Kerala will be playing an important part in supporting NHS Wales, joining those who have already been recruited to our healthcare system.

“I thank them for everything they do and the Government of Kerala for the warm welcome and look forward to continuing to build our strong working relationship.”

(Pictured: Indian nurses – file pic)