Pembroke Dock: Youth, 19, jailed for sex with 14-year-old girl

Published

7 years ago

December 15, 2017

Tom Sinclair

A PEMBROKE DOCK youth who had underage sex with a 14-year-old girl has been jailed today for 28 months.

Jordan Lee Mruk, aged 19, was warned by a judge he was on a road to longer and longer sentences unless he changed.

Swansea Crown Court heard that the girl involved had not wanted to help with Mruk’s prosecution.

But, said Francis Jones, prosecuting, Mruk had boasted over the Internet about what he had been doing and police had been able to gather sufficient evidence without her co-operation.

Mruk admitted sexual activity with a child during 2016.

The offending came to light, he added, when the girl’s mother viewed entries onto a Facebook page.

Mruk’s barrister, John Hipkin, said the sexual intercourse had been consensual although he had been aware of the girl’s age at the time.

Judge Geraint Walters said he noted that Mruk had been the subject of a court order at the time for other offending.

And on October 11 of this year he had received a sentence of six weeks in detention.

“You have a poor record of offending for a man of your age,” he told Mruk, “albeit for different types.”

Judge Walters said a probation officer who had prepared a report on Mruk had “come close” to defining him as a dangerous offender.

“I think it is too soon to say that. But you need to understand that if you commit another offence like this one that that will demonstrate a pattern of offending.”

Judge Walters said Mruk needed to appreciate that having sex with a child was seriously wrong and on occasions the courts had to protect children even from themselves.

35 council homes to be built at fire-ravaged Cleddau Bridge hotel site

Published

53 mins ago

December 4, 2024

Richard Lewis

35 COUNCIL houses are to be built on the fire-ravaged site of the former Cleddau Bridge Hotel, Pembroke Dock after being given the go-ahead today, December 3.

In a prime location at one of the entrances to Pembroke Dock the former Cleddau Bridge Hotel has been a derelict site since a fire in March 2019, which brought emergency services from as far afield as Ammanford, Aberystwyth and Swansea.

The site has been purchased by Castell Group Property Specialists who specialise in delivering affordable housing in South Wales and have undertaken a joint development deal with Pembrokeshire County Council (PCC) and that deal was agreed back in April.

Castell Group Property Specialists, through agent Hayston Developments & Planning Ltd, sought permission from the council’s December 3 planning committee to demolish what is left of the hotel, with a development of affordable housing units, with landscaping and ecological enhancements, the housing being 100 per cent affordable, in a mix of a mix of social rent and affordable housing.

Initial discussions with the council were for 38 affordable units, which has been lowered to 35 in a mix of 16 one-bed units, 11 two-bed units, six three-bed units and two four- bed units.

The applicants have said: “The application offers an opportunity to find a solution to the redevelopment of the site, which has now been vacant and derelict now for some five years, and to make a significant contribution towards meeting the affordable housing needs of the area. The proposal is unique in that the scheme would be in the form of 100 per cent affordable housing.”

Speaking at the meeting, agent Andrew Vaughan-Harries, responding to a question from Cllr Rhys Jordan on the ‘affordable’ make-up of the houses, said: “It’s going to be a new site of council houses, a private package to develop these 35 houses; if and when these houses are built they will be acquired by Pembrokeshire County Council as the next phase of housing stock. It will be your council houses for Pembroke Dock.”

The recommendation of approval was moved by Pembroke Dock councillor Tony Wilcox, seconded by fellow ‘Dock councillor Brian Hall, who said: “I can remember it being built, probably the same as Tony, it was the hotel to go to for events and dances, especially New Year’s Eve; I remember the fire and services being called.

“When people are crossing the [Cleddau] bridge they say: ‘What’s that mess?’ It’s going to be an asset for the town, I’m glad it’s coming to us today.”

The application was unanimously approved by members.

A previous planning application for the demolition of the hotel and siting of a residential care home

Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service has previously said the 2019 fire was started by a deliberate act.

Following a fire investigation, Dyfed-Powys Police said they found there to be insufficient evidence to identify a suspect.

Community

Pembrokeshire County Council launches festive info hub

Published

14 hours ago

December 3, 2024

Tom Sinclair

WITH the festive season fast approaching, Pembrokeshire County Council has made it easier than ever to access essential service updates for Christmas and New Year.

The council’s website now features an updated ‘Christmas in Pembrokeshire’ page, providing answers to key holiday queries such as bin collection schedules and free parking availability.

Residents can also find information about leisure centre and library opening times, winter driving tips, bus timetables, salting routes, and a guide to Christmas markets across the county.

The page includes reminders about recycling rules, including what can and cannot be recycled, as well as details on Christmas tree recycling services.

For everything you need to know this festive season, visit https://www.pembrokeshire.gov.uk/christmas-in-pembrokeshire.

Crime

Motorist almost three times over drink limit

Published

15 hours ago

December 3, 2024

Sarah-Jane Absalom

A MOTORIST who was nearly three times over the drink-drive limit has been sentenced following a crash on the B4314 in Pendine.

Stuart Rickford, 43, was driving his Audi at 1:30pm on November 15 when he collided with another vehicle.

“There were no injuries, but when officers spoke to the defendant they had a strong smell of intoxicants,” Crown Prosecutor Linda Baker told the court.

A roadside breath test proved positive, and Rickford, of Beach Hotel, Marsh Road, Pendine, later gave a reading of 93 mcg of alcohol at the police station. The legal limit is 35.

Rickford pleaded guilty and was sentenced to a 12-month Community Order with 80 hours of unpaid work. He was disqualified from driving for 23 months and ordered to pay a £114 court surcharge and £85 costs.