News

Haverfordwest: Man with twelve months to live jailed for seven years

Published

7 years ago

November 23, 2018

Tom Sinclair

A ROMANIAN said to have just 12 months to live has been jailed this afternoon for seven years.

Vasile Mărgineanu, aged 34, attacked a woman and the man he thought she was having an affair with.

Mărgineanu, of Bridgend Square, Haverfordwest, admitted assault, false imprisonment and wounding.

John Hipkin, prosecuting, told Swansea Crown Court that Mărgineanu had been in a relationship with Isnela Zimbru but formed the belief that she had begun an affair with Stephan Gherasim. All three had rooms at the same address.

On June 24 he burst into Miss Zimbru’s room while armed with a knife and told them they should look at each other for the last time as he was about to kill them both.

He then beat both of them with his fists and cut Miss Zimbru with the knife.

At one stage she managed to escape but Mărgineanu ran after her and dragged her back into the room where he resumed the beatings after locking the door.

“Using graphic details he repeatedly told them they were about to be killed,” added Mr Hipkin.

A man called Ben Popa arrived and managed to disarm Mărgineanu while Miss Zimbru ran into the street and begged for help from a passing motorist.

After his arrest police made inquiries in Romania and discovered that Mărgineanu had convictions there for attempted murder, robbery and aggravated theft.

His barrister, Craig Jones, told the court that Mărgineanu had been diagnosed in Romania with colon cancer. Doctors had told him he had 12 months to live and that he should make the most of them.

Judge Geraint Walters ruled that Mărgineanu should be regarded as a dangerous offender as defined by the law and passed an extended sentence of seven years.

He said Mărgineanu would serve a minimum of four years behind bars and should not be released until the authorities were satisfied he was no longer a danger.

In reality, added Judge Walters, Mărgineanu would be deported back to Romania while serving his sentence and it would be up to the authorities there to decide when to release him.

“You have the potential to cause serious harm and even death. It is a miracle your victims were not more seriously hurt,” he said.

Crime

Man charged with strangulation and assault offences after October incident

Published

36 minutes 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

58 minutes 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

1 hour 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.