News
Haverfordwest: Paedophile Shaun Smith jailed for 15 months
A MERLINS BRIDGE man trapped by paedophile hunters has been jailed today for 15 months.
Shaun Alan Smith, aged 53, had admitted attempting to entice an underage girl to engage in sexual activity.
Smith, of Glen View, had contacted what appeared to be a teenage girl on Facebook.
In fact, said Helen Randall, it was a man who used his 10 year old daughter’s profile as his.
He told Smith “she” was 14 and Smith sent a series of worrying messages. The man passed Smith onto the “Welsh Warriers,” who attempt to trap paedophiles looking for children to abuse.
Smith sent the “girl” messages offering to take her virginity and asking if she was wearing knickers. At one stage he told her, “You are the type of girl who could get men into trouble.”
There were then conversations about meeting at a McDonald’s and Smith was filmed approaching the restaurant.
After his arrest Smith, a father of four, told police he had not been interested in sex and had asked her about her knickers “to make sure she was properly dressed.”
His barrister, Jim Davis, said it appeared Smith had been dealing with the Welsh Warriers from the start and never with a real girl.
He said Smith had been in jail since his arrest nine weeks ago and after his release “would not be going home to a log fire and a Christmas dinner but a hostel of some kind.”
Judge Geraint Walters told Smith, “There were several weeks of conversations and you used graphic terms of sexual activity.
“It defies belief that a father of four children could behave in this way to someone else’s child.”
He also told Smith it was “nonsensical” for him to say he was not getting sexual pleasure from his activities.
He also warned Smith that he was in self denial and not ready to undertake a sex offenders programme.
Smith was ordered to register with the police as a sex offender for the next 10 years.
Crime
Dock teen remanded after trespassing on railway line and blocking train
Teen admitted obstructing engine at station as court orders probation report
A TEENAGER from Pembroke Dock has been remanded in custody after admitting trespassing on the railway line and obstructing a train in Haverfordwest.
Jaylene Bamford, aged 18, appeared before magistrates sitting at Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court via video link from prison, where she pleaded guilty to the offence.
The court heard Bamford, of Britannia Drive, Pembroke Dock, was arrested on January 14 after being found on the tracks at Haverfordwest railway station in the Cartlett area.
Prosecutors said she had trespassed onto the railway line and obstructed an engine, bringing it to a halt.
Magistrates remanded Bamford in custody ahead of sentencing to allow a full probation report to be prepared.
She is due to be sentenced at Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court on February 16.
Crime
Marloes woman nearly three times drink-drive limit after being stopped in Yorkshire
Witness saw pickup blocking house before police were called
A 56-YEAR-OLD woman from Marloes has admitted drink-driving after being found almost three times over the legal limit while behind the wheel of her pickup truck.
Magistrates sitting at Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court heard that Elizabeth Miles had been seen driving her Isuzu vehicle down a cul-de-sac in Yorkshire at around 6:00pm on December 10.
Prosecutor Nia James said there were footpaths on both sides of the road and residents quickly became concerned about her behaviour.
“A lady who lived in the street noticed the defendant’s car blocking the front of her house,” she told the court.
“She went up to the defendant to ask if she was ok, and the defendant replied no, she was ‘b*******’ and was driving back to Wales.”
After smelling alcohol coming from inside the vehicle, the witness returned home and contacted police.
While on the phone, she could see Miles continuing to manoeuvre the pickup backwards and forwards before mounting the kerb. Officers asked the caller to try to remove the keys for safety reasons.
“Elizabeth Miles handed the keys over without question,” said Ms James. “But it was obvious she was having difficulty seeing her phone.”
When officers arrived, they found an empty wine bottle in the vehicle’s footwell. Miles was described as extremely unsteady on her feet, with slurred speech.
Miles, of East End, Marloes, pleaded guilty to drink-driving.
Her barrister, Caitlin Jones KC, told magistrates that earlier that day Miles had been visiting her mother at a care home near Hull and had not intended to attempt the full journey back to Wales.
“She planned to stop at a service station hotel,” she said. “She’s deeply ashamed and embarrassed to come before you today, and is grateful nobody was hurt. She understands the outcome could have been much worse.”
Magistrates disqualified Miles from driving for two years. She was fined £1,846 and ordered to pay a £738 court surcharge and £85 costs.
Crime
Moped crashes into neighbour’s door after driver downs half a bottle of vodka
A DRUNKEN man smashed his moped through a neighbour’s front door after drinking half a bottle of vodka, a court has heard.
Police were called to an address in Vivian Drive, Hakin, shortly before 10:30pm on September 29 following reports that Delan Gibson was experiencing what callers described as a mental health episode.
Prosecutor Nia James told Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court that Gibson had been “shouting and throwing things around the property” before leaving the area on a white moped.
Officers were unable to locate him at first and left the scene. However, around thirty minutes later, police received a further 999 call reporting that the 24-year-old had returned and crashed the moped into a neighbour’s front door.
During interview, Gibson admitted he had tried to mount a high kerb outside his address.
“He said he needed enough momentum to get over it,” the prosecutor said. “But after drinking half a bottle of vodka, he was so drunk that he missed the kerb. He then over-compensated by accelerating and crashed into the neighbour’s door, causing £1,430 worth of damage.”
Breathalyser tests later showed 74 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath, more than double the legal limit of 35.
The court heard the neighbour had already experienced ongoing issues with Gibson’s behaviour over several years.
“The neighbour is very concerned for the safety of her family should he return to the property,” said Ms James. “His behaviour has continued over a four-year period and it has left her feeling persistently anxious with an overwhelming sense of dread.
“That night she was very, very scared, particularly when the moped drove into her front door.”
Gibson, of Marina View, Vivian Drive, pleaded guilty to drink-driving and causing criminal damage.
Defence solicitor Jess Hill said the incident was not deliberate and her client was deeply remorseful.
“This was not a targeted incident and was not intentional,” she said. “He drove while intoxicated, missed the turning and drove into the front door. He apologised to the homeowner as soon as she came out.”
The court heard Gibson has since stopped drinking and engaged with the Dyfed Drug and Alcohol Service.
After considering a probation report, magistrates imposed a 12-month community order. He must complete 15 rehabilitation activity days, 80 hours of unpaid work and a 90-day alcohol monitoring requirement.
He was also ordered to pay £1,430 compensation, a £114 court surcharge and £85 costs, and was banned from driving for 17 months.
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