News

Dog owner fined for sheep worrying

Published

12 years ago

June 16, 2014

A NARBERTH woman appeared in Haverfordwest Magistrates Court on Tuesday to face a charge of being the owner of dogs worrying livestock.

Hazel Watts, aged 38, of Maes Y Dderwen, pleaded guilty to the charge. Prosecuting, Vaughan Pritchard- Jones said: “Watts lives next to Philip Jones who is a farmer and builder. On four occasions dogs belonging to Watts got in to his field and chased his sheep. Police attended on two occasions and advised Watts to take more care. “One sheep and one lamb were killed. On the first occasion, four dogs were in the field, on the second, three dogs, on the third it is not known and on the fourth two dogs were caught and the dog warden was called. “When interviewed Watts admitted the offences. She said she had sold all the dogs except the mother which is a Husky cross Alaskan Malamute. She had a litter of nine puppies and had sold three. She couldn’t afford to renew the fence though eventually managed to pay for a fencing contractor, but they didn’t do a good job as it didn’t stop them getting out.” Watts told the court: “On the second occasions, Mr Jones had thrown the puppies in to the slurry. As soon as I realised they were out I went to get them, and when I called them they came back. On the last occasion, the two puppies that had been caught were tied up with bail twine. I wasn’t told any sheep were killed and there was no blood on the puppies. While I was digging the trenches for the fence, I heard a gunshot, as Mr Jones had asked a neighbour to shoot them. I know he was within his rights to shoot the puppies but I would have liked them back to bury them. The puppies have never been found, and I have apologised to him.” Magistrates fined Watts Ł400, with Ł243.86 compensation to Mr Jones for loss of work, tack and fencing expenses, and must also pay Ł40 victim surcharge.

Crime

Man charged with strangulation and assault offences after October incident

Published

9 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

10 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

10 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.