News

Milford Haven gardener’s ‘paedophile tendencies’ exposed by undercover police operation

Published

6 years ago

July 19, 2020

CUSTOMERS of Clearways Garden Services in Milford Haven have been wondering why their local gardener, David Richard Badham, hasn’t turned up for some of his rounds recently, but all has now become clear following his sentencing at Swansea Crown Court.

He was keeping a low profile following a police operation run from Northern Ireland set up to catch paedophiles.

The seemingly respectable green fingered businessman had spent months engaged in sordid and disgusting online chats with what he believed to be a schoolboy. But in fact, his intended victim was an undercover police officer – engaged in a sting operation set up to snare dangerous online offenders.

David Richard Badham repeatedly told the imaginary online victim in very graphic terms he wanted sex with him and asked him to travel to Carmarthen so they could meet and “play”.

Swansea Crown Court heard Badham’s online activities have cost him his good name, “his business, and his family”.

Stephen Rees, prosecuting, said Badham was caught in an undercover operation run by police in Northern Ireland.

Between January 2019 and June 2019, the defendant engaged in highly sexualised conversations with someone he believed to be a 14-year-old boy.

Badham sent a series of graphic messages describing what he wanted to do to the boy and what sex acts he wanted the boy to perform on him.

Despite knowing the age of the would-be victim, the defendant requested photographs of his genitals and sent him videos of a man, believed to be the defendant himself, performing a sex act.

Dyfed Thomas, defence barrister, said the behaviour and resulting conviction was a “substantial fall from grace” which “had cost him his good name, business, and also his family”.

It was only a letter from his wife which saved him from an immediate custodial sentence. The letter, which the court heard showed there was “another side to this man”, who had no previous convictions.

Judge Paul Thomas QC told Badham he had “paedophile tendencies towards young boys” and said the sooner he came to terms with that and sought help the better.

Giving the defendant a one-third discount for his guilty pleas the judge sentenced him to a total of 16 months in prison suspended for two years and ordered him to complete the Horizon sex offenders programme, a rehabilitation course, and 150 hours of unpaid work.

Badham will also now be a registered sex offender for the next 10 years and was made the subject of a sexual harm prevention order for the same length of time

Education

Pembs parents watch closely as Carmarthenshire schools shut in extreme heat

Published

23 minutes ago

June 23, 2026

Tom Sinclair

PEMBROKESHIRE parents are being urged to check school messages as neighbouring Carmarthenshire prepares to close all secondary schools on Wednesday and Thursday because of extreme heat.

The move in Carmarthenshire has raised questions across west Wales about whether schools in Pembrokeshire could also be affected as temperatures continue to rise.

All secondary schools in Carmarthenshire are set to close for two days, with some primary schools also deciding to shut. There has been no blanket closure decision for primary schools in that county.

In Pembrokeshire, no county-wide secondary school closure announcement has been made at this stage.

Parents should check directly with their child’s school for the latest information, including texts, emails, school apps, websites and social media pages.

The situation may vary from school to school, depending on building conditions, ventilation, classroom temperatures and local circumstances.

The closures in Carmarthenshire come as Wales faces exceptional weather conditions, with concerns about pupil and staff welfare during the heatwave.

Many school buildings, particularly older sites, can become extremely hot during prolonged periods of high temperature.

A Wales-wide picture is now emerging, with schools in several counties considering closures, early finishes or remote learning.

For Pembrokeshire families, the key message is not to assume schools are closed unless official confirmation has been received.

The Herald will continue to monitor updates from Pembrokeshire schools and the county council.

Local Government

Armed Forces flag flies over County Hall

Published

5 hours ago

June 23, 2026

Tom Sinclair

THE ARMED FORCES flag is flying proudly at County Hall this week ahead of Armed Forces Day on Saturday, June 27.

Leader of Pembrokeshire County Council, Cllr Tessa Hodgson, and the Council’s Armed Forces Champion, Cllr Simon Hancock were among those who marked the flag raising on Monday morning (June 22).

Also present were the Chairman of Council, Cllr Delme Harries, the Chief Executive, Will Bramble and the Regional Armed Forces Covenant Liaison Officer, Hayley Edwards.

Cllr Hancock said: “It is always a very proud moment to see the Armed Forces Flag flying over County Hall.

“Armed Forces Day is a chance to show our deep appreciation for the men and women who serve, as well as the families and communities who support them.

“Our county has a rich history of connection with the Armed Forces, and we are proud to uphold and strengthen that bond.

“As a Council we are committed to ensuring that members of the Armed Forces community in Pembrokeshire receive the recognition and support they truly deserve and we are proud to be a Defence Employer Recognition Scheme Gold Award holder.”

Crime

Accused Milford Haven rapist to stand trial at Crown Court

Published

6 hours ago

June 23, 2026

Sarah Jane Absalom

A MILFORD HAVEN man has appeared before magistrates accused of rape and sexual assault.

James Kershaw, 46, is charged with raping a woman in Milford Haven between February 1, 2013, and March 31, 2014.

He also faces a charge of sexually assaulting a female over the age of 13 by penetration with his finger between December 1 and December 30, 2012.

Kershaw appeared before Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday (Jun 23) by video link and denied both charges.

Due to the seriousness of the allegations, magistrates declined jurisdiction and sent the case to Swansea Crown Court, where Kershaw is due to appear for a pre-trial hearing on July 24.

He was released on conditional bail, with the sole condition that he must not contact the complainant.