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Pembrokeshire man facing trial over ‘racist’ online radio station

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A PEMBROKESHIRE man has appeared in court in Haverfordwest charged with distributing sound recordings containing racial hatred, and which were threatening abusive or insulting.

Sven Longshanks, 48, (formerly known as James Barnaby Allchurch) of no fixed abode but formerly of Chapel House, Gelli is facing fifteen similar charges in all.

The case is being prosecuted by the CPS’s Counter Terrorism Unit in London, and because of this the normal bench of magistrates stepped aside and the case was presided upon by the Deputy Chief Magistrate of England and Wales, Mr Tanweer Ikram via a video link.

The defendant entered the dock wearing a white forensic suit, a white 3M face mask, covid face shield, dark glasses and thick black rubber gloves. He was carrying a bag of documents which was wrapped in protective material as well.

Mr Sven Longshanks (Previously James Allchurch) leaves court in Haverfordwest (Pic T Sinclair/Herald)

Before the case started he was moved from the dock to sit with his defence lawyer, Kevin Smallcombe, from Law24 Ltd in Tyne and Wear, so that they both could be seen on the video link at the same time by the judge and CPS lawyer.

At the start of the case the judge asked the defence lawyer if he was sure that the man sat beside him really was the man who had been sequestered to attend court.

“We cannot see this man’s face and we now have a different name in court than we have on the court list. We need to be sure that the person here is actually the correct person. Can you confirm that please Mr Smallcombe?”

The lawyer said: “Yes, we can confirm that this is the correct person and that he now wishes to be addressed by the name he now identifies as – Sven Longshanks.”

Longshanks agreed to pull down his face mask to show to the judge to the CPS what he looked like. When asked by Judge Ikram why he was wearing dark glasses, the defendant said that they were prescription glasses and that he “wouldn’t be able to see anything without them.”

James Cable for the CPS said “The charges relate to the ownership and hosting of an online radio station, a website with podcasts which were available to the public without the need for any paywall or passwords.

“The station was called Radio Aryan until November 2019, then it changed its name.”

Mr Cable continued: “12 of the charges relate to material allegedly offensive to people from black or ethnic minority communities.

“The remaining three relate to podcasts said to be anti-Semitic.

Longshanks openly admitted that he ran the station, which he called in court his “life’s work”.

Indeed, he told the judge the reason he changed his name from James Allchurch to Sven Longshanks was that it was his “life’s work that is on trial” and “that’s the name that my work is published under.”

Defence lawyer Kevin Smallcombe said the issues in the case would be “academic research, freedom of speech and journalism”.

The CPS agreed that the case did not need to be dealt with in London in the terroism list, but could be heard at a local Crown Court

Accordingly, the case to Swansea Crown Court on September 15 for a plea and trial preparation hearing. Longshanks was granted unconditional bail until that date.

The defence lawyer, Mr Smallcombe’s past clients include: Jayda Fransen and Paul Golding of Britain First when they were convicted of inciting religious hatred; Alexander Deakin, imprisoned for being an organiser for the banned extreme right terrorist organisation National Action; and Oliver Bel, who this May was sentenced to two years’ imprisonment for possession of a bomb-making manual.

Crime

Teenager charged following rape allegation at Saundersfoot nightclub

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Incident reported at Sands Nightclub in early hours of Sunday

DYFED-POWYS POLICE is investigating an allegation of rape following an incident reported at Sands Nightclub in Saundersfoot in the early hours of Sunday (Dec 14).

An 18-year-old man was arrested after officers were called to the venue, which is a popular late-night spot in the seaside village. The allegation relates to events said to have taken place during the early hours of the morning.

Joshua Probert, aged 18, has since been charged with one count of rape. He has been remanded in custody and is due to appear before Swansea Crown Court on Thursday (Dec 18).

The complainant is entitled to lifelong anonymity under law, and no further details about the allegation can be reported at this stage.

Dyfed-Powys Police confirmed that enquiries are ongoing. Officers are understood to have carried out initial investigative work shortly after the report was made, including speaking to witnesses.

Anyone with information that may assist the investigation is urged to contact Dyfed-Powys Police.

  • Anyone affected by sexual assault or rape can contact the 24/7 Rape & Sexual Abuse Support Line, run by Rape Crisis England & Wales, on 0808 500 2222. Calls are free and confidential.
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Local Government

Mayor visits Milford Haven Library Christmas event

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THE MAYOR of Milford Haven, Cllr William Elliott, paid a visit to Milford Haven Library on Tuesday morning to attend its festive Mince Pie and a Cuppa event.

The event brought together library staff and local residents, with the Mayor thanking staff for their work supporting the community throughout the year. During the visit, Cllr Elliott also spent time speaking with residents who had come along to the event or were visiting the library to borrow books.

Milford Haven Library is part of the Pembrokeshire Libraries service, which provides access to books, information, and community activities across the county.

The Mayor wished residents a Merry Christmas at the close of his visit.

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Crime

Milford Haven man jailed after drunken attack on partner and police officers

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A MILFORD HAVEN man who launched a violent drunken assault on his partner before attacking two police officers has been jailed for three years and six months.

Alexander Campbell was sentenced on Wednesday (Dec 16) at Swansea Crown Court after admitting causing grievous bodily harm and two counts of assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

The court heard that Campbell had been in a relationship with his partner, Miss Cox, for six years. On the night of the offence, he returned home highly intoxicated and became argumentative.

Alexander Campbell was sentenced at Swansea Crown Court, with the judge describing him as a “cowardly bully.”

Prosecutor Rieve Nesbitt-Marr told the court that Miss Cox advised Campbell to go upstairs and sleep off the alcohol. Instead, he began poking her and told her not to tell him what to do.

Campbell then launched what Miss Cox described as “a flurry of punches that rained down on her.”

Neighbours contacted police after hearing the disturbance. When officers arrived, they found a smashed bowl on the floor and Miss Cox lying on the sofa under a blanket, covering her face.

Body-worn camera footage played in court showed Campbell threatening officers, telling them: “I will turn this place into a f***ing murder scene.”

As officers attempted to separate the parties, PC Thomas placed her arm out to create distance. Campbell grabbed her wrist with force, an assault captured on body-worn video.

He then attacked PC Jones, climbing on top of him and punching him repeatedly, again recorded on police body-worn footage.

PC Thomas later attended Withybush Hospital, where she received four stitches under local anaesthetic. Miss Cox suffered severe facial bruising, with one eye swollen almost shut.

The court was told that Miss Cox’s ten-year-old daughter was upstairs at the property during the incident.

Campbell has 27 previous offences. In mitigation, the court heard that he accepted alcohol turned him into a different person, telling the court: “I’m an ugly person when I drink. I’m a different person when I’m sober.”

Sentencing Campbell, the judge said he knew better than anyone how alcohol affected him.

“You came home in a bad mood and almost predictively, you assaulted her,” the judge said.
“The noise and aggression was such that the neighbour called the police.”
“You gave her a bruise on her face that can only be described as a large shiner.”
“In short, you have injured three people. Your conduct was utterly pathetic, like an overgrown child.”

The judge also referred to Campbell’s violent history, describing him as a “cowardly bully.”

While acknowledging that Campbell had previously complied well with a suspended sentence after removing his own alcohol tag, the judge said custody was unavoidable.

Campbell was sentenced to three years and six months in prison, with half to be served in custody and the remainder on licence.

Warning him about his future, the judge added: “If you carry on with this behaviour you will spend a lifetime in prison. The only person who can change this is you.”

The court also granted a restraining order for five years.

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