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Crime

Homeless man threatened to slit the throats of Haverfordwest Job Centre staff

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A HOMELESS man who threatened to slit the throats of staff working at the Haverfordwest Job Centre and hurl a brick through their office window has been ordered to carry out a 12-month community order.

Admitting the charge of conveying a threatening message before Haverfordwest magistrates this week was Darren Connolly, 37, who now resides at Charles Street, Milford Haven.

The court heard that on November 5, a Job Centre employee, was working from home when she received a message from Connolly was concerned about the recent cut in his Universal Credit.  “He started making threats towards the staff at the Haverfordwest office saying he’d slit their throats in the car park and throw a brick through the window,” said Crown Prosecutor Linda Baker.  Ms Baker went on to say that officers subsequently discovered Connolly sleeping rough in a tent on Hamilton Terrace, Milford Haven, where they found him in possession of herbal cannabis valued at £4.  Connolly pleaded guilty to the charge of drug possession.

Representing the defendant, Mr Tom Lloyd said his client was currently struggling to cope.  “All his support has ended and it’s proving very difficult for him,” he said.  “He had no intention of carrying out any threats of this nature, he had nowhere to live, he consumed alcohol and he lashed out.  He wants support, he needs support and he’ll comply with anything that you ask him to do”

In addition to the community order which requires him to a carry out 10 days of rehabilitation, he was fined £80, ordered to pay £85 costs and a £95 surcharge.  A destruction order was imposed on his cannabis.

Crime

Crown Court backlog at a record high, Victims’ Commissioner warns

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THE VICTIMS’ Commissioner for England and Wales, Baroness Newlove, has voiced profound concern over the escalating backlog of cases in the Crown Court, which has surged to a record 67,573 outstanding cases. This latest figure not only signifies a 1% increase from the previous quarter but also marks a staggering 65% rise from pre-pandemic levels and a near double increase since June 2019.

Baroness Newlove, reflecting on the dire statistics, emphasized the intolerable delays victims are facing, often stretching to years, before their cases are heard in court. With 27% of all outstanding cases now pending for over a year, the situation has reached a critical point, resulting in unprecedented strain on victims and the frontline services supporting them.

The duration from the receipt to the completion of cases at the Crown Court remains significantly above pre-pandemic figures, showcasing an 82% increase from the end of March 2020 and an 84% rise from the end of June 2019. Specifically troubling is the average completion time for rape cases, which now stands at 393 days, surpassing all previous records and highlighting a 52% increase from before the pandemic.

The Victims’ Commissioner pointed out the growing burden on victim services and the potential for increasing numbers of victims to withdraw from the process due to prolonged wait times. The statistics reveal a 14% victim withdrawal rate post-charge in the latest quarter, coupled with 26% of cases being adjourned on the day of trial, further exacerbating the challenges faced by those seeking justice.

Baroness Newlove criticized the apparent systemic issues within the judicial process, noting that despite a 4% decrease in new case volumes, the backlog continues to rise, with completed cases also experiencing a decline. This situation underscores the critical need for systemic reforms to address the inefficiencies plaguing the court system, ensuring that victims do not continue to suffer from prolonged delays in obtaining justice.

As the Crown Court backlog hits another record high, the call for urgent action to alleviate the pressure on victims and the judicial system has never been more pressing, with justice delayed increasingly equating to justice denied.

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Crime

Homeless man sentenced for crimes fuelled by crack cocaine 

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A 30-YEAR-OLD man who has found himself homeless as a result of an addiction to crack cocaine was this week brought before magistrates after admitting causing criminal damage to his former partner’s front door.

The relationship between Reece Bateson-Fenwich and his girlfriend Jordan Thomas was described in court as being ‘volatile’.

“Both parties were frustrated with each other,” probation officer Charmain Fox told Haverfordwest magistrates this week.

“He believes she still has personal items of his, which have a monetary and a sentimental value. 

“He’s been very honest with me about his struggles of being homeless as well as his use of crack cocaine.  At the moment, he’s either staying with people who are using substances or who invite him to stay with them when he’s in possession of a substance himself.

“Until his accommodation is secure, he’s going to continue in this homeless cycle.”

Bateson-Feneck’s court appearance was the result of his visit to Ms Thomas’ home in the Mount estate, Milford Haven on March 16.

“She heard someone storming upstairs to her flat,” said Crown Prosecutor Abigail Jackson.  “She knew it was the defendant because of his voice.  He was banging on the door really loudly and her ring doorbell showed the defendant standing outside.

“He shouted ‘I want my tv back, after all you’ve done with me.  I swear to God, when I get in there I’m going to f****** stab you.”

Ms Jackson said that Jordan Thomas believed the defendant was on crack cocaine at the time of the incident.

“I knew he was on crack cocaine as he wasn’t speaking clearly,” she said.

Bateson-Feneck pleaded guilty to causing criminal damage to the door, valued at £39.99, and an additional charge of assaulting MS Thomas by beating during a previous incident on January 13 when he pushed the victim, making contact with her neck.

For both offences, Bateson-Feneck was sentenced to a 12-month community order during which he must complete 15 rehabilitation requirement days to address his accommodation situation.  He was also ordered to pay £100 compensation to Ms Thomas and £39.99 compensation for the damage caused to the door. 

 He was fined £120 and ordered to pay a £114 surcharge and £85 costs. 

 A restraining order was imposed preventing him from making contact with Jordan Thomas, visiting her home address and entering any information concerning her on any electronic device or social media.

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Crime

Milford Haven man accused of assaulting his own sister

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A MILFORD HAVEN man has appeared before magistrates charged with assaulting his sister occasioning her actual bodily harm.

Jordan Lawson, 25, was arrested on June 13, 2023, following the alleged assault against his sister, Kayleigh Lawson.

“He punched his sister, he kicked her in the face and grabbed her by the throat,” Crown Prosecutor Abigail Jackson told Haverfordwest magistrates this week.

Lawson, of Marble Hall Road, Milford Haven, denies the charge.

His trial has been listed to take place before Haverfordwest magistrates on May 20.  He was released on conditional bail, the conditions being not to contact his sister, nor a neighbour who witnessed the alleged incident.

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