News

The sick Pembrokeshire couple who treated teenage girl with degrading cruelty

Published

4 years ago

February 17, 2022

A PEMBROKESHIRE married couple have been sentenced to a total of 11 years in prison for cruelty to a child. The husband was also sentenced for child sexual offences.

Hayscastle Cross lorry driver Keith Ambrose John Thomas and his wife Sarah Thomas, both of Welsh Hook Road, were sentenced at Swansea Crown Court on Friday, February 11.

It followed a long legal process which we first reported on at Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court in June 2021.

During Keith Thomas’ trial in last month the jury was told how he groomed, ‘pestered’ and incited the teenage schoolgirl to engage in degrading sexual activity which included her being stripped naked, put into the stress position and pelted with eggs and water

Keith Thomas, 45, admitted that he had bought the girl sex toys, and showed her to use it by playing pornographic videos of women using them.

He pestered the girl to send him images of her using it, the court heard.

Ms Powell said the girl would pretend to use the sex toy in her photographs. But this was not enough for him, and so Keith Thomas, on one occasion, decided to demonstrate its use upon her, which caused “pain and discomfort”.

Before the trial Keith Thomas had admitted two charges of inciting his victim to engage in sexual activity, one of exposing her to indecent pornography and one joint charge of cruelty to a person under the age of 16.

Keith Thomas was found guilty of a further charge of sexual activity with a child in that he had, on one occasion, intentionally touched the girl intimately with a sex toy.

At one point, during the trial, the jury was asked by the judge to enter a formal not guilty finding to one count of inciting a girl under the age of 13, to engage in sexual activity.

Sarah Thomas, 41, was sentenced alongside her husband. She had previously admitted two counts of cruelty to a child under 16.

In a victim impact statement the victim, whose identity is protected, said she remembered everything about the abuse that Keith Thomas had subjected her to and that she had felt “shamed and filthy”.

She added: “These events have taken a massive toll on my physical and mental health. I hope that my family and I can overcome the hurt that you have both caused.

The defendants were given credit for their early guilty pleas.

James Davies, defending Sarah Thomas said that Keith Thomas had “a way of sweeping her along, rationalising what he was doing and making it appear normal”.

Mr Davies explained to Swansea Crown Court that a doctor’s report had diagnosed Sarah Thomas with dependant and avoidant personality traits. “My client is extremely remorseful”, he added.

His Honour Judge Huw Rees sentenced Keith Thomas to a total of eight years in prison and Sarah Thomas to three years in prison.

The judge said that both defendants will to serve half of this before being released on licence.

A ten-year restraining order, preventing him from contacting his victim, and ten-year sexual harm prevention order were also imposed on Keith Thomas, who will be on the sex offenders register indefinitely.
Both Keith and Sarah Thomas were made subject of a barring order preventing them from working with children.

Local Government

Armed Forces flag flies over County Hall

Published

1 hour 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

2 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.

News

Bus overturns in major incident near Kidwelly

Published

3 hours ago

June 23, 2026

Tom Sinclair

All passengers rescued as emergency services remain at scene

A BUS overturned on the A484 between Kidwelly and Ferryside on Tuesday (Jun 23), prompting a major emergency response and lengthy road closures.

The incident happened shortly after 12:20pm near the Kidwelly roundabout at Parc y Bocs.

Emergency services, including firefighters from Kidwelly, Carmarthen and Tumble, were sent to the scene following reports of a serious collision involving the bus.

Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service confirmed that all passengers were safely removed from the vehicle.

A spokesperson said: “All passengers have been safely removed from the bus and are receiving appropriate care.”

A rest centre has been established at the John Burns Centre in Kidwelly, where welfare arrangements are being made for those involved.

The scale of the incident led Dyfed-Powys Police to declare a major incident earlier in the day, with officers urging members of the public to avoid the area.

The A484 remains closed between the Kidwelly roundabout at Parc y Bocs and Llandyfaelog while emergency services continue their response and carry out investigations into the cause of the crash.

Police, ambulance and fire crews remain at the scene.

Motorists are being advised to find alternative routes and are warned that the road is expected to remain closed for a considerable time.

Emergency services have also issued advice for drivers caught in congestion during the hot weather, urging people to stay hydrated, keep vehicles ventilated and never leave children, vulnerable adults or pets inside parked vehicles.

The cause of the incident has not yet been confirmed.