WEST WALES estate agents J J Morris have appeared before Pembrokeshire law courts charged with failing to discharge general health, safety and welfare duties at Whitland Livestock Mart.

The charges have been brought by the Health and Safety Executive following the death of retired council worker Huw Evans on November 19, 2022.

Mr Evans, 75, was confronted by what has been described as ‘an extremely agitated’ cow on the main road through Whitland following its escape from the livestock market.

Mr Evans sustained multiple serious injuries as a result, and died in hospital six days later.

J J Morris was subsequently charged with failing to ensure that the health, safety and welfare of their employees were reasonably protected from being at risk of injury from escaped livestock at the time of the accident on November 19.

They face a second charge of failing to ensure that people who were not in their employment were reasonably protected from being at risk of injury from escaped livestock at the time of the accident on November 19.

David Arwel Thomas, director of J J Morris, appeared in court this afternoon (Tuesday, April 16), via a video link where he pleaded guilty to both charges.

Also present at today’s hearing were members of the late Mr Evans’ family, including his son, who sat in the public gallery throughout.

“This was an incident in November, 2022, involving an employee of J J Morris and a member of the public when a cow escaped from Whitland mart and managed to get into an area of the public outside the Co-op store,” commented the legal representative of the Health and Safety Executive.

“Various drovers attempted to stop and control it but it struck one of the employees who suffered bruising and swelling to his leg.

“In the High Street area it struck Mr Evans, who sadly died a few days later from his injuries.”

The matter has now been adjourned to June 20 when sentencing against J J Morris will take place at Llanelli Magistrates Court.

A DISTRICT Judge has described how a Pembroke man sent a ‘disgusting, appalling and grossly offensive’ message to his sister via a Facebook message.

The man, who cannot be named for legal reasons, sent a message to his sister on January 18, asking her if she was alone.

“He sent her a photo of himself with no top on, and the words, ‘What’s your reaction?’” Crown Prosecutor Abigail Jackson told Haverfordwest magistrates this week.

Ms Jackson then went on to quote the subsequent message which the 38-year-old sent to his sister.

“I bet you’d like a long hard cock shoved deep inside you,” he told her via the Facebook messenger system.

“This wasn’t an appropriate message,” said Ms Jackson, “so the sister blocked him.”

Ms Jackson then read a victim impact statement from the sister.

“I don’t know how to put this into words,” she said.

“This is something I didn’t expect to receive from my own brother. It made me feel disgusted and has put a huge strain on our family.

“It concerns me that he can send me these kinds of messages. What can he send to other people?”

The defendant pleaded guilty to a charge of sending an offensive, indecent, obscene and menacing message to his sister when he appeared before magistrates via a video link from Swansea prison.

He was sentenced to 16 weeks in custody suspended for 18 months.

A restraining order was imposed preventing him from having any contact with his sister and from entering her address. He was ordered to pay a £154 court surcharge and £85 costs.

“This was a grossly offensive message which was both disgusting and appalling,” commented the District Judge Mark Laytn when imposing sentence.

IN a controversial decision at Swansea Crown Court, 20-year-old Euwyn Draper of Goat Street, Haverfordwest, has been spared prison time despite admitting to possessing and distributing indecent images of children.

The court heard that Draper pleaded guilty to charges involving 74 Category A images — the most severe — along with 102 Category B and 385 Category C images. These were amassed and shared over a period last year, with specific distributions occurring on November 4, 2022.

Prosecutor Sian Cutter detailed that the investigation began with a raid at Draper’s residence on December 21, 2022. Although Draper was not present, and initial searches of his devices at his home returned no results, subsequent actions led to his arrest at his workplace. Upon confronting law enforcement, Draper immediately acknowledged his awareness of the reasons for their presence, lamenting, “I know why you’re here. I don’t do it anymore. I’m sorry.”

Further examination of his phone revealed not only the indecent images but also concerning internet searches and conversations indicating a focus on children. Notably, Draper had sent one image of each category to a contact named “Ralph” via WhatsApp.

Despite these admissions, Draper, who has no prior convictions, denied a sexual interest in children during his interview.

Representing Draper, defence lawyer Dan Griffiths stressed the defendant’s recognition of the gravity of his offences and highlighted his client’s age and immaturity at the time of the offences. The court also considered the prolonged period since the arrest to the trial, a span of 16 months.

Judge Geraint Walters addressed the court, underscoring the public’s disdain for such crimes and the harsh reality behind the images. “These are real children, they are not actors,” Judge Walters emphasized, condemning the market that drives such exploitative material.

Ultimately, Draper received a suspended sentence of 12 months for distribution and six months, concurrent, for making the images. Over the next two years, he must complete the Horizon programme and 30 days of rehabilitation activities. Additionally, Draper will be registered as a sex offender and is subject to a sexual harm prevention order for ten years.

Judge Walters concluded with a stern admonition for Draper to commit to rehabilitation and to move past this “dark phase” in his life, marking a pivotal moment for the young defendant and the community’s ongoing battle against such digital crimes.