Crime

Pembroke man sentenced for attempting to send sexual messages to teens

Published

3 years ago

June 14, 2022

A PEMBROKE pervert contacted who he thought were three underage girls, sending one a photo of a penis and asking them for indecent photos and about the size of their breasts – but he was really talking to social media accounts run by paedophile hunters.

John Walters, 57, of Cromwell Court, appeared at Swansea Crown Court for sentencing today on Tuesday (Jun 14), having previously admitted three charges of being an adult engaging in communication of a sexual nature with a child.

Between March 28 and April 15 last year restaurant worker Walters, was in correspondence with what he believed was a 13-year-old girl. The court heard, he wrote graphically to her about sex, asked for nude photos, as well as sending her a photo of a penis.

In a second exchange with what he thought was a 12-year-old girl in May 2021 he asked the child if her breasts were developed and if she had reached puberty. Again, he persistently asked the girl for naked photos, saying that her age didn’t matter.

The final exchange of messages was with whom he believed to be a 14-year-old girl. He asked about the size of her breasts and for photos of her in her bra and in her school uniform.

The court heard that the vigilante group tracked Walters down to a restaurant in Tenby where he worked and confronted him. They then handed their evidence over to the police who seized Walters’ mobile phone.
In his police interview at Haverfordwest police station, the defendant said that he had asked one of the girls for photos as he didn’t believe who she was, not for sexual gratification, and that he had downloaded the penis photo from the internet.

Walters had a long rap-sheet, consisting of 27 previous convictions for 43 offences but nothing for ten years, and none for offences of a similar nature.

The judge sentenced Walters to a two-year community order with a 20-day rehabilitation requirement and a requirement to attend the Horizon Programme.

Walters was also made the subject of a five-year sexual harm prevention order and will be put on the sex offenders register for five years and ordered to pay £200 costs and a £95 court surcharge.

Crime

Three men from London admit their guilt over illegal cannabis farm

Published

2 days ago

December 21, 2024

Tom Sinclair

THREE men admit their guilt after police discover over 700 cannabis plants during a raid on a former school building in Llandysul.

Officers from Dyfed-Powys Police executed a warrant at the former Ysgol Gynradd Llandysul on Heol Llyn Y Fran on November 15. Inside, they found 737 cannabis plants spread across multiple rooms.

Armeld Troksi, 29, and Njazi Gjana, 27, both from Empire Avenue in Edmonton, London, along with Ervin Gjana, 24, from Durham Avenue in Romford, were arrested at the scene and later charged with producing cannabis.

The three men appeared before Swansea Crown Court, where they admitted their involvement in the illegal operation. Defence solicitor Joshua Scouller requested a pre-sentence report for Ervin Gjana, which was granted by Judge Geraint Walters.

Sentencing is scheduled for January 20.

A Dyfed-Powys Police spokesperson said: “Following a warrant executed at the former school on Heol Llyn Y Fran, officers discovered a significant cannabis grow containing 737 plants.

“We are grateful to the local community for their continued support and cooperation. Officers will remain in the area while the site is secured.

“Our commitment remains firm in disrupting drug production and supply networks across our force area.

“We encourage residents to report any suspicious activity, no matter how small it may seem. Every piece of information can make a difference, and reports can easily be submitted through our website.”

Crime

Sex offender jailed for breaching court order

Published

3 days ago

December 20, 2024

Court Reporter

A SEX offender from Wolfscastle has been jailed after using fake names on WhatsApp and attempting to access a social media app, breaching his sexual harm prevention order (SHPO).

Luke Rogers, 38, was sentenced to 10 months in prison at Swansea Crown Court after pleading guilty to two breaches of the order, which was imposed following his 2020 conviction for sexual activity with a child.

Under the SHPO, Rogers was prohibited from using unregistered internet-enabled devices or creating online profiles under false names. Prosecutor Ryan Bowen told the court that police monitoring software installed on Rogers’ phone detected activity in group chats under three aliases last November.

Further investigation revealed Rogers had also searched for the MeetMe app on four occasions and admitted using it. Rogers, described by Mr. Bowen as “apologetic,” was arrested, and his phone was seized.

The court heard Rogers has a history of 17 convictions for 35 offences, including breaching court orders and failing to comply with sex offender notification requirements.

Defence barrister Olivia Rose said Rogers had cooperated fully with police and expressed a desire to change. She argued that his breaches stemmed from a misunderstanding about permitted names and emphasized his efforts to seek support.

Despite these mitigating factors, Judge Catherine Richards noted Rogers’ pattern of reoffending and stated: “The reality is I can only pass an immediate custodial sentence.”

She expressed hope that Rogers would take advantage of post-sentence supervision to break the cycle of offending.

Crime

Police renew appeal to find Darren Markes from Pembroke Dock

Published

3 days ago

December 20, 2024

Tom Sinclair

POLICE in Pembrokeshire are renewing their appeal for information to locate Darren Markes, 46, from Pembroke Dock. He is wanted in connection with a domestic assault.

Markes is believed to have links to the Portsmouth and Sussex areas.

If you have seen Darren Markes or have any information about his whereabouts, please contact the police through one of the following methods: