Crime

Pembroke man sentenced for attempting to send sexual messages to teens

Published

4 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

Spittal man to stand trial accused of ABH

Published

2 days ago

June 20, 2026

Court Reporter

A SPITTAL man is to stand trial accused of assaulting a man and causing actual bodily harm.

Robert Hedley, 41, of Wesley Way, Spittal, Haverfordwest, is charged with assaulting Liam Morley-Trivett at St Clears on August 30, 2025.

The case was before Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court on Thursday (Jun 18).

Hedley was granted unconditional bail and is due to stand trial at the same court on Monday, June 29.

The trial is listed for 10:00am and has been given a time estimate of twenty minutes.

Crime

Milford Haven woman spared jail despite string of shop thefts

Published

2 days ago

June 20, 2026

Court Reporter

Repeat offender stole from Tesco, Home Bargains, Food Warehouse and petrol stations in wave of offences

A MILFORD HAVEN woman who admitted a series of shop thefts committed over a matter of weeks has been handed a suspended prison sentence by magistrates.

Marion Picton, aged 46, of Hawthorn Path, Milford Haven, appeared before Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday (Jun 18) and pleaded guilty to eight theft offences and a drugs-related offence.

The court heard that Picton carried out a string of thefts at stores across Milford Haven between April and June this year.

Among the offences, Picton admitted stealing meat from Food Warehouse on Apr 23, food worth £60 from Victoria Filling Station on May 29, groceries from Home Bargains on Jun 7 and Jun 8, food from Victoria Filling Station on Jun 7 and Jun 9, groceries and non-food items worth £51.09 from Tesco on Jun 16, and food worth £32.50 from Food Warehouse on the same day.

She also admitted failing to attend an initial drugs assessment after testing positive for Class A drugs, including cocaine and opiates.

Magistrates were told the offences represented persistent repeat offending and had been committed while Picton was already subject to a court order.

The bench imposed an eight-week prison sentence, suspended for 18 months.

As part of the order, Picton must complete up to 15 rehabilitation activity days under the supervision of the Probation Service.

The court ordered her to pay compensation to several of the businesses affected, including Tesco, Home Bargains, Food Warehouse and Victoria Filling Station.

In sentencing, magistrates said the offences were serious enough to justify immediate custody but suspended the sentence because there was a realistic prospect of rehabilitation and Picton appeared motivated to address her addiction issues.

Picton was warned that any further offending during the 18-month suspension period could see the prison sentence activated.