Crime

Chip shop owner in tears as he is cleared of killing his wife with boiling oil

Published

3 years ago

June 17, 2022

A CHIP SHOP owner has been cleared of killing his wife after he was accused of pouring scalding hot oil over her.

Geoffrey Bran, 71, was accused of pushing or throwing a deep fat fryer onto Mavis Bran at the Chipoteria in Hermon, Carmarthenshire, on 23 October last year.

Mrs Bran, 69, died six days after suffering “horrific burns” to 46% of her body.

Before her death she told a friend and paramedics that her husband had “flipped” and attacked her with the fryer because she had been “nagging him”.

But Mr Bran has been found not guilty of the murder or manslaughter of his wife.

Mr Bran was in tears when the verdict was read out after his week-long trial at Swansea Crown Court, before judge Paul Thomas QC released him from the dock.

His wife of 38 years died from multiple organ failure after developing sepsis, hypothermia and undergoing surgery to remove some of her burned skin.

Gareth Davies, a friend who lived with the couple, told the court Mrs Bran returned home naked from the waist up with “crimson” peeling skin.

He added she was shouting “I’ve been burned” and “I’ve had boiling hot fat all over me”.
Mrs Bran then rang her friend, Caroline Morgan, telling her: “Geoff has thrown boiling oil over me. Please get here, I need you now, help.”

Miss Morgan said she found Mrs Bran “shocked” and “shaking” and told Mr Davies to call for an ambulance, before telling Mr Bran, who was still serving customers, to shut the chip shop.

Mrs Bran: Chipoteria opened in January 2018 in a cabin near couples home

Miss Morgan told the court Mrs Bran said: “I was nagging him and he flipped.”

She was taken by air ambulance to the burns unit at Morriston Hospital in Swansea.

Mr Bran was initially arrested on suspicion of assault and denied attacking his wife, telling police: “She got burned with the chip fryer. She slipped and it came off the top and went over her. Don’t ask.”

The couple, who had no children together, owned around 10 businesses in South Wales, including the Chipoteria which opened in January 2018 in a cabin situated next to their home.

The financial pressures of their various businesses would sometimes put a strain on their marriage, leading to arguments about money, the court heard.

People who knew the couple were said to have described them as having “short tempers” and “always argued, swearing and shouting at each other”.

Mrs Bran was taken by air ambulance to the burns unit at Morriston Hospital

A friend of Mrs Bran had noticed the couple’s relationship had been “deteriorating” in the months leading up to her death, with Mrs Bran phoning friend Miss Morgan in tears saying “he’s getting nasty”.

Mr Bran claimed his wife had previously spread lies about him, and suggested she was “halfway” to being drunk after drinking glasses of red wine on the afternoon she was injured.

Paramedics found she had a blood alcohol reading of 108mg/dl, higher than the drink-drive limit of 80mg/dl.

Mr Bran said his wife must have been “confused” when blaming him but said he “couldn’t find an answer” as to why he then ignored her for more than two hours after she was hurt.

He told the court he loved and missed his wife, despite telling police in an interview: “It’s a miracle we lasted that long.

“But we used to get on OK. We’ve had our ups and downs.”

Crime

Neyland man admits making indecent images of children

Published

18 hours ago

June 17, 2025

Court Reporter

A NEYLAND man has pleaded guilty to making 20 indecent images of children — including seven of the most serious Category A images — at his home address.

As a result of the pleas entered before Haverfordwest magistrates on Tuesday (June 17), JAMIE DAVIES, 46, is now a registered sex offender.

Davies admitted making seven Category A images, ten Category B images and three Category C images between January 28 and November 4, 2021, at his home on Springfield Avenue, Neyland.

He denies further allegations of engaging in sexual communication with children by sending sexually motivated messages to girls under the age of 16 with the intention of eliciting sexual responses. He also denies causing or inciting girls to engage in sexual activity — including children under the age of 13 — and two further charges involving penetration.

The Crown alleges that all offences took place at Davies’ home address over a prolonged period of time.

“A phone was recovered from the defendant’s pocket,” said Crown Prosecutor Sian Vaughan. “He was interrogated, and there were clear conversations between the defendant and young people who were aged between seven and 17. Sexual activities took place between both parties.”

Given the seriousness of the allegations, magistrates declined jurisdiction and the matter will now proceed to Swansea Crown Court, where proceedings will begin on July 18.

Davies was released on unconditional bail.

Crime

Man admits possessing extreme pornography and indecent images of children

Published

19 hours ago

June 17, 2025

Sarah Jane Absalom

A PEMBROKESHIRE man has admitted possessing dozens of extreme pornographic images involving animals, as well as indecent images of children.

Dean Pellington, 31, of Llanteg Park, Narberth, appeared before Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday (June 17), where he pleaded guilty to a total of nine offences.

These include possession of 48 extreme pornographic images portraying an act of oral sex with a horse, along with two Category A indecent images of a child — the most serious level. He also admitted making three Category B and three Category C images of a child between September 2023 and May 2024.

Given the seriousness of the charges, magistrates declined jurisdiction and committed the case to Swansea Crown Court for sentencing.

Pending the next hearing, Pellington was granted conditional bail. He must reside and sleep at his home address and is prohibited from having any unsupervised contact with anyone under the age of 18.

Pellington is due to appear before a judge at Swansea Crown Court in the near future.

Crime

Teen admits causing serious injury in Newgale campsite crash

Published

19 hours ago

June 17, 2025

Sarah Jane Absalom

A 19-YEAR-OLD has admitted causing serious injury to four people after crashing his car into Newgale Campsite near Haverfordwest.

Jack Hale, of Cuffern View, Simpson Cross, pleaded guilty to causing serious injury by dangerous driving when he appeared before Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court this week.

The incident took place on August 12, 2023, as Hale was driving a Ford Fiesta northbound on the A487 towards Newgale. The court heard that he lost control of the vehicle as he approached the entrance to the campsite.

As a result of the crash, Paul Warburton, Emma Lewis, Daniel Staniforth and Oliver Copeland sustained serious injuries.

Due to the gravity of the offence, magistrates declined jurisdiction and committed the case to Swansea Crown Court for sentencing on July 12. Hale was released on unconditional bail and received an interim driving disqualification pending his sentencing.