Lewis Haines’ sentencing for murder of Lily Sullivan adjourned

Published

4 years ago

July 7, 2022

Cerys Lafferty

LEWIS HAINES, 31, appeared in Swansea Crown Court for sentencing this afternoon (July 7).

However, the court was adjourned after new evidence was presented that there was a sexual element to the murder.

Lily’s body was found in the Mill Pond in Pembroke on December 17, 2021.

Haines, of Flemish Court, Lamphey, was scheduled to stand trial for Ms Sullivan’s murder on June 20. However, on June 13, at a hearing in Swansea Crown Court, he changed his plea to guilty.

Today, Judge Paul Thomas QC confirmed to the court that the Crown Prosecution requested a minimum sentence of 30 years, while the defence requested a minimum sentence of 15 years.

“This represents a vast difference,” commented Judge P H Thomas.

The Crown claimed that when Miss Sullivan’s body was discovered, her state of ‘undress’ indicated that a sexual element had been involved prior to her murder.

Haines’ barrister, John Hipkin QC, requested a brief adjournment to discuss the issue with his client, which was granted by Judge Thomas.

“It is regrettable that this case will have to be put back until later this month,” said defence barrister, John Hipkin QC.

“Material that we need we have not yet got from the Crown which would help us in terms of the advice that we tend to Mr Haines.”

Today’s new evidence presented by the Crown in relation to Lewis Haines’ proposed sentencing has been described as a “substantial issue” by defence barrister John Hipkin.

“It’s a substantial issue and is one that requires proper consideration and instruction to be determined,” he added.

” What we envisage doing is speaking to the defendant in custody armed with further information from the Prosecution and then what form we envisage the case proceeding to sentence.”

Judge Paul Thomas QC stated that an adjournment is required before he can make a decision on Haines’ sentence.

He said: “It’s very important that this matter is dealt with as soon as possible but it’s equally important that I get the sentence right.”

Members of Lily Sullivan’s family were in court, awaiting the sentencing.

Judge Paul Thomas QC apologised to them for the unprecedented turn of events that occurred today.

“I’m terribly sorry that we can’t deal with this today,

“It must be terribly frustrating for all of you, having psyched yourselves up, simply to find that we can’t go to sentence today. I am sorry.

“But the most important thing here is to make the sentence right. So with my real apologies, we’ll try to find a date that’s acceptable.”

The case against Lewis Haines has been postponed until July 28, with the substantive hearing scheduled for July 22 and possibly part of July 23.

Lily was tragically murdered on December 17 after a night out in ‘Out’ Nightclub, which is located on Main Street, Pembroke.

CCTV footage shows Ms Sullivan speaking to Haines in the nightclub before leaving separately. Additional footage also shows the two of them speaking once again outside of the club.

The pair were seen walking down an alleyway headed towards Mill Pond where Lily’s body was later discovered.

Another image captured by CCTV showed Haines running along a bridge close to Pembroke Castle.

At a previous inquest hearing, Coroner’s officer, Lisa Jenkins, stated that police were called to the Mill Pond at 4:12am following reports that a female body had been seen in the water.

Despite resuscitation attempts Lily was pronounced dead at 6.02am. It was later revealed that she had been strangled to death.

Following her death, Miss Sullivan’s family released a statement. It said: “Lily was a kind and caring daughter,

“She will be deeply missed by everyone. The family are very thankful to all of Lily’s friends for their support.”

Father of two, Haines, was a well-known cricket player who was wicket keeper for his local team – Lamphey.

He had been described as “a hard-hitting batsman” who “liked to party and celebrate the wins.”

Dock woman given mental health treatment order after supermarket thefts

Published

17 hours ago

June 24, 2026

Sarah Jane Absalom

A PEMBROKE DOCK woman has been placed on a mental health treatment requirement after repeatedly stealing meat, cheese and other grocery items from local supermarkets.

Lisa Stewart, 45, admitted three theft offences when she appeared before Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court this week.

The first offence took place on March 11, when Stewart stole Vanish, Lenor and three packs of Persil capsules from Home Bargains in Pembroke Dock, with a total value of £58.41.

The following month, she stole four small beef joints, four steaks and three blocks of cheese from Asda in Pembroke Dock, worth £55.68.

Seven days later, she stole four legs of lamb from Farmfoods in Pembroke Dock, valued at £99.96.

Stewart, of Truscott House, London Road, Pembroke Dock, also pleaded guilty to failing to surrender to police bail on or around May 26.

She was represented in court by solicitor Alaw Harries, who told magistrates the thefts involved items of relatively low value and were not the result of “sophisticated offending”.

“The defendant has had an exceptionally difficult time, as last year she lost her partner to cancer and has struggled profoundly to process that grief,” said Ms Harries.

“Instead, she has attempted to cope by taking more of her prescribed medication than she should. And this is what has led her to be here today.”

Ms Harries said Stewart is now motivated to address her issues.

Magistrates sentenced Stewart to an 18-month community order. She must complete 15 rehabilitation activity requirement days, a 12-month mental health treatment requirement and a 12-month drug rehabilitation requirement.

The order will include monthly reviews in court.

Stewart must also pay £214.05 compensation to the supermarkets, together with a £114 surcharge and £85 costs.

Crime

Grandmother banned after cocaine drug-drive offence

Published

17 hours ago

June 24, 2026

Sarah Jane Absalom

A GRANDMOTHER has been banned from the roads after being caught behind the wheel with 800 mcg of a cocaine metabolite in her system.

Eleri Phillips, 57, was stopped by police in the early hours of December 18 as she drove her Audi Q5 along Derwent Avenue, Steynton.

A roadside drugs swipe proved positive, and further blood tests carried out at the police station showed she had 45 mcg of cocaine in her system and 800 mcg of benzoylecgonine, a cocaine metabolite.

The legal limits are 10 mcg and 50 mcg respectively.

Phillips, of Brook Close, Steynton, Milford Haven, pleaded guilty to two drug-driving charges when she appeared before Haverfordwest magistrates. She was legally represented by solicitor Michael Kelleher.

“She is absolutely ashamed of what has happened,” Mr Kelleher told the court.

“She had been out with friends that evening and someone offered her cocaine. Very foolishly, she took it.

“As a result, she is now going to be disqualified from driving, which is going to cause problems not only for her but for her family, as she regularly helps look after her grandchildren with general pick-ups from school.”

Phillips was disqualified from driving for 12 months and fined £120. She must also pay £85 court costs and a £48 surcharge.

Crime

Milford Haven builder banned for second drug-driving offence

Published

17 hours ago

June 24, 2026

Sarah Jane Absalom

Court hears cannabis reading was five times the legal limit

A SELF-EMPLOYED builder has been banned from the road after committing his second drug-driving offence in ten years.

Robert Duncan, 44, was stopped by police at around 6:00pm on January 31 as he drove a Ford Focus along Steynton Road, Milford Haven.

Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court heard this week that officers had been observing the vehicle before requesting it to stop.

Duncan provided a positive roadside drugs wipe, and later blood tests showed he had 10mcg of Delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol in his system. The legal limit is 2mcg.

Crown Prosecutor Sian Vaughan told magistrates that this was Duncan’s second drug-driving offence within ten years.

Duncan, of Meyler Crescent, Milford Haven, pleaded guilty to drug-driving.

He was represented by solicitor Michael Kelleher, who said Duncan had believed the drug would have left his system by the time he got behind the wheel.

“He believed the drug would have been out of his system when he was driving, but it can take a considerable length of time to go,” said Mr Kelleher.

“In fact, this is the drug that takes the longest amount of time.”

Mr Kelleher said Duncan worked as a self-employed builder, but was currently unable to work large amounts of time because of family commitments.

Magistrates disqualified Duncan from driving for three years. He was also fined £80 and ordered to pay £85 court costs and a £32 surcharge.