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Crime

Man accused of child rape has case delayed due to barristers’ strike

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THE CASE of a Cardigan man accused of raping a girl under the age of 13 has been delayed due to barristers’ strike action.

Nathan Edwin William Griffiths, 32, of Golwg-y-Castell, Cardigan, is alleged to have raped the young girl on two occasions between January 19, 2014 and January 20, 2015.

However, the Swansea Crown Court hearing on Wednesday (Sept 9), where a plea was expected, had to be postponed until November due to the strike.

If he pleads not guilty by then, Griffiths’ four-day trial will proceed on February 27.  Griffiths was released on bail.

Barristers working on criminal cases say they are on strike because they have seen deep cuts to their income after government changes to the legal aid system.

Many have quit publicly funded legal aid work, leading to “legal aid deserts”. Barristers who remain say they can no longer survive on the fees and that the criminal justice system is almost at a standstill.

The Criminal Bar Association (CBA) said a government offer of a 15% uplift in fees, which was the minimum increase recommended by the criminal legal aid review, was insufficient and would not apply to the backlog of 58,000 cases in crown courts.

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Crime

Pembrokeshire radio presenter sent to prison for inciting racial hatred

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A PEMBROKESHIRE man found guilty of 10 counts of inciting racial hatred has today, May 15, been sent to prison.

James Barnaby Allchurch, 51, denied 15 counts of distributing a recording stirring up racial hatred.

Following a trial at Swansea Crown Court, a jury found him guilty of 10 counts and not guilty of five.

Allchurch uploaded podcasts his website called Radio Aryan, which has since been changed to Radio Albion.

The content contained racial and anti-semitic content.

During sentencing, His Honor Judge Huw Rees said: “You were responsible for the creation of a number of audio files containing racist and anti-semetic views which were open to the public.

“During the trial and the playing of the podcasts, it was apparent that they were insulting and abusive and that your sole purpose was to stir up racial hatred.

“The content was vile, listening to them was a disturbing experience.

“It beggars belief that someone would want to speak these words at all let alone distribute them.

“Your offending amounts to a stain on humanity and to our fellow human beings.”

Judge Rees warned Allchurch he was originally looking at a sentence of three years and six months per count, but took into consideration the mitigating circumstance of health conditions and lack of previous experience of custody.

For each of the counts, Allchurch was sentenced to two years, six months.

The sentences will run concurrently.

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Crime

Two youths arrested following incident at Morrisons in Haverfordwest

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POLICE in Haverfordwest are investigating an incident which occurred at Morrisons Store in Haverfordwest at about 7.30pm Wednesday (May 10)

One youth has been arrested on suspicion of assault and criminal damage and one youth has been arrested on suspicion of assault and going equipped for theft.

They currently remain in police custody.

One person sustained what are believed to be minor injuries which did not require hospital treatment.

The police have asked that anyone who witnessed the incident or anyone who may have information which could help the investigation is asked to contact police.

Police would also like to speak to anyone who may have filmed the incident at the store on their mobile phone.

PC Reece Wale said “We understand that a man in his 40s and driving a Volkswagen Passat may have filmed the incident on his mobile phone. We would be grateful if he could contact the police as soon as possible.”

Anyone with information that could help officers with their investigation is asked to report it to Dyfed-Powys Police by calling 101. If you are deaf, hard of hearing, or speech impaired text the non-emergency number on 07811 311 908. Quote reference: DP-20230510-414. Alternatively, contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously by calling 0800 555111.

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Crime

Cardigan drug trafficker sentenced for carrying heroin ‘inside himself’

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A DRUG trafficker has been sentenced to three years and nine months in prison after being caught traveling across South Wales with around £3,500-worth of heroin hidden inside himself.

Patrick Byrne was traveling with Daniel Meyler from Newport in Gwent back to Cardigan on October 16, 2021, when they were stopped by police on the A48 just before Cross Hands.

The pair had bought drugs in Newport with the intention of selling them back home. Officers believed that the duo had secreted the drugs in their rectums, and they were arrested and taken to Ammanford Police Station.

“[Byrne] produced a stool that contained a package that contained white powder,” said Ms. Jones, prosecuting. The 28.4 grams of powder – which was found to be diamorphine – was split into eight smaller packages and was estimated to have a street value of £3,500.

Byrne, 49, of Maes y Deri, admitted possessing a class A drug with intent to supply when he appeared at Swansea Crown Court in November. Meyler, 42, formerly of Williams Terrace in Cardigan, denied the charge, but was found guilty after a three-day trial last month.

He was jailed for four years and six months for the heroin supply, with eight months – running concurrently – for a charge of supplying cannabis which he admitted. Stuart John, in mitigation, said that Byrne had “battled with heroin addiction on and off since adolescence.”

“He was at the time a heroin user who had then engaged in the supply – as he has done in the past – predominantly to fund his own use of the drug,” he said.

Mr. John said the defendant losing his job and then losing his father just over a year later triggered a relapse into drug use. He said Byrne knew he was facing “a lengthy period in custody” and, having abstained from drugs since the offence, wanted to “utilise” his time in prison as “an opportunity to address these issues”.

Byrne has 33 previous convictions, including two for drug trafficking. Judge Catherine Richards sentenced Byrne to three years and nine months in prison.

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