Crime

Milford ‘rogue builder’ sent to prison after Trading Standards prosecution

Published

4 years ago

October 12, 2022

A BUILDER who continued to carry out shoddy work after appearing in court has started a 10 month prison sentence.

Scott Keane, of Milford Haven, appeared at Swansea Crown Court on Thursday October 6th in a case brought by Pembrokeshire County Council’s Trading Standards team, who described him as a rogue builder in a post-court press release.

Keane, aged 42, had previously admitted six charges under the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations and appeared last week for sentencing.

The charges related to the poor replacement of a flat roof with a fibre glass roof in April 2021 and the removal of a chimney in July this year.

Both examples of shoddy work left householders out of pocket and having to carry out expensive remedial work.

Keane charged the householder £1,950 for the fibreglass roof which was also intended to be used as a terrace.

However, within days it became obvious that the work had been very poorly carried out and the roof was lifting away.

The structure was left unsafe. It had to be removed and replaced at a further cost of more than £2,000.

In July this year Keane was approached to take down a chimney and make good a roof of a home in Milford Haven.

The work was extremely poor, including removing brickwork in the dividing wall between neighbouring properties and creating a fire risk.

Keane did not respond to requests to return to rectify the problems or requests for a refund.

The householder contacted Trading Standards and an expert’s report said the roof had been left prone to storm damage with potential for debris to cause further damage and/or injury.

The roof was examined and cost of £1,500 to repair was estimated.

The chimney work happened just months after Keane had been placed under a suspended prison sentence in January 2022 for earlier shoddy work offences.

Then Keane had left a disabled pensioner with a leaking roof that needed to be replaced.

On Thursday Judge Geraint Walters sentenced Keane to six months in prison for latest offences and activated four months of the suspended prison term, totalling 10 months in prison.

Cllr Michelle Bateman, Cabinet Member for Regulatory Services, said: “Pembrokeshire County Council is pleased with the imposition of a 10 month prison term for Scott Keane. The fact that he committed further unfair trading offences while placed under a suspended sentence shows a blatant disregard for the law and the impact of his offending on the victims.

“I commend our Trading Standards team for their diligent work in ensuring that once again Keane was not able to get away with providing shoddy work and leaving victims out of pocket.

“I hope this case once again underlines that we take rogue trader offences seriously and will prosecute wherever appropriate.”

Crime

Milford Haven man admits assault and harassment charges

Published

3 days ago

May 21, 2026

Court Reporter

A MILFORD HAVEN has admitted assaulting a family member and harassing another relative following incidents in the town last year.

Wayne Whatling, 39, of Howarth Close, Milford Haven, appeared before Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court on Thursday (May 21).

Whatling changed his pleas to guilty to one charge of assault by beating and one charge of harassment without violence.

The assault charge relates to an incident in Milford Haven on September 13, 2025, when Whatling assaulted Ben Whatling by beating him.

He also admitted pursuing a course of conduct amounting to harassment against Carol Whatling between September 1 and September 13, 2025.

The court heard the harassment allegation involved repeatedly asking Carol Whatling for money, with the complainant said to have feared repercussions if she did not provide it.

Magistrates adjourned the case for the preparation of a pre-sentence report.

Whatling was remanded on conditional bail and ordered not to contact Carol or Ben Whatling directly or indirectly.

He is due to be sentenced at Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday (June 9).

Crime

Milford Haven man admits affray after alleged pub incident

Published

3 days ago

May 21, 2026

Court Reporter

A MILFORD HAVEN man has admitted affray following an incident at a town centre pub.

Stephen Collier, 38, of Vaynor Road, Milford Haven, appeared before Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court on Thursday (May 21).

Collier has pleaded guilty to affray, relating to an incident at Nos Da, Victoria Road, Milford Haven, on December 3, 2025.

The charge states that he used unlawful violence towards John Dean Hilton and that his conduct was such as would cause a person of reasonable firmness present at the scene to fear for their personal safety.

Collier also faces a separate charge of burglary dwelling with intent to inflict grievous bodily harm. It is alleged that, on the same date, he entered a flat at Nos Da as a trespasser and inflicted grievous bodily harm on Mr Hilton. He denies that charge.

The court also dealt with a breach of bail allegation after Collier was arrested on May 20 for allegedly breaching a curfew condition. He admitted the breach.

Magistrates re-admitted him to conditional bail.

His bail conditions include a daily electronically monitored curfew between 9:00pm and 6:00am, residence at his Vaynor Road address, and exclusions from Mount Estate, Milford Haven town centre, and Nos Da.

He must also not contact prosecution witnesses, including Molly Martin, Jack Martin, Lily Rose Martin and John Hilton.

Collier is due to appear at Swansea Crown Court on Friday, June 5, for sentence.

A spokesperson for Nos Da said the incident was connected with rooms upstairs at the Victoria Road premises, and did not take place in the bar itself, in the licensed area.