A PEMBROKE DOCK man with a troubled upbringing has been sentenced after assaulting his former partner during a violent outburst.

Sam Wilkins, 42, of Bethel Road, turned aggressive on November 7 after the woman told him she was going to visit her parents.

“He was yelling at her so much, there was spit coming out of his mouth,” Crown Prosecutor Sian Vaughan told Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court this week.

Wilkins grabbed the woman by her jacket, lifted her onto a stair and then dropped her onto the step below, causing her to fall backwards.

He then left the property, but was recorded on a doorbell camera outside, berating the victim while speaking to a friend.

“Listening to the language he used to describe me was horrible,” the victim said in a statement read to the court.
“I could hear the nastiness in his voice. This was not the Sam I met seven years ago. The disrespect he has for me is unforgivable. What gives him that right?”

Wilkins pleaded guilty to assault by beating, causing criminal damage to a jacket valued at £60, and breaching bail conditions.

His solicitor, Jess Hill, said Wilkins had experienced a difficult childhood.

“He was in an emotional state at the time and had an unstable upbringing, being introduced to crime at a young age by his father,” she said.
“As a result, he has multiple mental health diagnoses.”

Magistrates imposed a 12-month community order, requiring Wilkins to complete 20 rehabilitation activity requirement days and undergo psychiatric treatment. He must also carry out 100 hours of unpaid work.

He was ordered to pay £100 compensation to the victim, £60 for the damaged jacket, a £114 court surcharge and £85 in costs.

A two-year restraining order was issued, prohibiting Wilkins from contacting the victim directly or indirectly, except through a solicitor, social services or a court-appointed third party. He is also banned from entering any address she occupies or referring to her on social media.

A PEMBROKESHIRE woman has accused the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) of pursuing a “malicious prosecution” after she was charged with breaching a court-imposed restraining order.

Marie Thomas, aged 39, of Beach Road, Llanreath, Pembroke Dock, was made subject to the order on August 8, 2024. It prohibits her from contacting Lindsey Grover either directly or indirectly, and from making any reference to her on social media or other electronic platforms.

However, the Crown alleges that on November 17, Thomas entered material onto social media which referred directly to Ms Grover, in breach of the order.

This week, Thomas appeared before District Judge Mark Layton at Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court where she denied the offence. She elected for the matter to be tried in the Crown Court and told the judge she would be representing herself.

“There is no better person to shed light on the truth,” she said. “This is an injustice. I’m going to prove this and take on the prosecution for malicious prosecution. I have evidence… and I’m about to shed light on the case.”

Thomas was granted conditional bail ahead of her trial, which is scheduled to begin on May 16. Her bail conditions prohibit her from contacting Lindsey Grover directly or indirectly and from making any reference to her on social media.

Royal tells Scouts the outdoors brings her calm in a hectic world

THE PRINCESS OF WALES returned to the Lake District this week, joining Chief Scout Dwayne Fields and a group of young Scouts for a day of adventure and reflection in the great outdoors.

In a film shared on social media, Her Royal Highness is seen leading nine Scouts and Explorer Scouts on a hike through woodland at the Scout Adventures Centre, Great Tower, before making their way to the shores of Lake Windermere.

The outing was organised to promote the wellbeing benefits of nature and encourage more people to volunteer with the Scout movement, which currently has over 100,000 young people waiting to join.

During the day, the young participants planned their walking route with the Princess and explored the local landscape, learning about the area’s plants and wildlife. At the end of the activity, Her Royal Highness awarded each Scout their Naturalist badge, recognising their new knowledge of the natural world.

The group included four Explorer Scouts from the 1st Buddha’s Light Scout Group in Stretford, Greater Manchester, and five Scouts from the 1st Ulverston Scout Group in Cumbria.

‘Reconnection and peace’

Speaking during the film, the Princess said: “I find it a very spiritual and very intense emotional reconnection, I suppose, in these environments. Not everyone has the same relationship with nature, but for me, it’s a place to find balance, peace, and a sense of calm in what is otherwise a very busy world.”

The visit marked a return to familiar ground for the Princess, who completed her Scout volunteer training at the same Great Tower centre in 2013 while living in Anglesey. She has remained a committed supporter of the organisation ever since and became Joint President of the Scouts in 2020.

This was also her first public engagement with Dwayne Fields, who was appointed the 11th Chief Scout in September 2024. In a message to him following his appointment, the Princess said: “The Scouts is such an incredible organisation, teaching #SkillsForLife and making a huge difference to young people across the country. Looking forward to working with you! C.”

Encouraging volunteers

Speaking after the hike, Dwayne Fields said: “It was an absolute honour to be joined by our Joint President, The Princess of Wales, at Great Tower. Our walk with Scouts and Explorers was a powerful reminder that we are at our best in the outdoors. Spending time in nature improves our physical and mental wellbeing, and the positivity shown by everyone was genuinely inspiring.

“But these kinds of experiences are only possible if we have enough local volunteers. We want to welcome more young people into Scouts, and adults can get involved flexibly—gaining new skills, boosting their wellbeing, and making new friends in the process.”

Carl Hankinson, UK Chief Volunteer, added: “We’re incredibly grateful to the Princess for supporting us and encouraging young people to discover the outdoors. She and the Chief Scout showed what Scouts is all about—building confidence, learning skills for life, and creating opportunities for everyone, no matter their background.”