LAYTON NOLAN, a local business owner from Victoria Road, Pembroke Dock, appeared in Swansea Crown Court today, Monday, in front of Judge His Honour Paul Thomas KC for sentencing.

Nolan pleaded guilty to one charge of attempting to pervert the course of justice at the higher court and was subsequently convicted of assault charges at Haverfordwest Magistrates Court.

During the hearing, it was revealed that three of the assaults took place in Pembroke Dock in July, while the fourth occurred at the Bluestone holiday resort in August of the previous year.

The court heard that the assaults were inflicted upon Nolan’s partner.

According to the testimony presented, the couple was en route to Bluestone when they engaged in an argument, resulting in Nolan becoming verbally abusive.

As tensions escalated, he began driving erratically, prompting his partner to pull up the handbrake. In a disturbing turn of events, Nolan proceeded to physically assault her, punching and slapping her legs as she cowered.

Upon their arrival at the resort, a concerned staff member noticed the distressing state of Nolan’s partner and witnessed him forcefully pushing her into nearby bushes.

The court was informed that the July assaults involved incidents where perfume was sprayed into the victim’s eyes during an argument, she was pushed causing injuries to her arm and thigh, and she was slapped on the right cheek while also being kicked in the leg.

Despite being found guilty after trial, Nolan continued to deny the assault charges, as revealed during the proceedings.

Subsequently, following the victim’s visit to the police, Nolan contacted her via phone, urging her to withdraw the charges and even offering her financial compensation during their conversation.

Furthermore, he had previously contacted the victim’s sister, requesting her to retract her witness statement.

In Nolan’s defence, his counsel, Amelia Pike, highlighted that he had previously maintained a clean record. Nolan acknowledged that he had indeed attempted to pervert the course of justice and expressed remorse for his actions.

He claimed that at the time, he was unaware that he was committing an offence, given that he had been initially released without charge and the victim had initiated the contact.

He admitted his own foolishness in this regard.

Pike also acknowledged the toxic nature of the relationship and argued that Nolan should have ended it earlier.

She further revealed that Nolan had grown up in an environment marked by regular domestic violence, which had a lasting impact on him.

Additionally, he was under medication for anxiety and depression.

It was also revealed during the hearing that Nolan is the proprietor of a company engaged in the sale of life insurance, regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.

Pike emphasised that if Nolan were to be incarcerated for attempting to pervert the course of justice, the company would be forced to shut down, resulting in the loss of ten jobs.

Judge Thomas acknowledged that the probation service’s pre-sentence report had provided minimal information regarding the potential job losses.

However, he stated that if substantiated evidence were presented within the next two weeks, he would consider it during the sentencing.

Judge Thomas cautioned that should this proof not be provided, Nolan could face an additional charge of attempting to pervert the course of justice.

“I was about to send you to prison for several months,” Judge Thomas stated, “But I will give you the opportunity to prove that you have ten employees.”

Consequently, the sentencing was adjourned for two weeks, and Nolan was remanded in custody until the next hearing. During this period, he must provide independently verified evidence to support his claim of job losses within his company.

The court awaits the forthcoming evidence, which will play a significant role in determining Nolan’s ultimate fate in this case.