Crime

Prove job losses or face jail time, judge tells businessman

Published

1 year ago

June 27, 2023

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.

Crime

Albanian man jailed after cannabis farm found in Pembroke

Published

23 hours ago

November 11, 2024

Court Reporter

AN ALBANIAN man has been sentenced to 12 months in prison after police discovered a sophisticated cannabis farm in the former Lloyds Pharmacy on Main Street, Pembroke.

Dyfed-Powys Police officers raided the vacant property at 10:00am on Friday (Oct 18) and found 575 cannabis plants in advanced stages of growth across three rooms. The estimated yield of the plants could have produced between 15 and 45 kilograms of cannabis, valued at £170,000 to £500,000 on the street.

Inside the building, officers also discovered a makeshift living area with a bed and shower, indicating that the suspect, Amarildo Daja, had been residing there. Daja attempted to flee but retreated into the building, hiding in the ceiling when confronted by police. Officers assisted him down with a ladder before placing him under arrest.

The property’s electricity supply had been tampered with to avoid detection, and two mobile phones were found on-site—one damaged and the other wiped clean.

Daja, 27, admitted to police that he had been smuggled into the UK by a criminal gang to pay off a debt. He initially worked in London but agreed to tend the cannabis farm in Pembrokeshire three months prior to his arrest after struggling to make payments.

In court, his defense barrister, Caitlin Brazel, explained that Daja deeply regretted his actions, describing them as “out of character.” Daja, who has no fixed address, expressed a desire to serve his sentence and seek legal employment afterward.

Judge Geraint Walters noted that the case highlighted the need to target criminal organizations behind such operations. “If we want to tackle the issue of Albanian criminal gangs establishing cannabis factories, we must find the ringleaders,” he stated.

Daja will serve his sentence with the possibility of deportation upon release, subject to a Home Office decision.

(Main image: Martin Cavaney)

Crime

Officers investigate Carmarthenshire post office burglary – Cash stolen

Published

3 days ago

November 9, 2024

Tom Sinclair

DYFED-POWYS POLICe is investigating a burglary at a Carmarthenshire post office which took place on Tuesday (Nov 5) at around 6:30pm.

Detectives said that two suspects reportedly entered the Furnace Post Office, stealing the till drawer containing a quantity of cash.

After fleeing the scene, the pair were seen heading towards the Rugby Club and Ynys Y Cwm Road.

Police are appealing to the public for assistance in identifying the suspects.

They are particularly keen to hear from residents near these areas who may have CCTV or doorbell camera footage.

Investigators are also seeking to identify the individual in CCTV images who could possess information vital to the investigation.

Anyone who recognises the person in the footage, or believes they might be pictured, is urged to get in touch via the following channels:

Online: https://bit.ly/DPPContactOnline
Email: [email protected]
Phone: Call 101

Crime

Motorist jailed over death of popular Tenby taxi driver ‘Mukka’

Published

4 days ago

November 8, 2024

Court Reporter

MOTORIST Mateusz Sikorski, 30, was sentenced to two years and four months in prison at Swansea Crown Court on Friday (Nov 8) for causing death by dangerous driving.

Addressing the court, the judge HH Geraint Walters KC, said: “These cases are amongst the most difficult that courts have to deal with. This wasn’t a momentary crossing onto the other carriageway; you were travelling along there for at least half a mile.”

Sikorski had been staying with friends in Manorbier, Tenby, since June 2024, when the fatal incident occurred.

On September 2, CCTV captured Sikorski driving on the wrong side of the A4139 between Tenby and Penally. Christopher Boyle, 57, was travelling northbound on the same road in his taxi when the two collided head-on.

***Mukka was a well known and well loved member of the local community (Image: Supplied)***

Prosecutor Dean Pulling recounted Sikorski’s comments at the scene: “I think it may have been my fault, I think I was on the wrong side of the road.” Boyle was pronounced dead at 11:32 pm on September 2, having sustained multiple traumatic injuries.

A heartfelt family statement from Boyle’s sister was read in court, describing the devastating impact of his death: “The loss of Chris has been absolutely devastating. His death has left a profound void that can never be filled.

“He was a son, brother, father, and beloved member of our community. My father has had to endure the unimaginable by burying his own son. For Christopher’s children, they have lost a dad.

***Tribute in the sand: Mukka is missed by many***

“Chris was a much-loved character within the community. His loss has left a hole in the hearts of so many. All of this was caused by a moment of selfish and careless actions, and caused a lifetime of grief.”

In mitigation, James Hartson argued that Sikorski had accepted full responsibility for Boyle’s death and expressed genuine remorse.

Christopher Boyle, affectionately known as “Mukka” was a devoted father, son, brother, partner, and community figure, whose absence is deeply felt by all who knew him.