Connect with us
Advertisement
Advertisement

Crime

Man who raped three women given 27-year extended sentence

Published

on

A WEST WALES man who raped a woman he had just met in the woods outside Lampeter, after similar attacks on two other women in recent years, has been sentenced to a 27-year extended sentence.

Following a short man hunt in Pembrokeshire and Ceredigion, Saul Rowan Henvey was arrest on May 7th 2021, for a rape the previous day when he led a woman he had just met in Lampeter into the woods, told her he loved her, before carrying out his attack.

The 47-year-old, from the Tregaron area, was charged with that rape on 8th May 2021 and remanded to court, where he was further remanded into custody.

As part of an intensive investigation, officers revisited another rape allegation against Henvey in May 2019.

The victim said Henvey had approached her when she was alone in the front garden of her home in Lampeter.

He manipulated her into allowing him into her home where he raped her later that day.

Henvey continued to manipulate this victim for several months after the rape, until she found the strength to report what had happened to Domestic Violence Support officers, who then alerted the police in January 2020.

That case wasn’t progressed at the time due to evidential issues, however, the victim in that case, who was completely unrelated to the latest victim, had reported Henvey’s behaviours that matched the recent attack.

Then, following the publicity after Henvey’s charge for the woodland attack in Lampeter, a further unrelated victim came forward to report a rape in the Llanddewi Brefi area between March and April 2021.

In that incident Henvey approaching a lone female while she was at home and convinced her to allow him to stay by claiming to be homeless. On two separate occasions, the woman woke in the night to find Henvey raping her whilst she slept in her own bed.

Senior investigating officer, DI Adam Cann, said: “This case has shown the importance of reporting to police when you are the victim of rape or sexual assault.

“Due to a lack of appropriate evidence, initially we were not able to get justice for the first victim. However, Henvey’s actions and pattern of offending meant we were able to prove a pattern that convinced the jury of his guilt.”

Henvey was back at Swansea Crown Court, where he was found guilty of four counts of rape following trial on March 7, today when the judge sentenced him to a 27-year extended sentence – 21 years in custody plus six years on licence.

He was told he would serve two thirds of his sentence before being able to apply for parole.

Henvey was placed on the sex offenders register for life and given an indefinite restraining order for each victim.

Throughout the investigation and trial the victims were supported by specialist officers and the additional compassion and support provided by New Pathways in guiding the victims through the process has been invaluable.

DI Adam Cann said: “The sentence handed to Henvey today is welcomed and we hope it will give some comfort to his victims and allows them to move on with their lives.

“As officers, we have witnessed the devastating effect Henvey’s heinous, violent actions had on his victims.

“Despite this they have shown incredible strength, bravery and determination to see the investigation through and help us make sure he is locked up where he can’t do the same to other women.

“I hope this reassures people that Dyfed-Powys Police will not tolerate such terrible crimes and gives anyone who has been attacked like this the confidence to come forward.

“We will listen to you and we will work tirelessly to get justice.”

READ THIS WEEK’S PEMBROKESHIRE HERALD HERE:

Crime

Haverfordwest man given restraining order for stalking ex

Published

on

A HAVERFORDWEST man who had difficulty coming to terms with the end of his marriage has appeared before magistrates where he pleaded guilty to stalking his former wife. 

Terry Mochan and his wife, Carol, separated in January 2024, but three months later, Ms Mochan found herself being harassed and intimidated by her former husband.

The first incident took place on April 13 when Mochan, 25, of St Issells Avenue, Merlins Bridge, Haverfordwest, raised his middle finger at his wife in a public place, and shouted at her.

Three days later Mrs Mochan noticed that her ex-husband was following her through Haverfordwest town centre.

“He was driving very closely behind her in his van,” Crown Prosecutor Sian Vaughan told Haverfordwest Magistrates this week.

In a victim impact statement that was read to the court, Mrs Mochan said both incidents have had a profound effect on her self-confidence.

“She’s now concerned, whenever she’s driving through town, that the defendant will be following her,” said Ms Vaughan.  “It’s having an impact on her life and she’s concerned that he’ll attend her property.”

Mr Mochan was represented by solicitor Mr Gavin Rofer who said the defendant has no previous convictions.

“Both incidents were the result of the breakdown of their marriage,” he said.  “But since April 16 there have been no further incidents.”

After considering the mitigation, magistrates fined Mochan £180 and ordered him to pay £325 court costs and a £72 surcharge.  A 12 month restraining order was imposed, preventing him from having any contact with Carol Mochan.

Continue Reading

Crime

Hostel resident brandished knife after seizure fears ignored

Published

on

WHEN hostel resident Andrew Finan feared he was suffering a seizure, he attempted to contact the hostel’s support worker for help.

But when she failed to answer his calls, Finan walked up to the hostel’s CCTV camera, shouting angrily and brandishing a large kitchen knife.

“He’s been at the hostel since August, but he’s hard work,” Crown Prosecutor Sian Vaughan told Haverfordwest magistrates this week.

“He has various mental health issues and the staff have difficulty controlling him.”

Incident captured on CCTV

The incident took place in the early hours of December 22 at the Furnace Bank Hostel, Carmarthen.

“The CCTV covers the hostel, and the defendant was shouting angrily directly at the camera and holding a large kitchen knife in his hand,” said Ms Vaughan.

The support worker on duty at the time heard Finan shouting, “I’m sick of you, you b*******,” before turning away and going upstairs to his room.

Support worker left shaken

“I found the incident scary,” the support worker said in a victim impact statement. “His behaviour is erratic and unpredictable, and he scares me. I don’t know what to expect from him from day to day. Waving the knife around and directing it at me was extremely worrying.”

Defence cites frustration

But Finan’s solicitor, Fenn Richards, said his actions were the result of frustration at being ignored by staff.

“He believed he was going to have a seizure, as he’s had five brain bleeds in the past as a result of an assault,” she said.

“He tried to get the staff’s attention, but they didn’t answer the door, and the only way he could get their attention was to stand in front of the camera.”

Sentencing next month

Finan pleaded guilty to a charge of possessing an offensive weapon in a public place. Sentencing was adjourned to January 14 to allow a probation report to be prepared. Finan was released on conditional bail, with conditions including reporting twice a week to Carmarthen police station, not visiting the Furnace Bank Hostel, and having no contact with the support worker.

Continue Reading

Crime

Local troublemaker back in prison 24 hours after release for Christmas

Published

on

TWENTY-FOUR hours after being released from prison, a Pembrokeshire man found himself back behind bars for Christmas.

Mark Ion, 53, was sent back to HM Parc Prison, Bridgend, this week after breaching a protection order against his victim and spitting and making head-butting gestures towards two police officers.

Ion was arrested on December 20, just one day after his release from Parc Prison.

A protection order, imposed by Haverfordwest magistrates on December 10, prevented him from having any direct or indirect contact with a female victim living in Haverfordwest. However, on December 20, Ion was found at her property.

When police arrived, Ion, of Colley Court, Monkton, became verbally abusive and assaulted two officers. He spat at one officer—making no contact—and made a head-butting gesture towards another. Officers also discovered he was in possession of 3.5 grams of amphetamine and 1.5 grams of cannabis.

Ion appeared before Haverfordwest magistrates this week via video link from Parc Prison. He pleaded guilty to two charges of possession of Class B drugs, two charges of assaulting an emergency worker, breaching an interim stalking order, and failing to comply with a post-sentence supervision order. The failure involved being verbally abusive to a probation officer while highly intoxicated shortly after his release.

His solicitor, Tom Lloyd, told the court that despite Ion’s behaviour on December 20, he had displayed no violence towards the police officers or the female victim.

“He has significant mental health and substance misuse issues that he’s struggled with for many years,” said Mr Lloyd. “He’s schizophrenic and relies on heavy medication, but after his release, he consumed alcohol immediately, feeling excited about his freedom.

“He made a serious error of judgement.”

Ion was sentenced to 13 weeks in custody and ordered to pay £85 in court costs and a £154 court surcharge.

Continue Reading

Business6 hours ago

Holyhead closure: Storm damage could delay reopening until March

HOLYHEAD port faces an extended closure following significant storm damage, with fears it may not reopen until March. The disruption...

Crime13 hours ago

Begelly man sentenced for carrying metal bar during nightclub fight

A MAN has been sentenced after approaching a Pembrokeshire nightclub armed with a metre-long metal bar. Just after 2:30am on...

Education15 hours ago

Respite care facilities at Pembrokeshire school approved

PLANS for a respite care facility at Haverfordwest’s Portfield special school have been approved. An application to Pembrokeshire County Council...

Community3 days ago

Festive celebrations at St Davids Cathedral this weekend

ST DAVIDS Cathedral is set to host two special events on Sunday (Dec 22), offering a blend of joyful participation...

News3 days ago

Ferry accident causes delay on new Dublin-Fishguard route

IRISH Ferries’ Isle of Innisfree sustained damage during arrival on Friday (Dec 20) at Fishguard port. The incident occurred as...

Entertainment5 days ago

River-themed lanterns light up Cardigan in spectacular parade

THOUSANDS of people flocked to Cardigan on Monday (Dec 18) for the much-anticipated Giant Lantern Parade, hosted by Small World...

Business5 days ago

Pembrokeshire care home group hit by £150,000 budget blow

A COMPANY with six care homes in Pembrokeshire has revealed it is facing a £150,000 financial hit due to controversial...

News6 days ago

Rift between Neyland councillors now ‘as wide as Grand Canyon’

THE DIVISIONS within Neyland Town Council deepened further this week after a controversial attempt to block an Extraordinary General Meeting...

Politics6 days ago

Pembrokeshire Long Course Weekend changes could be made

PEMBROKESHIRE’S annual Long Course Weekend triathlon event could be run on a different route in future, in an attempt to...

Business1 week ago

Wales’ biggest Specsavers store opens in Haverfordwest

SPECSAVERS HAVERFORDWEST has relocated to a larger, state-of-the-art premises in the Riverside Shopping Centre, becoming the largest Specsavers store in...

Popular This Week