Crime

Alcoholic mother sentenced to four years for child cruelty

Published

2 years ago

September 18, 2023

A MOTHER from Pembrokeshire, facing 15 counts of child cruelty at Swansea Crown Court, has been handed a four-year prison sentence for her decade-long abuse of her own children.

The mother, whose identity remains concealed to safeguard the children’s privacy, was revealed to have physically and emotionally abused her offspring, who range in age from 5 to 14.

Prosecutor Dean Pulling remarked on Monday (Sept 18), “The prolonged cruelty endured by these children is incomprehensible – from physical assaults to emotional torment.”

On a chilling day in June of the previous year, the father of the younger children observed an alarming red mark around one child’s eye. The child reluctantly revealed that her mother had shoved her in the shower, causing the injury. Additional bruises were discovered on another child.

Concerns intensified when a school teaching assistant spotted the injury. Although the child was initially reticent, they later admitted to the school headteacher that their mother was the perpetrator, an account corroborated by their sibling.

In a distressing turn of events, the mother’s verbal and physical abuse was captured on recordings. In one recording, she is overheard menacingly declaring, “I don’t care what happens here. If I strike you, never tell your teacher.”

Upon hearing these recordings, the children’s father was left “physically sickened” and promptly turned them over to the school and subsequently to the police.

The family’s home was reported to be in a dire state. Prosecutor Pulling detailed that the dwelling was filthy, with damaged doors, cluttered children’s rooms, and even soiled puppy pads strewn around, emanating an overpowering odour of urine.

When confronted, the mother conceded her actions but downplayed the severity, accusing the children of deceit and the father of manipulating them into making accusations. She stated, “I didn’t hit them hard. It was merely to shock them.”

Mr. Pulling highlighted the long-standing engagement of both social services and the police with the mother, dating back to 2010. The children, conditioned by their mother’s threats, remained silent, fearing separation if they confided in anyone.

Gravely, a paediatrician’s evaluation concluded that the children’s injuries were consistent with abuse. Additionally, the court was appalled to learn of the children’s developmental delays, dental issues, and infestations.

Defence counsel Stuart John lamented the lack of decisive intervention, stating, “It’s tragic that social services did not intervene sooner. These children deserved better.”

Acknowledging her wrongdoings, the defendant expressed remorse, citing efforts to combat her alcohol addiction.

Judge Catherine Richards conveyed her horror, asserting that the audio recordings were “truly harrowing for any adult to hear, let alone a child.”

The mother was sentenced to a total of four years imprisonment for the initial 12 charges, with additional concurrent sentences for the remaining offences relating to specific incidents.

Crime

Police assess complaints over Mandelson–Epstein links

Published

12 hours ago

February 2, 2026

Tom Sinclair

Met says allegations will be reviewed to see if criminal threshold is met following release of US court files

SCOTLAND YARD is reviewing a series of complaints alleging possible misconduct in public office after fresh claims emerged linking former UK ambassador Peter Mandelson to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

The Metropolitan Police Service confirmed it has received “a number of reports” following the publication of millions of pages of material by the United States Department of Justice, and will now decide whether any alleged conduct reaches the level required for a criminal investigation.

Commander Ella Marriott said the force would assess each report individually, stressing that a review does not automatically lead to formal proceedings.

The documents, widely referred to as the “Epstein files”, appear to show Mandelson corresponding with Epstein while serving as business secretary during the government of Gordon Brown at the height of the global financial crisis.

According to reports, Epstein was allegedly given insight into internal policy discussions, including proposals around banker bonus taxes in 2009 and details of a eurozone bailout package shortly before it was announced publicly.

Payments questioned

Bank records cited in the US disclosure reportedly show payments totalling 75,000 US dollars made to Mandelson between 2003 and 2004. It is also claimed Epstein paid for an osteopathy course for Mandelson’s husband.

Mandelson has denied any wrongdoing and said he has “no record or recollection” of the alleged transfers.

On Sunday he resigned his membership of the Labour Party, saying he did not want his continued association to cause further difficulty for the party.

In interviews, he dismissed suggestions that Epstein influenced his decisions as a minister and said nothing in the released files pointed to criminality or misconduct on his part.

Pressure mounts

The political fallout has intensified, with Downing Street confirming Keir Starmer has asked Cabinet Secretary Chris Wormald to carry out an urgent review into Mandelson’s historic contacts with Epstein while in office.

Brown has also called for an examination of whether any confidential or market-sensitive information was improperly shared during the financial crisis.

The case is the latest in a series of controversies linked to Epstein’s long-standing relationships with powerful figures on both sides of the Atlantic.

Police emphasised that no charges have been brought and that Mandelson is not currently under criminal investigation, but said the complaints process would be handled “thoroughly and impartially”.

Community

Councillor meets chief constable to address Monkton and Pembroke concerns

Published

13 hours ago

February 2, 2026

Tom Sinclair

COUNTY COUNCILLOR Jonathan Grimes has met with the new Chief Constable of Dyfed-Powys Police to discuss crime, antisocial behaviour and wider community issues affecting residents in Pembroke and Monkton.

Cllr Grimes, who represents Pembroke St Mary South and Monkton, said the meeting followed his invitation for senior police leaders to visit the area and hear first-hand about local concerns.

The Chief Constable, Ifan Charles, attended alongside officers from the Pembroke Neighbourhood Policing and Protection Team, meeting the councillor in Monkton for what were described as open and constructive talks.

As part of the visit, they also spoke with Monkton Priory Community Primary School headteacher Dylan Lawrence and Danny Nash from Pembrokeshire County Council Housing Services to gather views from education and housing professionals.

Discussions covered a range of issues raised by residents, including domestic abuse, drug and alcohol misuse, antisocial behaviour and environmental concerns such as littering, dog fouling and dangerous or inconsiderate driving.

Cllr Grimes acknowledged recent police successes, particularly in tackling drug-related activity, but said enforcement alone would not solve the area’s challenges.

He said closer cooperation between the police, council services, schools and the wider community would be needed to deliver longer-term improvements.

The councillor added that he plans to encourage residents to form a local community group in the coming weeks, aimed at developing practical solutions and strengthening partnership working across the area.

Crime

Man guilty of threatening to kill Herald editor

Published

13 hours ago

February 2, 2026

Rieve Nesbitt-Marr

13-minute abuse call followed Facebook contact – defendant warned over behaviour in court

A PEMBROKE man has been found guilty of threatening to kill the editor of the Pembrokeshire Herald during a prolonged and abusive phone call, and of a racially aggravated public order offence committed when police arrested him.

Anthony Jones, 34, of Castle Quarry, Long Mains, Monkton, was convicted of both charges following a trial at Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court on Monday (Feb 2).

Magistrates heard the threats followed publication of an online Herald article about fly grazing and loose horses on roads in the Monkton area of Pembroke — a story raised with the newspaper by local county councillor Jonathan Grimes.

Facebook approach before call

Editor Tom Sinclair told the court he was first contacted via Facebook Messenger by a profile operating under the name “Excellence Cleaning”.

The account claimed to have information about the horses’ ownership and repeatedly asked for a direct phone number.

Mr Sinclair said he initially offered the office landline but was pressed for his mobile number instead.

Within minutes of providing it, he received a call from a withheld number at around 5:52pm.

Police later traced that number to Jones.

“On a different level”

Mr Sinclair told the court the call lasted around 13 minutes and consisted of sustained verbal abuse and threats.

He said the caller repeatedly swore at him, demanded that the Facebook article be removed, and made threats of death towards him. The caller also mentioned Cllr Grimes and threatened him as well.

Giving evidence, Mr Sinclair said: “I often receive complaints and quite aggressive calls as part of the job, but this was on a different level.”

He said he believed the threats were genuine and intended to intimidate.

After the call ended, he consulted colleague Bruce Sinclair and Cllr Grimes before contacting police.

Screenshots of the Facebook messages and the mobile phone call log were later provided to officers as evidence.

Sinclair said in evidence that he sat in his car, parked outside his house for several hours that night, keeping watch to protect his family.

“I did not take the decision to give evidence today lightly, it is because I believe that it is important that the news can be printed without fear or favour, and that journalists should not have to be bullied or threatened for just doing their jobs.”

Courtroom outburst

Jones did not give evidence in his own defence.

His solicitor told the court he accepted making the call but denied that the contents were threatening.

While Mr Sinclair was giving evidence, Jones shouted from the dock, calling him a liar. Magistrates immediately warned him about his behaviour.

After the guilty verdicts were delivered, the chairman of the bench told Jones he was lucky not to face a separate contempt of court charge because of his conduct during the hearing.

Arrest incident

The court also heard that when officers attended to arrest Jones in connection with the threats, he used threatening and abusive language towards a police officer, PC Stuart Gray.

That offence was found to be racially aggravated and to have caused harassment, alarm and distress.