News

Woman ordered to pay £26,700 for illegal puppy breeding operation in Cross Hands

Published

2 years ago

January 6, 2024

KRISTINA BARTON, a 28-year-old resident of Heol Dinefwr, has been ordered to pay a hefty sum of over £26,700 after confessing to running an unlicensed puppy breeding operation in Cross Hands. The case, which has been ongoing since March 24 last year, concluded with a significant penalty under the Proceeds of Crime Act.

Barton admitted to three charges under the Animal Welfare Act in Llanelli Magistrates’ Court, marking the beginning of a legal battle that uncovered the extent of her unlawful activities. Prosecutors alleged that Barton had reaped profits amounting to approximately £31,000 from the illicit sale of puppies.

Swansea Crown Court heard that Barton had been involved in the breeding of as many as nine litters of puppies during the period under scrutiny. The case came to light following numerous complaints from concerned neighbors, who had voiced their concerns to both Carmarthenshire County Council and Dyfed-Powys Police.

The investigation commenced in April 2020 when Barton initially inquired about obtaining a dog breeding license. Despite being provided with information on the licensing requirements, subsequent complaints from neighboring properties revealed allegations of illegal dog breeding, unauthorized construction of kennels and stables, noise disturbances caused by barking dogs, and instances of dogs straying and fouling outside her property.

In May 2021, an advertisement on the Pets4Homes website exposed Barton’s activities when she advertised a litter of puppies, leading to a warning letter from Carmarthenshire County Council. Unfortunately, the situation escalated further when Dyfed-Powys Police received additional complaints in April 2022.

Further investigations carried out under the Data Protection Act revealed that Barton had bred as many as nine litters of puppies and offered four individual dogs for sale between May 17, 2021, and July 30 of the same year—all without the required dog breeding license.

Despite previous advisories and warnings, Barton persisted in her illicit breeding operations, prompting Carmarthenshire County Council to take legal action. In a subsequent Proceeds of Crime Act hearing, she was ordered to pay £26,721.12, in addition to £500 in costs and a £22 surcharge. For each of her offenses, Barton received a 12-month conditional discharge.

A spokesperson for Carmarthenshire County Council expressed satisfaction with the outcome, stating that the council had taken “decisive action” against Barton. The extensive investigation into her alleged illegal dog breeding activities revealed a “blatant disregard for regulations and numerous breaches of the law.”

Councillor Aled Vaughan Owen, cabinet member for climate change, decarbonization, and sustainability, emphasized the importance of adhering to dog breeding regulations and obtaining the necessary licenses. He stated, “This case serves as a stark reminder of the importance of adhering to dog breeding regulations and obtaining the necessary licenses to ensure that we, as a council, can correctly monitor the welfare of the animals involved.”

The case against Kristina Barton highlights the crucial need for responsible breeding practices and adherence to legal regulations to safeguard the welfare of animals and maintain the integrity of the law.

Crime

Neighbourhood policing boosted across Dyfed-Powys

Published

2 hours ago

March 20, 2026

Tom Sinclair

DYFED-POWYS POLICE has announced a significant expansion of its Neighbourhood Policing and Prevention Teams (NPPT), with more officers being deployed to frontline roles where demand is greatest.

From Monday (Mar 16), teams across the force area have been strengthened, with a renewed focus on tackling antisocial behaviour and preventing crime at its source.

The force says the move is aimed at reducing repeat demand by addressing the root causes of offending, rather than simply responding to incidents.

To achieve this, a number of officers have been redeployed from central departments back into frontline policing, while new posts are also being created to bolster capacity.

Temporary Chief Superintendent Steve Davies, head of uniform policing, said: “These changes are about increasing frontline visibility and ensuring we have the right resources in the right places.

“They form part of a wider programme of improvements across the force to enhance effectiveness and efficiency, while also supporting the wellbeing of our officers and staff.

“This is positive news for our communities, who will benefit from stronger neighbourhood teams focused on local priorities and proactive policing.”

The expansion has been made possible through Home Office funding under the Neighbourhood Guarantee scheme, which is designed to strengthen community safety and crime prevention.

Dyfed-Powys Police has been allocated £1.4 million for 2025/26, enabling the recruitment of police staff and freeing up officers previously in support roles to return to operational duties.

As a result, four sergeants and 29 police officers have now been reassigned to neighbourhood teams across the force.

Each NPPT area will also have a named officer, with full team details available via the ‘Your Area’ section of the Dyfed-Powys Police website.

The force has also secured early access to 2026/27 Neighbourhood Guarantee funding, which will see a further 12 officers recruited between April and the autumn—adding to overall officer numbers in the region.

Police and Crime Commissioner Dafydd Llywelyn said: “Neighbourhood policing is about more than numbers—it’s about relationships.

“Greater visibility helps build trust, strengthens community ties, and reassures the public that policing is present, responsive, and committed to keeping people safe.

“I remain committed to improving police visibility across our communities, and these additional officers will help turn that ambition into reality.”

Crime

Broad Haven man remanded in custody over sexual harm prevention order breach

Published

2 hours ago

March 20, 2026

Court Reporter

Defendant admitted using Xbox without informing police as required under court order

ANTHONY COOMBES, aged 26, of Sand Banks, Broad Haven, appeared before Llanelli Magistrates’ Court on Thursday (Mar 20) charged with breaching a sexual harm prevention order.

The court heard that between February 26 and March 19, 2026, at Haverfordwest, Coombes repeatedly breached the order by using an Xbox device without informing police within three days, as required.

The offences relate to a sexual harm prevention order imposed at Swansea Crown Court on October 20, 2021.

Coombes indicated guilty pleas to the offences at the first hearing.

Magistrates committed the case to Swansea Crown Court for sentence.

He was remanded in custody ahead of the next hearing, which is due to take place at 9:00am on Friday, April 3, at Swansea Crown Court.

The court refused bail on the grounds that he was likely to offend, citing the nature and seriousness of the offences and his previous record and character.

A pre-sentence report was ordered.