Crime

Four figure fine for illegal Pembrokeshire vape trader

Published

3 months ago

February 8, 2024

A COURT has heard how a Pembrokeshire vape trader ‘has lost trust in his suppliers’ after receiving a batch of e-cigarettes that contained nearly three times the legal nicotine limit.

A council trading standard officer visited Vapes Allsorts in Pembroke, on the morning of June 14, 2023, following reports that the business had been selling non-compliant vapes.

He requested an Elux Firerose Ex4500 vape and was served by Terence Miller who was responsible for running and managing the store which is situated in Main Street. But upon leaving the store, the officer discovered the vape fell foul of the Tobacco and Related Products Regulations, 2016.

The vape was found to contain:

Nearly three times the legal nicotine concentration;
Over three times the legal e-liquid permitted in such a vape and
Over 3.5 times the legal tank capacity.

This week solicitor Jill Davies, prosecuting on behalf of Pembrokeshire County Council, informed Haverfordwest magistrates that immediately after the test purchase, two more local authority officers visited Vapes Allsorts.

“They informed Terence Miller that the purchase had taken place, and he initially denied selling it, claiming it hadn’t come from there.”

Ms Davies went on to say that 39 identical vapes were subsequently removed from his shop by local authority officers and were found to carry the exact illegal quantities of e-liquid, nicotine and tank capacities.

“The defendant now accepts that he made an error of judgement and has told us that he informed his supplier the following day that his invoice was incorrect, however copies of this aren’t available,” she said.

Miller, of Main Street, Pembroke, pleaded guilty to producing or supplying an electronic cigarette that did not comply with product requirements; producing or supplying an electronic cigarette that failed to include contact details of the producer; producing or supplying an electronic cigarette that failed to include a leaflet with information concerning its nicotine content and of engaging in unfair commercial practice.

Choosing to represent himself before magistrates, Miller told the court that his decision to stock the Elux vape was the result of his successful 12-year career in the vape industry.

“Elux is a quality product,” he said.

“I requested 20 units of five different flavours and they arrived factory sealed in plastic. The box was unpacked and the stock was either shelved for sale or stored for a later date. I chose three flavours for my personal use, and I’m 100 percent positive that those had no nicotine in them as the white space at the bottom read ‘zero nicotine’.

“I replenished the stock on Monday morning, which included the remaining 50 vapes. But unbeknown to me, they were illicit.

“I pride myself on selling quality vaping products and I put a lot of trust in my suppliers. But in this instance, it’s tarnished what was a good, professional relationship.

“I’ve worked too hard for too many years to throw it all away by selling products that are outside the regulations. It’s just not in me to do that, but all I can do is apologise profusely. This has been a hard and bitter pill to swallow.”

After considering his mitigation, magistrates ordered Terence MIller to pay £1,000 costs to Pembrokeshire County Council. He was fined £918 and ordered to pay a £367.20 court surcharge. A forfeiture and destruction order was imposed on the 40 illegal vapes which were removed from Vapes Allsorts by Pembrokeshire County Council during their investigation.

Crime

Pembrokeshire man admits to strangulation while intoxicated

Published

1 day ago

May 11, 2024

Tom Sinclair

IN a hearing at Swansea Crown Court this week (May 10), a Pembrokeshire man, Lee Morgan, 42, of Green Close in Steynton, admitted to one count of strangulation under the influence of alcohol. However, he denied further charges related to another incident involving the same victim.

The court was informed that Morgan had no recollection of the incidents due to his intoxication. On April 5, 2023, he allegedly strangled a woman and committed battery. He pleaded guilty to the strangulation but denied the battery charge. A second accusation of strangulation was made against Morgan for an incident that occurred on April 30, 2023. This later accusation only came to light during the police investigation of the initial charges and was not reported at the time it occurred.

Prosecutor Ieuan Rees accepted Morgan’s pleas on behalf of the prosecution, indicating that the focus would be on the charges to which Morgan had admitted guilt. Defense attorney David Singh highlighted Morgan’s ongoing issues with alcohol, which he claimed contributed to his client’s lack of memory regarding the incident.

Presiding Judge Geraint Walters has ordered the preparation of a pre-sentence report and remanded Morgan back into custody. Morgan is scheduled to appear in court again on May 31 for further proceedings.

The case continues to develop as the community and legal system grapple with the serious allegations and Morgan’s admission of guilt under the influence of alcohol.

Crime

Former Pembroke Dock mayor admits child abuse image charges

Published

2 days ago

May 10, 2024

Tom Sinclair

AT Swansea Crown Court on Friday (May 10), former Pembroke Dock Mayor Terry Judkins has pleaded guilty to possessing indecent images of children.

Judkins, who held office as mayor from May 2021 until his resignation in November 2021, faced multiple charges related to child abuse images.

The court heard that Judkins was charged with creating two Category C indecent images of children and possessing a prohibited image of a child during a period spanning from September 27, 2018, to August 5, 2021.

The 55-year-old admitted to these offences in a hearing that has drawn considerable attention.

However, Judkins denied charges related to possessing extreme pornographic images that depicted bestiality, covering a timeline from January 2010 to August 2021.

Prosecutor Helen Randall indicated that the Crown would pursue a trial on these allegations given Judkins’ not guilty plea.

Additional charges against Judkins include making 52 Category A indecent images of children within the same dates as his earlier admissions.

The former mayor has been granted extra time to consider his plea on this charge, with a future court appearance scheduled for a later date.

This case has cast a shadow over Judkins’ brief tenure as mayor. He resigned last year citing personal reasons and extra work commitments.

Crime

Re-elected Crime Commissioner embarks on new term in office

Published

2 days ago

May 10, 2024

Tom Sinclair

RE-ELECTED Dyfed-Powys Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) Dafydd Llywelyn begun his new term in office this week with a series of key meetings aimed at shaping his strategic vision for the region’s policing priorities over the next four years.

The Commissioner’s first official day was Thursday 9^th of May, and saw key discussions taking place, beginning with a meeting with the Chief Constable to gain an update from Dyfed-Powys Police on operational matters, and also to outline his vision and priorities for the new term in Office.

In addition, the Commissioner met with staff from his Office for discussions on the development of a new Police and Crime Plan for Dyfed-Powys for 2025-2029. The Police and Crime Plan will be the strategic blueprint that will represent the Commissioner’s vision and priorities, further reinforcing his dedication to delivering effective and efficient policing services tailored to the needs and expectations of our diverse communities.

In coming weeks, the Commissioner’s Office will launch a public consultation on the new Police and Crime Plan, whereby the public will have an opportunity to have their say on policing and crime matters in their area. Online questionnaires and focus groups will form part of the consultation, to ensure that the Office provides plenty of opportunities for communities to have their say.

Reflecting on his ambitions for the upcoming term, Mr Llywelyn expressed that his focus will be on improving public confidence and trust in policing: “I am honoured to be re-elected as the Police and Crime Commissioner for Dyfed-Powys for my third successive term.

“As I start this new term in Office, I am committed to build on the achievements to date and address the challenges that lie ahead.

“My vision is clear: to develop safer communities for all through proactive crime prevention and ensuring a justice system that is both fair and efficient.

“I will work in collaboration with the Force and other criminal agency partners to ensure transparency and accountability, to ensure that we can we work collectively to improve public trust and confidence in policing.

“Your safety will continue to be my top priority. I want to ensure that the Dyfed Powys Police area remains one of the safest places to live in Wales and England”.