A HAVERFORDWEST man ignited his own home during a prolonged confrontation with police, fueled by distress over a forced move after his mother’s death.

The ordeal unfolded on Jury Lane where Robert Ward, 56, resided in a three-bedroom council property he previously shared with his mother. Following her demise, Pembrokeshire County Council requested Ward to relocate to a smaller residence, prosecutor Georgia Donohue informed Swansea Crown Court.

The crisis escalated on October 21 when a dispute involving Ward and his sister led to a distressing 999 call by a neighbour at 4 PM, after overhearing threats of self-harm from Ward.

Upon arrival, police were met with a barricaded house. Ward, claiming to have booby-trapped the premises and armed with jerry cans and knives, refused entry, declaring his intent to end his life and warning of gas bottles placed behind the entrance.

As tensions heightened, a specialist negotiator was brought in while nearby homes were vacated and utilities to the property cut to prevent further risk. The standoff persisted into the night until police forcibly entered around 12:30 AM, finding the home ablaze.

During the confrontation, Ward hurled an unknown substance at officers, initially suspected to be an accelerant, though he later claimed it was water. Fire services extinguished the flames within 15 minutes, and Ward was apprehended in the loft of the burning structure around 1:06 AM, amid a suicide attempt. He suffered significant burns and was subsequently hospitalized.

During police interviews, Ward expressed remorse, stating his actions were driven by despair over his impending eviction. “He said he was extremely sorry for his actions and didn’t intend to harm [the officers],” Donohue relayed.

The court heard of previous convictions, including a 1983 arson charge. His counsel, Dyfed Thomas, highlighted the emotional attachment to the home and Ward’s troubled mental health, which significantly influenced his drastic actions.

Judge Geraint Walters recognized the “complex background” and the mental health struggles Ward endured for years, describing the episode as not “the acts of a person in his right mind.” He emphasized the need for substantial support post-release to prevent future incidents.

Ward was sentenced to three years and four months in prison after pleading guilty to arson recklessly endangering life, affray, and two counts of assaulting emergency workers. The incident, leaving behind £4,819.15 in damages, raises poignant questions about mental health support and housing policies for the vulnerable.

POLICE in Pembrokeshire are investigating an assault that happened outside B&M stores, Haverfordwest, at about 6.30pm on Tuesday, April 23.

The suspect is described as a teenage male wearing a balaclava and a cast on his wrist. He is believed to have left the location in a silver car.

The victim did not sustain any injuries.

The police have asked for assistance. Anyone who witnessed the incident or anyone with information that could help officers with their investigation is asked to get in touch with PC 1296 Clarke, either by:

| https://bit.ly/DPPContactOnline

| [email protected]

| Direct message us on social media

| 101

Alternatively, contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously by calling 0800 555111, or visiting crimestoppers-uk.org.

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A HAVERFORDWEST businessman is to stand trial at Swansea Crown Court in September after denying charges of assaulting and strangling a woman

Appearing from custody, Oliver Torkington, 38, of Pembroke Road, appeared at the court for a plea hearing on April 26 where he pleaded not guilty.

Torkington is alleged to have assaulted a woman in St Clears on March 23, causing her actual bodily harm.

He is also accused of strangling her.