Crime

Shoplifter took over £600 of alcohol from Tesco in Pembroke Dock

Published

2 years ago

February 27, 2024

A 32-YEAR-OLD Romanian man has appeared before magistrates after admitting stealing over £600 worth of alcohol from Tesco in Pembroke Dock.

Isaac Ghinea was seen entering the store soon after 6am on January 8.

“He selected high value bottles of alcohol and placed them in his basket, underneath bags of crisps and newspapers,” Crown Prosecutor Abigail Jackson told Haverfordwest magistrates this week.

But Ghinea was then seen walking to a different alcohol aisle where he removed a de-tagger from inside his trousers.

“He then removed the alarms from the alcohol and put them behind some beer bottles,” continued Ms jackson. “He was then seen leaving the store without paying for the items.”

The alcohol stolen by Ghinea totalled £624.50

Ms Jackson said that Ghinea returned to the store on February 12 and was approached by a member of staff.

“This was because he was acting suspiciously,” she said. “The member of staff told him that he was banned from entering the store, and he was then seen entering a Volkswagen.”
Police officers were summoned and they discovered the vehicle being driven by Ghinea. A subsequent search of the vehicle revealed three silver foil wraps, three pairs of wire cutters and a magnetic pliers.

Ghinea, of Shayer Road, Southampton, pleaded guilty to a charge of theft and an additional charge of going equipped for theft. He was legally represented in court by Mr David Morgan.

“My client apologises for what happened as he’s a family man with four children,” Mr Morgan informed the magistrates in his mitigation.

“He also has a good work ethic, and is employed as a pipe layer.”

Mr Morgan said that the defendant was carrying out work in Pembroke Dock at the time of the offence.

“When I asked him why he did these acts, he couldn’t give me a clear explanation,” he said. “He didn’t know what came over him.

“But he has a grievance against the police after being the victim of a car theft when he didn’t feel the police got to the root of the crime.”

Ghinea was sentenced to eight weeks in custody, suspended for 18 months. He must also carry out 200 hours of unpaid work and ten rehabilitation requirement days.

He was ordered to pay £624.50 compensation to Tesco, £85 court costs and a £154 court surcharge. A destruction order was imposed on the items which were used to go equipped for theft.

Crime

Milford Haven man admits assault and harassment charges

Published

1 day ago

May 21, 2026

Court Reporter

A MILFORD HAVEN has admitted assaulting a family member and harassing another relative following incidents in the town last year.

Wayne Whatling, 39, of Howarth Close, Milford Haven, appeared before Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court on Thursday (May 21).

Whatling changed his pleas to guilty to one charge of assault by beating and one charge of harassment without violence.

The assault charge relates to an incident in Milford Haven on September 13, 2025, when Whatling assaulted Ben Whatling by beating him.

He also admitted pursuing a course of conduct amounting to harassment against Carol Whatling between September 1 and September 13, 2025.

The court heard the harassment allegation involved repeatedly asking Carol Whatling for money, with the complainant said to have feared repercussions if she did not provide it.

Magistrates adjourned the case for the preparation of a pre-sentence report.

Whatling was remanded on conditional bail and ordered not to contact Carol or Ben Whatling directly or indirectly.

He is due to be sentenced at Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday (June 9).

Crime

Milford Haven man admits affray after alleged pub incident

Published

1 day ago

May 21, 2026

Court Reporter

A MILFORD HAVEN man has admitted affray following an incident at a town centre pub.

Stephen Collier, 38, of Vaynor Road, Milford Haven, appeared before Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court on Thursday (May 21).

Collier has pleaded guilty to affray, relating to an incident at Nos Da, Victoria Road, Milford Haven, on December 3, 2025.

The charge states that he used unlawful violence towards John Dean Hilton and that his conduct was such as would cause a person of reasonable firmness present at the scene to fear for their personal safety.

Collier also faces a separate charge of burglary dwelling with intent to inflict grievous bodily harm. It is alleged that, on the same date, he entered a flat at Nos Da as a trespasser and inflicted grievous bodily harm on Mr Hilton. He denies that charge.

The court also dealt with a breach of bail allegation after Collier was arrested on May 20 for allegedly breaching a curfew condition. He admitted the breach.

Magistrates re-admitted him to conditional bail.

His bail conditions include a daily electronically monitored curfew between 9:00pm and 6:00am, residence at his Vaynor Road address, and exclusions from Mount Estate, Milford Haven town centre, and Nos Da.

He must also not contact prosecution witnesses, including Molly Martin, Jack Martin, Lily Rose Martin and John Hilton.

Collier is due to appear at Swansea Crown Court on Friday, June 5, for sentence.

A spokesperson for Nos Da said the incident was connected with rooms upstairs at the Victoria Road premises, and did not take place in the bar itself, in the licensed area.