Crime

Woman will quit the booze after seeing shocking drunken video in court

Published

1 year ago

March 27, 2024

A HAVERFORDWEST woman this week vowed to undertake ‘a complete alcohol abstinence’ after being shown court video footage of her screaming, drunken and often incoherent abuse towards residents in a block of flats.

Louise Wiltshire, 59, entered the flats at Fleming Crescent on the night of March 10. The video, captured by one of the residents on her mobile phone, showed Wiltshire hammering on doors, kicking them with her feet and lunging towards one of the residents whilst shouting drunken abuse.

“The resident was frightened that she was going to be assaulted,” Crown Prosecutor Abigail Jackson told Haverfordwest magistrates this week.

Earlier that night Wiltshire had made repeated 999 calls to the emergency services.

“The first time, the call handler noted that she was very difficult to understand,” she said. “She was slurring her words and was incoherent.

“She called 999 a second time, saying she was unhappy about an incident that the police had previously dealt with and then she called yet again, making repeated requests for police officers and an ambulance to attend an incident as she believed someone was dead.”

Police eventually discovered Wiltshire in a corridor at a block of flats in Fleming Crescent.

“She was screaming and shouting at the occupants and was verbally abusive,” continued Ms Jackson. “Her behaviour was totally unacceptable.”

Wiltshire, of Fleming Crescent, pleaded guilty to being drunk and disorderly in a public place, of common assault on the resident who fell backwards as she attempted to close her front door on the defendant and of causing wasteful employment of police time.

She was legally represented in court by Mr David Williams.

“The lady you see before you this morning is completely different to the lady you saw in the video footage,” he said.

“The first thing she told me this morning was how bad she feels about what happened.”

Mr Williams went on to say that the defendant’s behaviour spirals out of control after she consumes large quantities of alcohol.

“For a dangerously long time, my client has had an unhealthy relationship with alcohol,” he said. “She has previously made efforts, but the point has now arrived where she realises that controlled drinking is not the way for her.

“As we all know, it’s very easy after a few drinks to tempt yourself into another one, but for this lady, it’s fatal. Alcoholism is a bad illness that takes several attempts to combat. Please give my client the opportunity to start her journey towards complete abstinence.”

Wiltshire was sentenced to a 24 month community order during which she must carry out 20 rehabilitation activity requirement days and 200 hours of unpaid work. She was also subject to a 120-day alcohol monitoring requirement. She must pay court costs of £85 and a £114 surcharge.

“I’d just like to say how terribly sorry I am,” Louise Wiltshire told the magistrates following her sentence. “Hearing that video was what I needed. It was disgusting.”

Crime

Van driver ignored warnings before causing head-on crash

Published

3 days ago

April 25, 2025

Court Reporter

PETER GILMORE, a van driver who ignored police warnings about his dangerous driving, went on to cause a serious head-on collision.

Gilmore, aged 51, of Bryn Salem, Felinfach, was sentenced at Swansea Crown Court following the crash, which took place on the B4337 near Talsarn on February 1.

The court heard that Dyfed-Powys Police had received multiple reports about Gilmore’s erratic driving earlier that day. Concerned motorists reported that he was swerving across the road and tailgating other vehicles during a 14-mile journey from Aberystwyth to Llanrhystud and onto the B4337.

At one point, as Gilmore attempted to overtake a lorry, he veered into the path of an oncoming car. The driver of that vehicle was rushed to hospital with a fractured sternum, two broken ribs, and whiplash injuries.

Judge Geraint Walters described the case as “truly disturbing” during sentencing.

“Earlier that day, you were pulled over by the police on suspicion of drug-driving,” the judge said. “Despite that, you made the reckless decision to get back behind the wheel. It was obvious you were significantly impaired by substances.”

Gilmore was jailed for two years and four months and banned from driving for six years and two months. He must also complete an extended re-test before being allowed back on the road.

The court heard that around 5:00pm, officers received several urgent calls from the public about Gilmore’s driving. Witnesses said he almost collided head-on with another car, narrowly missed a bus, and was seen weaving dangerously across the road.

The crash occurred when Gilmore attempted to overtake a lorry and drove straight into the path of a Hyundai, leaving the other driver with serious injuries and no chance to avoid the collision. She was treated at Bronglais Hospital.

When police arrived, they noted Gilmore was slurring his speech and had abnormal pupils. Although he passed a roadside breath test, he tested positive for cannabis. He later refused to provide a sample for further analysis at hospital.

Gilmore admitted to causing serious injury by dangerous driving and failing to provide a sample.

It also emerged in court that he had been pulled over earlier that day in Aberystwyth and arrested on suspicion of drug-driving. In a separate hearing at Aberystwyth Magistrates’ Court in March, he was banned from driving for three years after admitting that offence.

Defending, Ian Ibrahim said Gilmore fully accepted responsibility for his actions.

Sentencing him, Judge Walters said it was sheer “luck” that nobody was killed, and warned that Gilmore could easily have faced a much more serious charge.

Crime

Carmarthen man cleared of child sex assault charge

Published

3 days ago

April 25, 2025

Tom Sinclair

A MAN from Carmarthen has been found not guilty of sexually assaulting a child following a trial at Swansea Crown Court.

Stephen Boswell, aged 32, of Brynhaul Street, had been accused of assaulting a girl by penetration during an alleged incident said to have taken place in St Clears between 2010 and 2013.

Boswell denied the allegation and maintained his innocence throughout the proceedings.

During the trial, the prosecution alleged that Boswell had warned the girl the act “was going to hurt but she would get used to it” before the alleged assault took place. When asked in court whether he had sexually touched the child, Boswell responded: “No, I did not.”

Defence barrister Dyfed Thomas said Boswell had given “a clear and consistent denial” from the outset. He also highlighted inconsistencies in the complainant’s account and differences in the evidence presented by witnesses.

The court was told Boswell had no previous convictions and had fully cooperated with police during their investigation, answering all questions in interview.

After deliberating for approximately 50 minutes, the jury returned a verdict of not guilty.

Judge Paul Thomas KC thanked the jury for their careful consideration of the case. Boswell was discharged from the dock.