News

Duo armed themselves with bottles in Tenby

Published

10 years ago

October 29, 2014

TWO men from Pontypridd appeared in Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday (Oct 28) after both had been charged with disorderly conduct.

Mark Sweeney, aged 31 of Ynys Y Bwl and Ian Rhys Morgan, aged 32 of Leyshon Street both pleaded guilty to the charge.

Prosecutor, Ellie Morgan said: “On September 7 just past midnight, Sergeant Williams was on duty in Tenby on George Street. Bar staff came out of the Three Mariners Hotel and asked for immediate assistance. The two men were inside and had armed themselves with bottles. They acted aggressively and had already smashed a number of bottles and glasses, and were shouting ‘Come on you f****** w******.’ The officer approached them armed with pepper spray and asked them to put the bottles down. They complied but were still shouting ‘F*** you’. They were then detained and arrested.”

Ms Morgan continued: “CCTV of the incident shows numerous members of the public who were present running out of the pub. The officer said he was alarmed and felt fearful. Morgan said he couldn’t remember the important part, but before it happened he and his friend were having a laugh. He said he was very drunk and something drastic must have happened for him to act in that way, saying ‘We must have been outnumbered or something’. He was seen throwing a bottle and said he felt like he was being blamed for everything, but something must have happened. Sweeney said that males started shouting at them and he smashed a glass, but he shouldn’t have. He said he had eight pints and has a clear recollection one minute and then can’t remember what happens the next. He said ‘I was threatened and I was just reacting, you know?’.”

Defence solicitor, James Subbiani said: “Both pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity and both were very frank and candid. They’d been to Oakwood in the day and decided to go to The Three Mariners Hotel. They were attacked and reacted inappropriately and ejected from the pub. They cooperated with police immediately, but they should have gone to the police themselves as they would have been treated like victims and not criminals.”

Probation officer, Julie Norman said: “Both were fully cooperative with me in preparation for the report. They’d been part of a party of four and had been to Oakwood. They booked a room in a B&B and the other two people decided to go back to the hotel. Sweeney and Morgan decided to stay out for one last drink and it all went wrong.They were drunk but were in a happy mood and had a good evening. They were provoked and an unpleasant incident occurred resulting in a scuffle.”

Ms Norman continued: “Sweeney has tried to sort himself out and get away from offending, and in the last eight years has gained employment and tried to lead a pro social life. Morgan is a married man and his last conviction was nine years ago. He was sentenced to a term of custody in the past and is disappointed he is back.”

After long deliberation, magistrates told the court: “We have been discussing custody as this is a serious offence. We don’t want that type of behaviour in our county. All of your previous offences have been drink related. You didn’t have to stay out, you could have just gone home and stayed out of trouble. When are you going to get the message?”

Magistrates imposed a 12 month community order with the requirement of completing 180 hours of unpaid work. They must also pay £85 cost and £60 victim surcharge.

Crime

Cabbie and passenger caged for cocaine trafficking in Pembrokeshire

Published

25 mins ago

January 21, 2025

Tom Sinclair

A TAXI driver and his passenger have been jailed after being caught smuggling a kilogram of cocaine into Pembrokeshire. Police stopped their vehicle on the Cleddau Bridge, where the pair tried—but failed—to ditch a “bag for life” stuffed with the Class A drug.

Pajtim Meta and Albert Nikolla, both 26, were ferrying the cocaine from Northampton to Milford Haven when Dyfed-Powys Police intercepted their run as part of a wider crackdown on drug trafficking in west Wales.

Nikolla, from Plough Way, London, admitted possession with intent to supply cocaine, being concerned in its supply, and a separate charge of cocaine possession in London in June 2023.

Meta, of Ruskin Road, Northampton, denied all involvement but was found guilty by a jury after just 50 minutes of deliberation.

Taxi driver convicted of drug trafficking cocaine to Milford Haven

Nikolla’s troubles began in June 2023 when London police spotted him behaving suspiciously in his car. A search revealed 37 wraps of cocaine worth up to £1,850.

But the duo’s real downfall came on January 18, 2024. During a routine stop near the Cleddau Bridge, Nikolla fled Meta’s taxi, discarding a bag that police recovered. Inside was a 1kg block of cocaine with a street value of up to £85,800.

Meta initially claimed he was an innocent cabbie who didn’t know Nikolla or even the area. However, ANPR records showed Meta’s taxi had made nine trips between Northampton and Milford Haven. Confronted with the evidence, he admitted transporting Nikolla but claimed he lied to avoid a long sentence.

Nikolla’s barrister, Matthew Murphy, argued his client—a trained vet from Albania—was coerced into drug dealing by the criminal network that smuggled him into the UK.

Meta’s lawyer, Llewellyn Culver-Evans, said his client, a hardworking taxi driver since 2018, was of good character and determined to turn his life around.

Nikolla was sentenced to four years and three months, including time for the London charges. Meta received five years for his role in the operation.

Both men are now behind bars, their plot to flood Pembrokeshire with cocaine brought to an end.

Crime

Man in custody after admitting sexual assault of boy under 13

Published

1 hour ago

January 21, 2025

Court Reporter

A PEMBROKESHIRE man is in custody awaiting sentencing at Crown Court for the sexual assault of a boy under the age of 13.

Jake Roberts, 22, of no fixed abode in Cilgerran, appeared before Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court on January 13. He entered an indicated guilty plea to the charge of sexually assaulting a boy under 13 by touching, contrary to Section 7 of the Sexual Offences Act 2003.

The offences occurred on at least two occasions between January 1, 2021, and January 11, 2025. The court heard that the touching was both intentional and sexual.

Due to the severity of the offence, Roberts’ previous criminal record, and the likelihood of reoffending, the magistrates committed him to custody. He will appear for sentencing at Swansea Crown Court on February 3.

Crime

Proposed police precept to be scrutinised by police and Crime Panel

Published

18 hours ago

January 20, 2025

Tom Sinclair

THE PROPOSED precept for Dyfed Powys Police will be put under scrutiny at the first meeting of the Dyfed Powys Police and Crime Panel in 2025.

Panel members will meet on Friday 24 January 2025 at County Hall in Haverfordwest to discuss the precept and challenge Police and Crime Commissioner Dafydd Llywelyn on his budget plans for the coming year.

The panel, made up of members nominated by the four councils in the force area plus two independent members, has the power to approve or veto the proposed police precept.

Local policing is funded from a Home Office grant, as well as contributions from the public via the Council Tax, known as the police precept.

During the meeting Mr Llywelyn will inform the panel of the findings of a recent public consultation on police funding.

Panel Chair, Professor Ian Roffe, said: “As a Police and Crime Panel, it is our role to scrutinise the Police and Crime Commissioner’s proposed precept to ensure that his financial budget is balanced and appropriate to serve the communities of Carmarthenshire, Powys, Pembrokeshire and Ceredigion. We are all acutely aware of the financial pressure upon households and it is incredibly important, therefore, that the Police and Crime Panel seek assurances that any increase in residents’ taxes reflect good value for their money.”

Visit www.dppoliceandcrimepanel.wales for more information about the Panel, its membership, forthcoming meeting dates, agendas and webcasting links, as well as submitting questions for the Panel to put to the Commissioner.

Questions can be submitted online, or in writing at [email protected] at least 10 days before a meeting.