Crime

Man admits making obscene phone calls to Dock firefighters

Published

2 years ago

June 5, 2024

LOCAL firemen have described how a spate of obscene calls made directly to Pembroke Dock fire station have had ‘a detrimental impact’ on their crews.

Between March 27 and April 5, crew members received persistent telephone calls from a male person ‘with a slightly high voice’.

“The man asked ‘Can I suck your cock?” Crown Prosecutor Abigail Jackson told Haverfordwest magistrates this week.

“They were answered by the fire station manager, who at first thought they were being made by a child or a young person.”

But as the calls persisted, the fire station reported the matter to Dyfed Powys Police. Following an investigation, local resident Matthew Gilbert was interviewed by officers at his home address in Water Street, Pembroke Dock and the 39-year-old admitted making the calls.

In a statement read out to the court, the fire station manager said the incident has had a major impact on his crew.

“The impact of these actions has had a detrimental effect,” he said.

“We have lone officers who work at the station throughout the night and I’m not sure how safe they are now, as the fire station is less than a mile from the defendant’s house and the welfare of the crew members is paramount.

“This has had an impact on the services they provide, as the nature of the calls has caused considerable distress and concern to the station.”

Representing Gilbert, his solicitor, Michael Kelleher, stressed that the calls had not been made on the emergency 999 line.

“They were made directly to the station,” he said. “Since the offence, the defendant has been monitored on a regular basis and has admitted that what he did was extremely stupid.” Gilbert was placed on a Community Order for 18 months during which he must carry out 30 rehabilitation requirement days. He must also carry out 150 hours of unpaid work. He was ordered to pay a £114 surcharge and £85 costs.

Crime

Milford Haven man admits assault and harassment charges

Published

2 days 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

2 days 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.