Crime
Milford man jailed for shoplifting
A MILFORD HAVEN man has been sent to prison after admitting a spate of shoplifting offences at stores in Haverfordwest and Milford Haven.
Staff at the Tesco store in Milford Haven were alerted to Michael Carruthers on May 4, when the 32-year-old was seen picking up various items from the shelves and placing them inside a plastic bag.
“When he was approached by the staff, he became aggressive and began swearing,” said Crown Prosecutor Abigail Jackson. “Police were called, but the defendant grabbed one of the staff members by his left wrist.”
Ms Jackson said that the items which Carruthers attempted to steal totalled £20.40, but all items were subsequently recovered by staff.
Two days previously, police officers were called to an address in Milford Haven as a result of what the Crown described as ‘an ongoing incident.’
“The defendant was present and as he was arrested, he became resistant,” said Ms Jackson.
“When the officers tried to place him inside the rear of the van, he tried to head butt the cage. Police then tried to restrain him from harming himself or from causing injury to others but he became violent and kicked out with his leg, making contact with one of the officer’s right shin.”
Ms Jackson said that Carruthers continued to be abusive whilst in custody.
The previous month, on April 16, Carruthers was seen entering Home Bargains in Haverfordwest.
“CCTV footage showed him picking up a number of items, including alcohol and vapes, and placing them in a bag,” continued Ms Jackson.
This week Carruthers, who is currently of no fixed abode, appeared before Haverfordwest magistrates via a video link from Swansea prison where he has been remanded in custody since the latest offence on May 4. He pleaded guilty to assaulting an emergency worker, theft from Home Bargains, attempted theft from Tesco and the common assault of a store member at Tesco, Milford Haven.
Each of the offences were committed while Carruthers was serving a community order for a previous conviction. He has a total of 17 previous convictions, including assaults on emergency officers and shoplifting.
Meanwhile his solicitor, Tom Lloyd described Carruthers as ‘an extremely vulnerable young man’.
“He struggles tremendously with substance abuse issues, the most recent being alcohol,” he said.
“Things have got so bad, and the offending has become so frequent, that the options are limited.”
Following a 60-minute deliberation by magistrates, Carruthers was sentenced to 12 weeks in custody. He was also ordered to pay a £154 court surcharge and £85 costs.
Crime
Arrest after fatal Carmarthenshire hit-and-run
A MAN has been arrested following a fatal hit-and-run collision in Llanpumsaint, Carmarthenshire, on Monday (December 23), which claimed the life of 38-year-old Aaron Jones.
The incident happened near Caer Salem Baptist Chapel between 6:45pm and 7:45pm while Aaron was walking his dog. Police said the vehicle involved, a blue car with noticeable damage, was travelling northbound through the village at the time of the collision.
Dyfed-Powys Police confirmed that the vehicle believed to have been involved has now been located, and a 27-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving, failing to stop for a collision, and failing to report a collision.
Specially trained officers are supporting Aaron’s family, who have asked for privacy during this difficult time.
A spokesperson for Dyfed-Powys Police said: “We are appealing to anyone who may have seen the vehicle or has dashcam footage from the area during the relevant times to contact us immediately.”
The road remains closed while investigations continue, and residents can expect an increased police presence in the area.
Anyone with dashcam footage, doorbell camera recordings, or CCTV footage from the area is urged to check their recordings and contact Dyfed-Powys Police immediately using the details provided in the comments.
Crime
Repeat offender jailed for breaching Sexual Harm Prevention Order
A SERIAL offender who repeatedly defied a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) has been handed a three-year prison sentence following his latest breaches while living in Pembrokeshire.
Adrian John Thomas, 31, of no fixed abode, was originally made subject to a SHPO and notification requirements in 2017 after being convicted of offences involving a 14-year-old girl. Despite the restrictions imposed on him, Thomas has shown a persistent pattern of non-compliance.
The latest sentencing at Swansea Crown Court on Thursday (Dec 19) addressed four fresh breaches of the SHPO and one count of failing to meet notification requirements.
Following his release from prison in October 2023, Thomas initially registered at an approved address in Swansea. By January, he had moved to Pembrokeshire and declared himself as having no fixed address to the police.
However, it later emerged that he had moved in with his mother, who resides in sheltered housing, without notifying authorities of his change in circumstances—a direct violation of his notification requirements.
While living with his mother, Thomas took control of her iPhone, setting up a PIN and facial recognition lock without her consent. He then used the device to create multiple social media accounts, including Instagram, Gmail, and Facebook profiles, all in clear breach of his SHPO terms.
The court heard how Thomas’s actions left his mother feeling distressed and powerless in her own home.
Prosecutors revealed Thomas’s extensive criminal history, including eight previous convictions spanning 15 offences. Between February 2019 and October 2022 alone, he breached the SHPO 11 times and once failed to comply with notification requirements, resulting in multiple prison sentences.
In mitigation, the defence argued that Thomas had shown remorse and was struggling with his mental health. They claimed he had no viable housing options other than moving in with his mother or living in a tent.
Judge Paul Thomas KC delivered a stark assessment of the defendant’s repeated disregard for court orders.
“Your track record shows a persistent determination to flout the Sexual Harm Prevention Order placed on you after a serious child sexual offence conviction,” the judge said.
“You have breached this order and notification requirements time and time again. You misled the police about your living arrangements, manipulated your mother’s phone despite her pleas, and did so while on licence from a previous sentence.”
The judge concluded: “You seem entirely undeterred by the consequences of your actions.”
Thomas was sentenced to three years in prison, with a review of the SHPO’s duration scheduled for January.
Crime
Police hunt driver after dog walker killed in Carmarthenshire hit-and-run
A PEDESTRIAN walking his dog has died after being struck in a hit-and-run collision on a Carmarthenshire road on Monday (December 23).
The incident occurred in Llanpumsaint, near Caer Salem Baptist Chapel, between 6:45pm and 7:45pm.
The road remains closed, and police are urgently appealing for information to locate the driver of a blue vehicle believed to have fled the scene.
A spokesperson for Dyfed-Powys Police said: “We are actively searching for the driver of a blue vehicle with noticeable damage, which was involved in a fatal hit-and-run collision in Llanpumsaint, Carmarthenshire. The driver left the scene, and locating them is now our top priority.
“We are appealing directly to the driver to do the right thing and come forward. Additionally, we urge anyone who may have seen the vehicle or has dashcam footage from the area during the relevant times to contact us immediately.
“This collision, which tragically resulted in the death of a pedestrian, happened near Caer Salem Baptist Chapel between 6:45pm and 7:45pm on Monday, December 23, as the man was walking his dog.
“Our investigation indicates the vehicle was travelling northbound through Llanpumsaint at the time of the incident.”
The road is expected to remain closed for some time while enquiries continue. Police stress that any piece of information, no matter how small, could be crucial in identifying and locating the driver. Anyone with information is urged to contact Dyfed-Powys Police immediately using the details provided in the comments.
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