Crime

Haverfordwest drug dealer sentenced after cannabis, coke and MDMA found

Published

9 months ago

June 15, 2024

A 23-YEAR-OLD drug dealer has been sentenced to a total of two and a half years in prison after police discovered a large quantity of drugs and cash at his mother’s house.

Owen Maddocks, of Hywel Road in Haverfordwest, was arrested after police attended his mother’s address on 15 June last year to speak with him about an unrelated matter. During their visit, officers found £4,905 in cash and a substantial amount of drugs in Maddocks’ room, prosecutor Ieuan Rees told Swansea Crown Court.

The police discovered 1.284kg of cannabis, around 147 MDMA tablets, and approximately 18 grams of cocaine. Maddocks was arrested and provided a prepared statement in the interview before being released on bail pending further investigations.

On 5 April, Maddocks was stopped by police while a passenger in a car. He admitted to having cannabis on him and further quantities at his flat and his mother’s house. Officers subsequently recovered an additional 72 grams of cannabis. Maddocks again provided a prepared statement, admitting to selling drugs to known users to pay off a drug debt.

The April offence occurred while Maddocks was on bail for the initial charges. He admitted possession with intent to supply cocaine and cannabis, possession of MDMA, and possessing criminal property relating to the cash found on 15 June. He also admitted a second charge of possessing cannabis with intent to supply on 5 April.

In mitigation, Dean Pulling explained that Maddocks was primarily involved in the supply of cannabis, with the cocaine being a minor sideline. He noted that Maddocks felt pressured to commit the April offence to make up for the cash seized by police. Mr Pulling added that Maddocks had been introduced to cannabis at the age of nine but is now drug-free and has found his first experience of custody challenging.

Judge Catherine Richards sentenced Maddocks to two years for the June offences and an additional six months, to run consecutively, for the April offence. An additional month was added for breaching a suspended sentence order.

Judge Richards ordered that the £4,905 seized from Maddocks be utilised by Dyfed-Powys Police in their efforts to combat drug trafficking.

Crime

Pensioner feared for life after brutal attack in his home

Published

2 hours ago

March 18, 2025

Sarah Jane Absalom

A VULNERABLE 73-year-old cancer patient was left fearing for his life after being assaulted by a 32-year-old man in his own home, a court has heard.

Haverfordwest magistrates were told how the pensioner suffered head lacerations and bruising to his arms when an argument with James Britton turned violent on December 23, 2023, at a property in Winch Crescent, Haverfordwest.

Crown Prosecutor Sian Vaughan told the court: “What began as a verbal row turned physical. The victim, a vulnerable man, was unable to fight back.”

In a victim impact statement, the pensioner described the lasting trauma the attack had caused him.

“Before the assault, I was a happy, outgoing person who wasn’t afraid to go out by myself. But since then, I’m scared to leave the house. I’m terrified about bumping into James Britton, and I’m terrified that he’ll carry out his threat to kill me.

“Before this, I’d never been physically assaulted. He knew I had cancer and that I was recovering. Now I’m just existing … I just want to stay at home.”

Britton, of Coronation Avenue, Haverfordwest, pleaded guilty to assault causing actual bodily harm and criminal damage to the victim’s mobile phone, glasses, and dentures—together worth £915.98.

Defence solicitor Tom Lloyd told the court Britton regretted his actions and wanted to leave the area.

“The defendant wants to put this behind him and start a new life outside of Haverfordwest. It might not be the most productive place for him,” he said.

Mr Lloyd admitted Britton had “a chequered past”, noting he had recently spent four months in prison on remand for an offence he denied before the case w

Crime

Teenager in court over public threats blade incident

Published

3 hours ago

March 18, 2025

Court Reporter

A 19-YEAR-OLD man has appeared in court accused of threatening a man with a knife in Haverfordwest.

Kian Kelly, of Freemans View, is charged with possessing a bladed article in a public place and making threats with it on Hill Street on March 8.

He is also accused of causing criminal damage to household items belonging to the alleged victim.

Kelly appeared before Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court on March 10, where the case was sent to Swansea Crown Court. He was granted bail and is due to enter his pleas on April 11.

Crime

Police appeal after teenage girl assaulted in Tenby

Published

4 hours ago

March 18, 2025

Tom Sinclair

TENBY police are appealing for witnesses following an assault on a teenage girl on Saturday afternoon (Mar 15).

The 13-year-old girl sustained injuries to her head and back during the incident, officers confirmed.

A Dyfed-Powys Police spokesperson said: “Dyfed-Powys Police received a report of an assault on a 13-year-old girl in the Tenby area at around 5:00pm on Saturday, March 15.

“The victim suffered injuries to her head and back. No arrests have been made, and enquiries are ongoing.

“If you witnessed the incident or have information that could assist our investigation, please contact us either online at https://bit.ly/DPPContactOnline, by emailing [email protected], or by calling 101.”

The crime reference number is 25*220256.