Crime

Drunk chip shop worker admits damaging cars on April Fools’ Day

Published

2 years ago

June 19, 2024

A TENBY chip shop employee, described by a district judge as ‘a man who clearly goes around smashing things up’, has admitted damaging three vehicles during his latest drunken rampage.

Geoffrey Hickey, 23, was captured on CCTV footage entering the grounds of a property in Bethel Road, Pembroke Dock, and causing damage to three cars owned by Mr Ian Coombs.

The incident took place in the early hours of April Fool’s Day.

“The victim, Mr Coombs, was told that some of his cars had been damaged, so he watched the CCTV footage and saw the defendant causing the damage,” Crown Prosecutor Abigail Jackson told district judge Mark Layton who was sitting at Haverfordwest magistrates court on Tuesday.

“The defendant appeared to be holding a spanner and he used it to hit the vehicles, causing considerable damage.”

Ms Jackson said that the victim is now concerned that a similar act of criminal damage can reoccur.

Hickey pleaded guilty to a charge of causing criminal damage. He was legally represented in court by Mr Tom Lloyd.

“Alcohol was the factor here, and was the result of an on-going incident between the defendant’s family and the victim’s family,” he said.

Mr Lloyd went on to say that Hickey is currently employed at the Tenby Fish Bar, in Trafalgar Road, where he resides.

Sentencing was imposed by district judge Mark Layton.

“This man clearly goes around smashing things up,” he said. “He has previous similar convictions from 2021, 2022, 2023 and now, once again, in 2024. What makes the matter serious is that he seems to come before the court regularly, for damaging other people’s property, resulting in fines of almost £3,000 which have very little prospect of being paid for many years.”

Hickey was sentenced to eight weeks in custody suspended for 18 months. He was ordered to pay £820 compensation, a £154 court surcharge and £85 costs.

Crime

Carmarthen man denies coercive control allegations

Published

1 hour ago

March 20, 2026

Court Reporter

Defendant remanded in custody ahead of further hearing

A CARMARTHEN man has denied allegations of controlling and coercive behaviour towards his partner during a prolonged period of alleged abuse.

Mark Hanson, aged 51, of no fixed abode but previously linked to Llangunnor Road, Llangunnor, Carmarthen, appeared before Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court for a further case management hearing on Wednesday (Mar 19).

The court heard that Hanson is accused of engaging in controlling or coercive behaviour in an intimate relationship, contrary to Section 76 of the Serious Crime Act 2015.

It is alleged that between January 1, 2024 and March 12, 2026, at Stackpole, Hanson repeatedly or continuously subjected a female to threats of violence. Prosecutors say the pair were partners at the time, and that the behaviour had a serious effect on the complainant, which Hanson either knew or ought to have known.

Hanson entered a not guilty plea to the charge on March 13.

The court was told that he has been remanded in custody ahead of the next hearing, with magistrates citing concerns that he may commit further offences, including causing injury or fear of injury to a person connected to the case.

Additional information presented to the court indicated that Hanson is currently serving a custodial sentence of two months for breaching a Domestic Violence Protection Order.

The case was adjourned for a further case management hearing, which is scheduled to take place at Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court on Monday (Mar 23) at 10:00am. The hearing is expected to be conducted via video link and is listed for a duration of 20 minutes.

Magistrates Mr A Allison, Mrs J Morris and Mr D England presided over the hearing. The prosecution was led by Sian Vaughan, with Hanson represented by Alaw Harries of DGJ Solicitors.

Crime

Youth, 15, admits assault on police officer in Milford Haven

Published

1 hour ago

March 20, 2026

Court Reporter

A 15-YEAR-OLD has admitted assaulting a police officer during an incident in Milford Haven.

Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court heard that the offence took place on Saturday (Mar 1), when the youth assaulted Police Constable 573 Evans.

The defendant appeared before magistrates on Wednesday (Mar 19), where a guilty plea to common assault was entered.

The court granted unconditional bail and adjourned the case for sentencing.

The youth is due to appear again at Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court on Thursday (Apr 2) at 10:00am for sentencing. The hearing is expected to last around 30 minutes.

Under Section 49 of the Children and Young Persons Act 1933, the youth cannot be identified.

Crime

Youth given conditional discharge after series of offences in Haverfordwest

Published

1 hour ago

March 20, 2026

Court Reporter

A YOUTH has been given a conditional discharge after admitting a series of offences in Haverfordwest, including assault, shop theft and interfering with motor vehicles.

Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court heard that the offences took place over a number of days in December 2025.

The court was told that on Saturday (Dec 6), the youth assaulted another child by beating them during an incident in the town. On the same date, they also stole two cans of Red Bull worth £5.40 from Tesco.

Further offences were committed on Tuesday (Dec 9), when the youth interfered with multiple vehicles at a vehicle repair workshop at Havens Head Business Park, Milford Haven. The offences involved attempts to interfere with vehicles with the intention of theft.

The youth appeared before magistrates on Wednesday (Mar 19), where guilty pleas were entered to all matters.

Magistrates imposed a 12-month conditional discharge for each offence, taking into account the early guilty pleas.

The court also ordered the youth to pay £100 in compensation to the victim of the assault and £5.40 in compensation to Tesco. No order for costs was made due to the financial circumstances involved.

Under Section 49 of the Children and Young Persons Act 1933, the youth cannot be identified.