Crime

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

Published

1 year 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

Man charged with strangulation and assault offences after October incident

Published

13 hours ago

December 14, 2025

Court Reporter

A MAN recorded in court as having no fixed abode has appeared before magistrates charged with intentional strangulation and two further assault offences.

Michael Sudbury, 50, whose address was not read out in court, but in Herald records is Glan Hafan, Llangwm, appeared before the bench facing multiple charges.

The charges relate to an incident on 22 October 2025 and include:

Intentional strangulation, contrary to section 75A of the Serious Crime Act 2015
Common assault
Assault by beating

No further details of the alleged incident were opened in court, and no plea was entered at this stage.

Sudbury was remanded on conditional bail, with the case listed to return to magistrates later this month.

Crime

Haverfordwest man sent to Crown Court on multiple serious charges

Published

14 hours ago

December 14, 2025

Court Reporter

Defendant remanded in custody

A HAVERFORDWEST man has been sent to Swansea Crown Court to stand trial on a series of A 49-year-old Haverfordwest resident has been committed to Swansea Crown Court to face trial on multiple serious charges deemed too grave for magistrates to handle.

David Guy, of Market Street, Haverfordwest, appeared before Haverfordwest magistrates facing a series of allegations stemming from a single case. The charges, which were not detailed in open court, include:

Assault occasioning actual bodily harm (ABH)
A second count of assault
Criminal damage
An additional allegation of interpersonal violence
A public order offence

Magistrates declined jurisdiction, determining that the matters exceeded their sentencing powers, and sent the case in its entirety to Swansea Crown Court.

Guy was remanded in custody pending his next appearance. The court register notes: “Sent to Crown Court for trial in custody – next hearing at Swansea Crown Court.”

A date for the initial Crown Court hearing will be set administratively. Guy will remain in custody until then.

The Pembrokeshire Herald will provide further updates as the case progresses in the Crown Court.

Crime

Castlemartin man back before magistrates over multiple alleged assaults

Published

14 hours ago

December 14, 2025

Court Reporter

Defendant remanded on conditional bail ahead of further hearing

A CASTLEMARTIN man has appeared repeatedly before magistrates this month over a string A 40-year-old man from Castlemartin has made repeated appearances before magistrates this month in connection with a series of serious alleged offences, including assault occasioning actual bodily harm (ABH), intentional non-fatal strangulation, common assault, and criminal damage.

Anthony Alcock, of Pwll Street, Castlemartin, is facing six linked charges stemming from incidents said to have occurred earlier this year. These appear to relate to the same complainant in what is understood to be a single ongoing domestic abuse prosecution.

During recent administrative hearings at Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court, Alcock did not enter pleas while matters of bail and case management were addressed.

Charges Include:

Assault occasioning actual bodily harm (ABH)
Intentional non-fatal strangulation
Common assault on a woman
Criminal damage in a domestic context
Additional assault allegations involving the same complainant
Breach of bail conditions

Alcock was initially granted conditional bail but was subsequently brought before the court on two occasions for alleged breaches. On those instances, magistrates remanded him in custody ahead of further hearings. He was later re-granted conditional bail, subject to strict conditions such as no contact with the complainant and exclusion from specified locations.

Magistrates have now declined jurisdiction, ruling that the case—particularly the more serious charges involving non-fatal strangulation—is too grave for summary trial. It has been committed to Swansea Crown Court for plea, trial, or sentencing.

No detailed evidence has been presented in open court at this preliminary stage. Alcock remains on conditional bail pending his next appearance at the Crown Court.