Crime

Former teacher sentenced for assaulting child in Ysgol Caer Elen’s playground

Published

5 months ago

June 25, 2024

A FORMER Ysgol Caer Elen teacher has appeared before magistrates for sentence after admitting assaulting a ten-year-old child in the school playground.

The child, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was seen running away from Samuel Jones on the morning of November 14 as he played with his friends on the school playground.

In a police statement given by one of the school’s pastoral behaviour support officers, she described the child as being ‘cheeky’.

“He was being cheeky to Mr Jones, who kept telling him to stop being silly and to give the ball back,” she said.

“The boy had kicked the girls’ ball over the fence and he was refusing to give it back. He kept saying ‘No’.

“Mr Jones kept telling him to give back the ball and shouted at him, but [the child] kept refusing.

“It had turned into a cat and mouse chase and [the child] was laughing and smirking and trying to dodge Mr Jones as he tried to stop him.”

As the child attempted to run past Samuel Jones, who have his address as Hayston View, Johnston the 40-year-old reached out and grabbed him by the back of his jumper.

“He had it around the shoulders and mid sleeves, and the child was bent forwards as he’d been running. But then he got loose and ran off again.”

The child ran towards a group of boys, and once again Mr Jones reached out to grab him.

“By now the boys were all calling him names, saying he was a child abuser and a paedo,” the pastoral behaviour support officer said in her statement.

“The child was also seen rubbing his jumper back and forth across the back of his neck. I don’t know if the mark on his neck was a result of this, or was simply made worse by the way he kept rubbing his jumper”

Mr Jones then left the playground and when he returned, the boys began calling him names.

“One of the boys was heard calling him a fat c***,” the support officer said in her statement.

Jones, 40, of Hayston View, Johnston pleaded guilty to a charge of assault by beating.

He was legally represented in court by Mr Michael Kelleher.

“This is the difficulty that a teacher or a learning assistant has these days,” he said. “When a child is being cheeky, rude or refusing to do what he is being asked to do, an adult should avoid touching the pupil.

“My client is mortified at what occurred and has since resigned from the teaching profession -so we’ve lost a teacher.

“The children were heard saying ‘We’ll make sure you’ll be in trouble for this’, and unfortunately this is what’s happened.”

After considering the mitigation, magistrates fined Jones £400 and ordered him to pay £85 costs and a £160 surcharge.

No compensation order was made against the victim.

“We have considered it, but we don’t deem compensation appropriate,” commented the presiding magistrate when passing sentence.

Crime

Welsh shop workers face ‘surge in shoplifting linked violence and abuse’ says union

Published

4 hours ago

November 13, 2024

Tom Sinclair

A NEW survey by retail trade union Usdaw has revealed disturbing figures on the abuse, threats, and violence endured by Welsh shop workers, with incidents increasingly linked to shoplifting. Released during Respect for Shop Workers Week, which runs from November 11 to 17, the statistics highlight a troubling trend that is impacting thousands of retail employees.

Usdaw’s survey, based on responses from over 4,000 retail staff, shows that in the past year:

69% experienced verbal abuse.
45% were threatened by customers.
17% were assaulted.

Usdaw General Secretary Paddy Lillis commented on the findings, saying: “Shop workers deserve far more respect than they receive. These reports from Welsh retail staff make grim reading. It is shocking to see over two-thirds of our members subjected to abuse, threats, and violence. Seven in ten of these incidents are related to theft, much of it tied to addiction and organised crime.”

Usdaw’s survey suggests that shoplifting is increasingly becoming a flashpoint for violence. Many shop workers report encountering hardened criminals who appear to steal goods “to order” or to fund addictions. According to the union, incidents are on the rise across Wales, with police-reported shoplifting up by 33% in the past year.

Usdaw member testimonies paint a vivid picture of the dangers faced on the shop floor:

One respondent described being “spat at, pushed against a wall, punched, and threatened with a knife.”
Another reported that, after refusing to sell alcohol, they were told to “F**k off” and threatened with a beating by a group of five.
Others spoke of being punched, spat on, and verbally abused, with threats that often left lasting emotional scars.

New measures on the horizon

Usdaw has been calling for greater legal protection for retail workers for years, and it appears these calls are finally being heard. The recent Crime and Policing Bill, announced in the King’s Speech, proposes to:

End the £200 threshold for prosecuting shoplifters, which has been a source of frustration for retailers.
Introduce town centre banning orders for repeat offenders.
Allocate funding for tackling organised shoplifting and increase police presence in shopping areas.

“We welcome these new measures and hope they will provide much-needed protection,” said Mr. Lillis. “After 14 years of neglect under successive Tory governments, we are encouraged by the steps the new Labour government is taking to address the retail crime epidemic.”

As Christmas approaches—a time when retail crime tends to peak—Usdaw is urging the public to “respect shop workers” and remain calm as stores become busier.

Usdaw, which represents around 360,000 members, primarily in retail, launched its Freedom From Fear Campaign to tackle the growing issue of violence against shop workers. The final results of the 2024 survey are expected in March 2025.

Crime

Pembroke Dock resident faces court over dog control breaches

Published

10 hours ago

November 13, 2024

Court Reporter

PHILIP Murray, 52, of 11 Picton Place, Pembroke Dock, will appear at Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court on Thursday (Nov 14) to face several charges of breaching a community protection notice. The notice, issued under the Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014, required Murray to control his dogs in response to repeated disturbances.

The charges relate to incidents from May to September 2024, when Murray allegedly failed to comply with the restrictions set out in a notice issued on January 3, 2024. Court documents state that despite multiple warnings, Murray continued to disregard the order, leading to ongoing issues linked to his dogs’ behaviour.

If found guilty, Murray could face a Level 4 fine for each offence. The hearing is scheduled to take place from 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm in Courtroom 1, presided over by the Ceredigion and Pembrokeshire Adult Panel.

The case underscores the role of community protection notices in addressing persistent anti-social behavior.

Crime

Cilgerran driver banned for drug use on Cardigan high street

Published

10 hours ago

November 13, 2024

Court Reporter

A CILGERRAN motorist appeared before a district judge after driving on Cardigan High Street under the influence of cannabis.

On May 3, police officers on patrol detected a strong smell of cannabis from a Volkswagen Golf driven by Kim Haynes, 40.

A drugs wipe returned a positive result, with subsequent tests showing Haynes had 3.4 mcg of Delta-9 Tetrahydrocannabinol in her blood, above the legal limit of 2.

Haynes, of Sun Cottage, Church Street, Cilgerran, pleaded guilty to driving over the specified drug-drive limit. She was fined and ordered to pay a total of £365, including costs and a court surcharge, and was disqualified from driving for 12 months.