THE FORMER mayor of Pembroke Dock, Terry Judkins, has been warned he could face jail time after admitting to new charges related to the possession and distribution of indecent images of children.

Judkins, 55, first appeared at Swansea Crown Court in May, where he pleaded guilty to two offences. These included making two Category C indecent images of children and possessing a prohibited image of a child, all dated between September 27, 2018, and August 5, 2021. He denied charges of possessing extreme pornographic images depicting bestiality.

In addition to these charges, Judkins was also accused of making 52 Category A indecent images of children within the same timeframe. This particular charge had been adjourned for further consideration of the evidence.

On June 20, Judkins, residing on Bush Street in Pembroke Dock, returned to Swansea Crown Court, where he admitted to the Category A offence. Prosecutor Helen Randall revealed that an analysis of Judkins’ mobile phone indicated he had been distributing images as well. Judkins pleaded guilty to distributing two Category A images on July 25, 2020, but denied distributing one Category A image on August 29, 2020.

Ms Randall stated that the pleas Judkins entered were acceptable, and as a result, a trial would not be pursued for the remaining charges.

Judge Catherine Richards has ordered a pre-sentence report and granted Judkins bail until his sentencing on July 15. She issued a stark warning to the defendant: “All options will be open to the court. That will include immediate custody.”

A MAN from Pembrokeshire, Paul Stuart Chesher, 66, has pleaded guilty to serious child sex offences at Swansea Crown Court.

Chesher, from Herbrandston, appeared in court on Friday, 21 June, where he admitted to multiple charges.

He pleaded guilty to two counts of attempting to incite a child under 13 to engage in sexual activity, specifically masturbation, without believing she was over 16.

These offences occurred in September 2021.

Additionally, Chesher admitted to attempting to engage in sexual communication with the same victim for sexual gratification, also without reasonably believing she was over 16. This communication occurred between August and October 2021.

Chesher, who has admitted all charges, is scheduled to be sentenced at Swansea Crown Court next month.

THE PEMBROKESHIRE community has successfully raised the funds needed to cover the court fine of former teacher Rhodri S. Jones within just 24 hours. The GoFundMe campaign, launched to support Jones after his conviction for assaulting a child at Ysgol Caer Elen, has met its £600 target.

Jones, 40, of Hayston View, Johnston, had pleaded guilty to assault by beating. He was legally represented in court by Mr Michael Kelleher, who highlighted the difficulties faced by teachers in maintaining discipline without physical interaction. Jones, described as mortified by the incident, resigned from the teaching profession following the altercation where he pushed a pupil who was being cheeky and rude.

The court fined Jones £400, with additional costs and a surcharge bringing the total to £645. No compensation order was made against the victim, with the presiding magistrate deeming it inappropriate.

The fundraiser, organised by Andrew Phillips, saw an outpouring of support from the community, quickly surpassing its goal. Donations flooded in from parents, colleagues, and local residents who felt the punishment was too severe for what they considered a minor incident.

Jones expressed his gratitude, saying, “I am overwhelmed with the support of the community, and I can’t believe how generous everyone has been. This has been a difficult time for me and my family, and this support means the world to us.”

The rapid success of the campaign highlights the strong sense of community and the high regard in which Jones is held. Supporters emphasised his dedication to teaching and lamented the loss of a valued educator from the profession.

This collective effort not only alleviates the financial burden on Jones but also sends a powerful message of community unity and support. The incident has sparked a broader conversation about the challenges faced by teachers and the pressures of maintaining discipline in modern educational environments.