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Crime

Pembrokeshire woman admits stealing food and booze from shops

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A 34-YEAR-OLD Milford Haven woman has been sentenced by a district judge after admitting stealing food from four separate stores within the town centre.

Kelly Rees was seen stealing groceries from Tesco valued at £68 on January 20; stealing groceries valued at £7.20 from One Stop Store on January 24;  stealing alcohol valued at £25 from the One Stop Store on February 24; stealing £13.26 worth of energy drinks from Best One Store on February 24 and stealing steak, valued at £60, from Lidl on March 11.

Rees, of Precelly Place, Milford Haven, pleaded guilty to all five offences when she appeared before district judge Mark Layton at Haverfordwest Magistrates Court this week.

She was represented in court by Mr Mike Kelleher.

“Last year my client’s mother died suddenly and shortly afterwards her relationship broke down, resulting in her three children going to live with their father,” he said. 

 “She relapsed into drug misuse as a result, hence the shoplifting offences, as she was spending all her money on drugs.”

Rees was sentenced to a 12-month community order during which she must carry out 20 rehabilitation activity requirement days.  She was fined £80, ordered to pay £172.16 compensation to the shops, a £114 court surcharge and £85 costs.

Crime

Police hunt driver after dog walker killed in Carmarthenshire hit-and-run

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A PEDESTRIAN walking his dog has died after being struck in a hit-and-run collision on a Carmarthenshire road on Monday (December 23).

The incident occurred in Llanpumsaint, near Caer Salem Baptist Chapel, between 6:45pm and 7:45pm.

The road remains closed, and police are urgently appealing for information to locate the driver of a blue vehicle believed to have fled the scene.

A spokesperson for Dyfed-Powys Police said: “We are actively searching for the driver of a blue vehicle with noticeable damage, which was involved in a fatal hit-and-run collision in Llanpumsaint, Carmarthenshire. The driver left the scene, and locating them is now our top priority.

“We are appealing directly to the driver to do the right thing and come forward. Additionally, we urge anyone who may have seen the vehicle or has dashcam footage from the area during the relevant times to contact us immediately.

“This collision, which tragically resulted in the death of a pedestrian, happened near Caer Salem Baptist Chapel between 6:45pm and 7:45pm on Monday, December 23, as the man was walking his dog.

“Our investigation indicates the vehicle was travelling northbound through Llanpumsaint at the time of the incident.”

The road is expected to remain closed for some time while enquiries continue. Police stress that any piece of information, no matter how small, could be crucial in identifying and locating the driver. Anyone with information is urged to contact Dyfed-Powys Police immediately using the details provided in the comments.

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Crime

Haverfordwest man given restraining order for stalking ex

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A HAVERFORDWEST man who had difficulty coming to terms with the end of his marriage has appeared before magistrates where he pleaded guilty to stalking his former wife. 

Terry Mochan and his wife, Carol, separated in January 2024, but three months later, Ms Mochan found herself being harassed and intimidated by her former husband.

The first incident took place on April 13 when Mochan, 25, of St Issells Avenue, Merlins Bridge, Haverfordwest, raised his middle finger at his wife in a public place, and shouted at her.

Three days later Mrs Mochan noticed that her ex-husband was following her through Haverfordwest town centre.

“He was driving very closely behind her in his van,” Crown Prosecutor Sian Vaughan told Haverfordwest Magistrates this week.

In a victim impact statement that was read to the court, Mrs Mochan said both incidents have had a profound effect on her self-confidence.

“She’s now concerned, whenever she’s driving through town, that the defendant will be following her,” said Ms Vaughan.  “It’s having an impact on her life and she’s concerned that he’ll attend her property.”

Mr Mochan was represented by solicitor Mr Gavin Rofer who said the defendant has no previous convictions.

“Both incidents were the result of the breakdown of their marriage,” he said.  “But since April 16 there have been no further incidents.”

After considering the mitigation, magistrates fined Mochan £180 and ordered him to pay £325 court costs and a £72 surcharge.  A 12 month restraining order was imposed, preventing him from having any contact with Carol Mochan.

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Crime

Hostel resident brandished knife after seizure fears ignored

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WHEN hostel resident Andrew Finan feared he was suffering a seizure, he attempted to contact the hostel’s support worker for help.

But when she failed to answer his calls, Finan walked up to the hostel’s CCTV camera, shouting angrily and brandishing a large kitchen knife.

“He’s been at the hostel since August, but he’s hard work,” Crown Prosecutor Sian Vaughan told Haverfordwest magistrates this week.

“He has various mental health issues and the staff have difficulty controlling him.”

Incident captured on CCTV

The incident took place in the early hours of December 22 at the Furnace Bank Hostel, Carmarthen.

“The CCTV covers the hostel, and the defendant was shouting angrily directly at the camera and holding a large kitchen knife in his hand,” said Ms Vaughan.

The support worker on duty at the time heard Finan shouting, “I’m sick of you, you b*******,” before turning away and going upstairs to his room.

Support worker left shaken

“I found the incident scary,” the support worker said in a victim impact statement. “His behaviour is erratic and unpredictable, and he scares me. I don’t know what to expect from him from day to day. Waving the knife around and directing it at me was extremely worrying.”

Defence cites frustration

But Finan’s solicitor, Fenn Richards, said his actions were the result of frustration at being ignored by staff.

“He believed he was going to have a seizure, as he’s had five brain bleeds in the past as a result of an assault,” she said.

“He tried to get the staff’s attention, but they didn’t answer the door, and the only way he could get their attention was to stand in front of the camera.”

Sentencing next month

Finan pleaded guilty to a charge of possessing an offensive weapon in a public place. Sentencing was adjourned to January 14 to allow a probation report to be prepared. Finan was released on conditional bail, with conditions including reporting twice a week to Carmarthen police station, not visiting the Furnace Bank Hostel, and having no contact with the support worker.

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