Crime

Pedlar jailed for selling knives in Pembrokeshire

Published

6 months ago

July 10, 2024

A PEDLAR has been jailed for six months after admitting selling knives and scissors door-to-door in the Saundersfoot area.

Lewis Hill, 32, was seen approaching a property near Pentlepoir on July 4.

“He was seen going around houses selling kitchen utensils,” Crown Prosecutor Abigail Jackson told district judge Mark Layton who was sitting at Haverfordwest magistrates court on Tuesday.

“Police received a call about the defendant, who was claiming to be a salesman. But when one of the residents refused to buy off him, the defendant called him a f****** c***.”

Three more calls were made to the police by other nearby residents. Each reported that the door-do-door pedlar had been behaving in an aggressive and abusive way whenever people refused to buy items from his black holdall.

“He got very aggressive and threatened to knock somebody’s head off,” added Ms Jackson.

When officers subsequently arrested the defendant, they searched his holdall and discovered three pairs of scissors and a kitchen knife.

Ms Jackson said that in January 2023, Hill was sentenced to a Community Order after being convicted of selling items door-to-door in the Thornbury area without an appropriate pedlar’s certificate.

“He sold a packet of cloths to an elderly lady who was vulnerable,” continued Ms Jackson. “But he then became abusive, calling her names such as a slut and a c***.

“He said, ‘If you call the police, this will be the biggest mistake you’ll ever make in your life. You’ll be a dead woman walking.’ Hill then spat into the woman’s face and onto her clothing.”

Hill, who pleaded guilty to four charges of possessing a bladed article in a public place and of peddling without a pedlar’s certificate, has four previous convictions for peddling without a certificate.

This week he was represented in court by solicitor Mr Adam Scott.

“He was going from door-to-door selling the items, but they were not, in any way, to cause fear,” he said.

“He’s done this since the age of 18, where he’s being paid to go from door-to-door selling wares.”

Hill, who currently resides in Middlesbrough, was sentenced to 26 weeks in custody. He must pay a £154 court surcharge and £85 costs upon his release.

Crime

Three men from London admit their guilt over illegal cannabis farm

Published

2 days ago

December 21, 2024

Tom Sinclair

THREE men admit their guilt after police discover over 700 cannabis plants during a raid on a former school building in Llandysul.

Officers from Dyfed-Powys Police executed a warrant at the former Ysgol Gynradd Llandysul on Heol Llyn Y Fran on November 15. Inside, they found 737 cannabis plants spread across multiple rooms.

Armeld Troksi, 29, and Njazi Gjana, 27, both from Empire Avenue in Edmonton, London, along with Ervin Gjana, 24, from Durham Avenue in Romford, were arrested at the scene and later charged with producing cannabis.

The three men appeared before Swansea Crown Court, where they admitted their involvement in the illegal operation. Defence solicitor Joshua Scouller requested a pre-sentence report for Ervin Gjana, which was granted by Judge Geraint Walters.

Sentencing is scheduled for January 20.

A Dyfed-Powys Police spokesperson said: “Following a warrant executed at the former school on Heol Llyn Y Fran, officers discovered a significant cannabis grow containing 737 plants.

“We are grateful to the local community for their continued support and cooperation. Officers will remain in the area while the site is secured.

“Our commitment remains firm in disrupting drug production and supply networks across our force area.

“We encourage residents to report any suspicious activity, no matter how small it may seem. Every piece of information can make a difference, and reports can easily be submitted through our website.”

Crime

Sex offender jailed for breaching court order

Published

2 days ago

December 20, 2024

Court Reporter

A SEX offender from Wolfscastle has been jailed after using fake names on WhatsApp and attempting to access a social media app, breaching his sexual harm prevention order (SHPO).

Luke Rogers, 38, was sentenced to 10 months in prison at Swansea Crown Court after pleading guilty to two breaches of the order, which was imposed following his 2020 conviction for sexual activity with a child.

Under the SHPO, Rogers was prohibited from using unregistered internet-enabled devices or creating online profiles under false names. Prosecutor Ryan Bowen told the court that police monitoring software installed on Rogers’ phone detected activity in group chats under three aliases last November.

Further investigation revealed Rogers had also searched for the MeetMe app on four occasions and admitted using it. Rogers, described by Mr. Bowen as “apologetic,” was arrested, and his phone was seized.

The court heard Rogers has a history of 17 convictions for 35 offences, including breaching court orders and failing to comply with sex offender notification requirements.

Defence barrister Olivia Rose said Rogers had cooperated fully with police and expressed a desire to change. She argued that his breaches stemmed from a misunderstanding about permitted names and emphasized his efforts to seek support.

Despite these mitigating factors, Judge Catherine Richards noted Rogers’ pattern of reoffending and stated: “The reality is I can only pass an immediate custodial sentence.”

She expressed hope that Rogers would take advantage of post-sentence supervision to break the cycle of offending.

Crime

Police renew appeal to find Darren Markes from Pembroke Dock

Published

2 days ago

December 20, 2024

Tom Sinclair

POLICE in Pembrokeshire are renewing their appeal for information to locate Darren Markes, 46, from Pembroke Dock. He is wanted in connection with a domestic assault.

Markes is believed to have links to the Portsmouth and Sussex areas.

If you have seen Darren Markes or have any information about his whereabouts, please contact the police through one of the following methods: