Crime
Sex offender jailed for sending explicit image to ‘teenage boy’
A PEMBROKESHIRE man who sent an indecent photograph to someone he believed was a 14-year-old boy has been sentenced to five years in prison at Swansea Crown Court.
Andrew Gold, 41, of no fixed abode, was found guilty of attempted sexual communications with a child and attempting to incite a child to engage in sexual activity. The court heard that Gold, formerly of Tenby, had contacted a decoy account posing as a teenage boy named Ryan between June and September last year.
Judge Catherine Richards, presiding over the case, described Gold as “devious and manipulative” in her sentencing remarks. She outlined how Gold had initially made contact via a dating app before moving the conversation to Snapchat, where he sent an explicit image and encouraged the ‘boy’ to masturbate.
“Your conversation soon turned sexual,” Judge Richards said, summarising the evidence presented at trial. “Your actions were determined and calculated.”
The court was told that Gold had chosen Snapchat specifically for its disappearing messages feature, and had subsequently deleted the app in an attempt to conceal his actions.
Prosecutor Georgia Donohue informed the court of Gold’s relevant previous convictions. In mitigation, defence barrister Dyfed Thomas acknowledged the limited grounds for leniency, stating, “This was an online offence. I accept there was some discussion about meeting. It didn’t really develop.”
Judge Richards imposed a five-year sentence, comprising three years in custody and two years on extended licence. She also ordered Gold to register as a sex offender for life and made him subject to an indefinite sexual harm prevention order.
“I’m sure there is a serious risk to young boys,” Judge Richards concluded as she passed sentence.
Crime
Court hears man exposed his flaccid manhood ‘by accident’
A 21-YEAR-OLD Pembrokeshire man has appeared before magistrates charged with intentionally exposing his genitals in a public place.
Thomas Jones is accused of carrying out the act at a property in New Moat, Clarbeston Road, on November 9, 2022.
“The defendant knocked on the door of a female and offered his gardening services,” Crown prosecutor Nia James told Haverfordwest magistrates this week.
“She accepted his offer and moved her car so that he could move his van, but when she turned around, she could see his flaccid penis was outside his trousers. When she pointed this out to him, he said he didn’t know that it was exposed.”
Jones denies the charge. He was released on unconditional bail to await his trial at Haverfordwest magistrates court on January 6.
Crime
Regular cocaine user from Milford Haven taken off the road
A MILFORD HAVEN resident who admits to being a regular cocaine user has lost his driving licence after being found behind the wheel when he was 15 times over the legal Benzoylecgonine limit.
Teifion Morse, 41, was stopped by officers just before midnight on May 1 following reports that he was driving his Vauxhall Insignia along the A477 at excessive speeds.
“The vehicle was travelling westwards towards Kilgetty, and Teifion Morse was the driver and the sole occupant, “ Crown Prosecutor Nia James told Haverfordwest magistrates this week.
A roadside drugs wipe proved positive while further blood tests carried out at the police custody suite showed that Morse had 800 mcg of benzoylecgonine in his system (the legal limit is 50), and 20 mcg of cocaine. The legal limit is 10.
Ms James said that when Morse was spoken to by officers, he told them that he knew the readings would be positive. “I’ve done stupid amounts today,” he said.
Morse, of Hawthorn Path, Milford Haven, pleaded guilty to two charges of drug driving. A probation report stated that since leaving the military five and a half years ago, Morse has suffered from mental health issues.
He’s been using cocaine as a coping mechanism,” said the probation officer. “He freely admits that he uses cocaine to help him cope, but it’s spiralled and is getting more and more out of control. He would like support to kick this habit.”
Morse chose to be legally unrepresented when he appeared before magistrates.
“It was my stupid fault and I’m trying to take the correct steps to get on the right path,” he said in mitigation.
Morse was sentenced to an 18-month community order during which he must carry out 15 rehabilitation activity requirement days and 150 hours of unpaid work. He was disqualified from driving for 15 months and must pay a £140 court surcharge and £85 costs.
Crime
Motorist manned from driving after being caught over limit
A PEMBROKE DOCK motorist has been ordered off the roads after driving through Pembroke town centre when he was over the drink-drive limit.
Just before 1am on October 31, police officers stopped a Vauxhall Zafira that was being driven along South Road by Cameron Sell, 23, who was exceeding the speed limit.
“He was acting erratically when he was speaking to the officer,” Crown Prosecutor Nia James told Haverofrdwest magistrates this week.
A roadside breath test proved positive and subsequent breath tests carried out at the police station showed Sell had 42 mcg of alcohol in his system. The legal limit is 35.
After considering the facts, magistrates fined Sell £300 and ordered him to pay a £120 court surcharge and £85 costs. He was disqualified from driving for 12 months.
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