Crime
Caravan thief caught on M4 with fake number plates
A CARAVAN thief was apprehended on the M4 using a fake number plate secured with hair ties after raiding a site near Tenby, Swansea Crown Court heard on Tuesday.
Martin Fitzgerald, part of a gang involved in the theft of two caravans from Well Park Caravan Park in New Hedges, was arrested nearly two years after being caught for a similar crime in Wiltshire.
Prosecutor Craig Jones described how police were called to Westlands Lane in Melksham, Wiltshire, on January 29, 2022, around 10.40pm, after the part-owner of a site spotted a car leaving with a Baileys Unicorn caravan. “The site had been accessed via an orchard and a fence had been driven through,” Mr. Jones stated.
Police spotted Fitzgerald towing the caravan with a Nissan X-Trail on the M4, heading towards Bristol, and later the M5. Upon stopping him, they found the car’s registration did not match the vehicle and discovered cutting equipment inside.
On the afternoon of December 11 last year, the owner of Well Park Caravan Park in New Hedges reported two vehicles entering the site and a group of “six to eight” men hitching two caravans to them. Fitzgerald drove away in a Skoda with a Coachman caravan valued at £32,000, while a Kia made off with a £25,000 caravan.
Police stopped Fitzgerald on the M4 at a service station outside Cardiff. He was found driving without a licence or insurance, and the Skoda had a fake number plate secured with hair ties, covering another fake plate. Officers also found bolt cutters, jump leads, a wheel brace, towing wing mirrors, and another number plate.
Fitzgerald was disqualified from driving at the time and was on bail for the previous caravan theft. He admitted theft for the first incident, two offences of attempted theft, going equipped for theft, two offences of fraudulent use of a registration mark, driving while disqualified, and driving without insurance for the second incident.
Dan Griffiths, defending, described Fitzgerald as “an isolated, lonely individual who was struggling for money.” He emphasized that given Fitzgerald’s limitations, it was unlikely he planned the thefts and that he had agreed to tow the vehicles for a small amount of money, marking an escalation in the seriousness of his offending.
Judge Geraint Walters sentenced Fitzgerald to 10 months for the Wiltshire theft and a total of 12 months for the Pembrokeshire offences. He also banned Fitzgerald from driving for 17 months.
Crime
Begelly man sentenced for carrying metal bar during nightclub fight
A MAN has been sentenced after approaching a Pembrokeshire nightclub armed with a metre-long metal bar.
Just after 2:30am on July 21, police were called to Main Street, Pembroke, following reports of a large fight involving around 100 people outside ‘Out’ nightclub.
Crown Prosecutor Nia James told Haverfordwest magistrates this week: “Officers were told it was a large fight. They saw Walter Probert, 27, march purposefully towards a parked van.
“The van’s lights were on, and they saw the defendant pull out a long, green metal pole. He took ten steps back towards the nightclub and transferred the pole from one hand to the other.”
Another man approached Probert, removed the pole from his hands, and placed it inside the van.
“Because of the manner in which the pole was used by the defendant, it became an offensive weapon,” added Ms James.
CCTV footage of the incident was shown to magistrates.
Probation officer Julie Norman said Probert had no recollection of the incident.
“He doesn’t remember what he was doing, but he accepts everything that has been said. He was very drunk,” she said.
“He was brought up in the gypsy travelling community and doesn’t have an alcohol issue; he’s just a social drinker. He’s thankful to his friend who took the pole and placed it back inside the van.”
Probert, of the Caravan Site, Kingsmoor Common, Begelly, pleaded guilty to possessing an offensive weapon in a public place. He was represented in court by Mr Tom Lloyd.
“No threats were made by the defendant when he picked it up, but it was a stupid decision,” said Mr Lloyd. “As soon as he was challenged and asked what he was doing, he ceased.”
Probert was sentenced to a 12-month community order, requiring him to carry out 150 hours of unpaid work. He was also ordered to pay £85 costs and a £114 court surcharge. Magistrates imposed a destruction order on the metal bar.
Crime
Three men from London admit their guilt over illegal cannabis farm
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
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.
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