News

Cardiff-born Southport stabbing suspect identified as Axel Rudakubana by court

Published

2 years ago

August 1, 2024

IN a significant court ruling, Judge Andrew Menary KC has permitted the identification of the suspect in the recent stabbing attack as Axel Rudakubana.

Judge Menary’s decision followed a 20-minute hearing of legal arguments, ultimately declining to issue an order to conceal Rudakubana’s identity.

Axel Rudakubana, who will turn 18 in six days, has been remanded in youth custody.

He has been charged with the murders of Bebe King six, Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven and Alice Dasilva Aguiar, nine; 10 counts of attempted murder; and possession of a bladed article, namely a “kitchen knife with a curved blade” following the attack on Monday.

This is unusual because, strictly speaking, under the law, anybody who is younger than 18 has the protection of the law and can’t be named.

From the moment we knew that a 17-year-old had been arrested as the suspect – even though eventually, we worked out his identity The Pembrokeshire Herald, and other media, were still prevented from naming him.

This decision by Judge Menary marks a departure from the typical legal protections afforded to minors, underscoring the judge’s confidence in the legal justifications for this disclosure.

The fact he is days away from his 18th birthday, the serious nature of the alleged crimes, and the unrest caused by the misinformation online over a Muslim-sounding name, would no doubt have been factors in consideration.

The Metropolitan Police says it arrested 111 people after “unacceptable scenes of disorder and violence”, in updated figures provided on Thursday.

The force said its officers were attacked and subjected to assault during demonstrations in Whitehall.

People were arrested on suspicion of violent disorder, assaults on emergency workers, possession of knives and offensive weapons, breach of protest conditions, and breach of a dispersal order, the Met said.

Assistant commissioner Matt Twist said: “It is shameful that some have sought to exploit this tragedy as justification for their own violence and criminality.”

***Died in attack: Bebe King six, Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven and Alice Dasilva Aguiar, nine***

News

Hakin motorist banned after driving 14 times over drug limit

Published

10 hours ago

June 9, 2026

Sarah-Jane Absalom

A HAKIN motorist has been banned from driving for three years after being caught behind the wheel with cocaine and benzoylecgonine in his system.

Mark Briskham, 53, of Waterloo Square, Wellington Road, Hakin, was stopped by police on January 5 as he drove a Ford Kuga along Steynton Road, near Milford Haven.

Blood tests carried out at the police station showed he had 800mcg of benzoylecgonine in his system. The legal limit is 50mcg.

He also had 64mcg of cocaine in his system. The legal limit is 10mcg.

Briskham pleaded guilty to two drug-driving charges when he appeared before Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court this week.

Magistrates disqualified him from driving for three years, taking into account a previous drug-drive conviction from 2020.

He was also fined £120 and ordered to pay £85 costs and a £48 surcharge.cr

Crime

Begelly man remanded over alleged May Day assault

Published

11 hours ago

June 9, 2026

Sarah-Jane Absalom

A PEMBROKESHIRE man has been remanded in custody following an alleged May Day assault against a woman in Begelly.

Tomas Baker, 34, of Ty Dee, New Road, Begelly, is accused of assaulting the woman, causing actual bodily harm, at an undisclosed location in Begelly on May 1.

Baker appeared before Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court this week by video link from Swansea Prison.

He pleaded not guilty to the charge.

His trial will take place at Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court on June 22.

Crime

Waterston man denies child rape and sexual assault charges

Published

11 hours ago

June 9, 2026

Tom Sinclair

A WATERSTON man has appeared before magistrates charged with 13 sexual offences against children, including three allegations of raping a girl under the age of 13.

Chaisee Price, 25, of Biggins Hill, Waterston, Milford Haven, appeared before Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court this week.

He faces three charges of raping a girl under 13, eight charges of sexually assaulting girls aged between five and eight, and two charges of intentionally inciting girls under 13 to engage in sexual activity.

The offences are alleged to have taken place between 2014 and 2019.

Price denied all charges.

Because of the seriousness of the allegations, magistrates declined jurisdiction and the case will now proceed to Swansea Crown Court on July 10.

Price was released on conditional bail.

The conditions include a daily electronically monitored curfew between 6:00pm and 6:00am, no contact with the prosecution witness, no unsupervised contact with children under 18, and a requirement to surrender his passport to police.