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Crime

Herbrandston predator sentenced for attempted child exploitation online

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A 66-YEAR-OLD man from Herbrandston has been sentenced to 27 months in prison after he was caught attempting to groom what he believed was a 12-year-old girl online.

Paul Chesher, who had no prior convictions, was apprehended after engaging in explicit conversations with an undercover police officer posing as a schoolgirl named ‘Ellie’ on the social media platform Kik.

The exchanges began on 31 August 2021, when Chesher initiated contact with ‘Ellie’ and soon began making inappropriate requests. Prosecutor Regan Walters revealed that Chesher repeatedly asked the decoy to send him explicit images, instructing her to “sneak to the bathroom” while at school and photograph herself. Chesher also sent images of his own face and admitted to the decoy that he was 56 years old.

Despite recognising the illegal nature of his actions—regularly commenting that ‘Ellie’ was “too young” and acknowledging that he “could go to jail”—Chesher continued his predatory behaviour. He requested details about her underwear, enquired about her sexual experiences, and even directed the decoy to perform explicit acts and film them.

Police tracked Chesher down using his email and IP address, leading to his arrest at his home on 22 October 2021. After a delay in bringing the case to court, partly due to the time taken to analyse electronic devices and secure data from the United States-based Kik platform, Chesher pleaded guilty to charges of attempted sexual communication with a child and attempting to cause a child to engage in sexual activity.

In mitigation, Chesher’s defence highlighted his medical issues and the loneliness he experienced at the time of the offences. However, Judge Geraint Walters, presiding over the case, rejected these excuses, stating that Chesher’s actions were persistent and deliberate. “This wasn’t a momentary lapse in judgement, it was a persistent one,” the judge said. “You knew full well what the consequences of this were to be.”

In addition to his prison sentence, Chesher must register as a sex offender for 10 years and is subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for the same period.

Detective Constable Paul Kelly of Dyfed Powys Police praised the successful outcome of the case, stating: “This sentence and the investigation itself demonstrated excellent collaborative working between police agencies. It sends a clear message to perpetrators that crime against children is abhorrent, and that we as police will find the perpetrators and seek justice for the children involved.”

Detective Constable Isaac Gott of the Tarian Regional Organised Crime Unit (ROCU) echoed these sentiments, adding: “Our ROCU is dedicated to identifying individuals who have a sexual interest in children, and we will relentlessly pursue them.”

Chesher’s conviction serves as a stark reminder of the dangers that children face online and the ongoing efforts by law enforcement to protect them from harm.

Crime

Court hears man exposed his flaccid manhood ‘by accident’

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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.

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Crime

Regular cocaine user from Milford Haven taken off the road

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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.

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Crime

Motorist manned from driving after being caught over limit

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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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