Crime
West Wales paedophile found dead by police before court hearing

A 50-YEAR-OLD Aberystwyth man, Jason Howell, was found deceased at his home in Blaenllynant Lodge, Upper Queens Road, just days before he was due to be sentenced at Swansea Crown Court.
Howell had previously admitted to creating indecent images of children and failing to comply with the sex offenders register.
Police officers, armed with a warrant, discovered Howell’s body in the kitchen of his residence. Beside him were an array of tablets and a large quantity of prescribed medication, suggesting an apparent overdose. A small bottle of vodka was also found nearby. A note, believed to have been written by Howell, was also recovered at the scene. The note expressed his frustration at not receiving the help he believed he needed and contained the chilling words, “I am dead, you all suck.”
Swansea Crown Court heard on Thursday (Aug 29) that the police officer who discovered Howell’s body reportedly recognised him instantly, having encountered him on multiple occasions in the past.
Howell was due to be sentenced for his crimes after pleading guilty to three charges of making a total of 65 indecent images of children, including 22 of the most serious category A images, between 1 November 2020 and 18 July last year. He also admitted to using an alias on social media, a violation of the sex offenders register.
His Honour, Judge Huw Rees, who was due to preside over the sentencing at Swansea Crown Court, has ordered that the committal for sentence be marked as having no legal effect, effectively closing the case following Howell’s death.
Crime
Newcastle Emlyn man admits to attempted murder of baby

A MAN from Cwm Cou, Newcastle Emlyn has pleaded guilty to the attempted murder of a baby.
Rhydian Jamieson, aged 28, appeared at Swansea Crown Court on Thursday (Apr 10), where he admitted to trying to kill the infant, who cannot be named for legal reasons.
The offence took place at an address in Y Ferwig, near Cardigan, just before 10:15pm on Wednesday, January 15.
Police responded to reports concerning the welfare of a child, and the baby was taken straight to hospital.
Jamieson was arrested at the scene and later charged.
At an earlier hearing, concerns had been raised about whether he was fit to stand trial. A provisional date had been set for September 1, but this has now been cancelled following his guilty plea.
Judge Paul Thomas KC remanded Jamieson into custody and said he would be sentenced on May 27.
Caroline Rees KC appeared for the prosecution, with John Hipkin KC defending.
Crime
Teen drug dealers admit handgun plot — Mercedes crash youth facing jail

TWO teenagers have now fully admitted being involved in cocaine dealing and conspiring to obtain a handgun — including a youth who crashed a stolen Mercedes-Benz into a house in Milford Haven last year.
Harrison Billing, 18, of Jury Lane, Haverfordwest, and Danhiellen Raji, 18, of no fixed abode, appeared again at Swansea Crown Court on Friday (Apr 4) for an adjourned plea and trial preparation hearing.
Billing had already admitted being concerned in the supply of cocaine between January 14 and February 13 this year, as well as conspiring to possess a handgun without a firearms certificate. He also pleaded guilty to possession with intent to supply cocaine on February 12, and denied a charge of possessing a knife on the A477 in Pembrokeshire on the same day.
The court heard that the Crown Prosecution Service had now accepted his not guilty plea to the knife charge, and Judge Catherine Richards entered a formal not guilty verdict.
Raji, who had originally denied possession with intent to supply cocaine on February 12, changed his plea to guilty at the hearing. He had already admitted being concerned in the supply of cocaine and the firearm conspiracy, and had pleaded guilty to possessing a knife on the A477.
Prosecutor Ashanti-Jade Walton confirmed that no trial would be required for Raji or Billing, and that the Crown would proceed to sentencing.
The court was told that pre-sentence reports would be prepared for both defendants. Judge Richards warned Billing that he should expect an immediate custodial sentence. “He’s fully aware of that,” said his barrister, Dyfed Thomas.
Billing is known locally for a dramatic crash on Hamilton Terrace, Milford Haven, in December 2024, when he ploughed a Mercedes-Benz into a house during a high-speed police pursuit. A large zombie knife was discovered on the road near the scene the following day and was later recovered by officers.
The pair’s co-defendants — Casey Gregory, 28, of Cromwell Heights, Milford Haven, and John Phillips, 36, of Pen Puffin, Steynton — continue to deny charges of possession with intent to supply cocaine and a lesser alternative of simple possession.
Phillips has admitted a separate charge of possessing cannabis.
Gregory and Phillips were re-admitted to bail, with their trial scheduled to begin on August 4. Billing and Raji remain remanded in custody and will be sentenced following the outcome of that trial.
Crime
Broad Haven man admits stalking and bail breaches, denies criminal damage

A BROAD HAVEN man has pleaded guilty to stalking and to breaching his bail conditions on two occasions. He has denied a separate charge of criminal damage and is due to be sentenced later this month.
Thomas Jones, aged 34, of Croft Road, appeared before Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court on Monday (Apr 7), where he was dealt with for multiple offences involving the same female complainant.
Jones admitted stalking the complainat between December 5, 2024, and January 22, 2025, in Milford Haven. The court heard that he visited her address several times, sent over 100 calls and messages in a short period in December, and left both a parcel and an envelope containing a spa voucher.
He initially denied the stalking charge, but changed his plea to guilty on March 17. The offence falls under Section 2A of the Protection from Harassment Act 1997.
Jones has denied a charge of criminal damage alleged to have occurred on July 21, 2024, when he is accused of damaging a door, radiator, cat litter tray and scratch post belonging to the complainat. He pleaded not guilty to this allegation on January 24.
The court also heard that Jones was arrested twice in March for breaches of bail. On March 22, he missed a curfew condition by returning home five hours late. The following day, on March 23, he allegedly contacted complainat directly, in breach of an order prohibiting contact. He admitted both breaches, though those matters were formally recorded as having been dealt with at an earlier hearing.
The magistrates’ bench was chaired by Mrs C Kendrick, sitting with Mrs A Taylor-Jones and Mrs J Morris. Dennis Davies appeared for the Crown Prosecution Service, and Jones was represented by Fenn Richards.
Jones has been remanded on conditional bail until his next hearing on April 22, 2025, at Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court. Bail conditions include:
- Not to contact the complainat directly or indirectly, except via an approved device for child contact purposes,
- Not to enter Milford Haven,
- To reside and sleep each night at 38 Croft Road, Broad Haven.
A pre-sentence report is being prepared ahead of the hearing.
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