Crime

Pembrokeshire crime victims urged to share experiences of court delays

Published

2 years ago

September 11, 2024

VICTIMS of crime in Pembrokeshire and across England and Wales are being urged to share their experiences of lengthy court delays, as a survey from the Victims’ Commissioner is set to close on Thursday, 12 September. The survey, launched by Baroness Newlove, aims to collect views on how delays in the criminal justice system are affecting victims and the support they receive during these prolonged waits.

Court backlogs have reached unprecedented levels, with figures from the Ministry of Justice showing the Crown Court currently grappling with 67,573 outstanding cases, 16,031 of which have been unresolved for over a year. The survey follows concerns that these delays are contributing to victims withdrawing from the justice process, particularly in cases involving adult rape, where nearly two-thirds of investigations were closed due to victims pulling out.

Baroness Newlove is calling on victims whose cases resulted in criminal charges to complete the anonymous five-minute survey before it closes. Available in both English and Welsh, the survey seeks to shed light on how delays are impacting victims’ mental health and access to justice, with findings set to inform future recommendations to government and criminal justice agencies.

Speaking on the urgency of the issue, the Victims’ Commissioner stated, “No one should be expected to wait years for their case to reach court. Justice is not being delivered in a timely or effective way, and victims are paying the price. With a record backlog in our Crown Courts, the justice system is under immense strain, and we cannot ignore the impact this is having on victims.”

Baroness Newlove continued, “I often hear from victims stuck in limbo, anxiously awaiting their day in court. One victim questioned whether a system that inflicts such delays can truly claim to be delivering justice. These are not isolated incidents; they are part of a wider systemic issue, causing real distress.”

Data reveals that at the end of December 2023, over a quarter of all cases (27%) were postponed on the day of the trial, further compounding victims’ frustrations. With Crown Court delays at a record high, Baroness Newlove hopes the survey will help pinpoint how these issues are affecting victims and what steps can be taken to reduce the strain on the system.

The findings from the survey will contribute to a forthcoming report aimed at easing the burden on victims and improving the overall efficiency of the criminal justice process. Victims across Pembrokeshire and beyond whose cases were charged by the Crown Prosecution Service are encouraged to participate, regardless of when their case took place or if it remains ongoing.

To access the regional breakdown of court delays and complete the survey, visit the Victims’ Commissioner’s website.

The survey closes tomorrow, and victims are being urged to take this final opportunity to voice their concerns and influence future changes aimed at restoring fairness and support to the justice process.

Crime

Local carpenter retains driving licence despite previous ban

Published

12 hours ago

May 6, 2026

Sarah Jane Absalom

A Herbrandston carpenter has been allowed to keep his driving licence despite a previous driving disqualification for using his mobile phone whilst driving.

Addressing District Judge Mark Layton at Haverfordwest Magistrates Court this week, Simon Shaw stressed the disqualification was having a major impact on his work commitment as well as his ability to support members of his family.

“If the ban continues, at least two of my five employees will have to be lost” said Shaw, who works as a self-employed carpenter operating from Herbrandston and the Milford Haven Industrial Estate.

“We travel throughout the whole of West Wales and also work at Thorne Island, where we’ve been providing logistical support for renovations for the last four years.”

Shaw, of Triplestone Close, Herbrandston, went on to say that his business has only one other driver who works as a reserve fire fighter.

“As a result, he’s not available to provide the 24 hour cover we provide to various care homes in the county,” he said.

Simon Shaw concluded by stating that his daughter is also dependent on his support having recently given birth to twins while his son-in-law and his partner’s mother are both currently undergoing serious healthcare treatments.

“I’m trying to provide as much logistical support for them as I can, but without my driving licence, this is impossible,” he said.

After listening to his comments, Judge Layton granted Shaw permission to retain his licence.

Crime

Delivery driver caught twice over legal drink-drive limit

Published

12 hours ago

May 6, 2026

Sarah Jane Absalom

A DELIVERY driver has been banned from the roads after being caught behind the wheel when he was over twice the legal drink-drive limit.

Twenty-nine year old Sam Rowe was stopped by officers just before 9.30 am on April 20 as he drove his Vauxhall Vivaro along Ferry Lane in Pembroke Dock.

“His speech was slurred and his eyes were bloodshot,” Crown Prosecutor Linda Baker told Haverfordwest Magistrates Court this week.

“There was also a strong smell of intoxicants emanating from him.”

When spoken to by the officers, Rowe stated he’d drunk a pint of alcohol approximately an hour before being stopped, however subsequent breathalyser tests showed he had no less than 75 mcg of alcohol in his system. The legal limit is 35.

Rowe, of Hazel Close, Pontypool, pleaded guilty to the offence and was represented in court by solicitor Michael Kelleher who informed the court that the defendant was holidaying in Pembrokeshire at the time of the offence.

“His daughter fell ill and he was attempting to find painkillers for her at a supermarket,” he said. “He’s very remorseful and is now going to lose his job as a delivery driver.”

Rowe, who has no previous convictions, was disqualified from driving for a total of 20 months. He was fined £120 and ordered to pay £85 court costs and a £48 surcharge.

Crime

Police tip-off leads to driving ban for Milford motorist

Published

13 hours ago

May 6, 2026

Sarah Jane Absalom

A PEMBROKESHIRE motorist has lost his licence after police received information that the 40-year-old male may have been driving under the influence of drugs.

This week Haverfordwest Magistrates court was told that at around 8.30pm on November 22 officers received a call informing them that Michael Miles was suspected of driving his Peugeot Bipper through Milford Haven after consuming drugs.

Miles was subsequently stopped on Marble Hall Road and when spoken to by the officers, he informed them that he was a drug user. A saliva sample tested positive for cocaine while further tests carried out at the police station showed that Miles had 760 mcg of the cocaine metabolite benzoylecgonine in his system, the legal limit being 50.

Miles, of Milford Road, Steynton, chose to be legally unrepresented in court and pleaded guilty to the drug-driving charge.

The probation service said he was very remorseful for the offence and has since had appointments with the Dyfed Drugs and Alcohol Service to help him deal with his drug usage. Miles was served with an interim driving disqualification however as a result of his previous non-payment of fines, his punitive sentencing was adjourned to Thursday, May 7.

“If you pay your outstanding fines before Thursday, you will be fined for this offence,” warned District Judge Mark Layton. “But if you don’t pay, you will be given a custodial sentence.”