Crime
Hakin fighter guilty of ‘cowardly’ attack against woman in pub car park
A HAKIN man launched a “cowardly” assault on a woman outside a pub but was cleared of the incident being racially aggravated, a court has heard.
David Round, 38, of Camuset Close, was accused of attacking the Vicky Bambrough-Harteveld in the car park of The Three Crowns pub in the early hours of 2 July 2022. Round, a professional fighter, punched the woman to the ground twice before straddling her and delivering “three or four” additional punches, the court was told. During the altercation, it was also alleged that he bit her finger as she tried to fend him off.
Round denied the charges, telling the jury, “I wouldn’t hit a woman.”
After five hours and 29 minutes of deliberation, the jury returned a verdict of not guilty on the charge of racially aggravated assault occasioning actual bodily harm. However, he was found guilty of assault occasioning actual bodily harm.
Judge Rees adjourned sentencing until 14 October to allow for the preparation of a pre-sentence report. Round was granted bail until that date, but Judge Rees warned him to expect a custodial sentence.
The court heard that Round had prior convictions, including wounding and assault occasioning actual bodily harm in 2009, and battery in 2013.
Prosecutor Georgia Donohue told the court that Round had been involved in a fight on the night of the incident, a fact corroborated by CCTV footage. Round admitted he had consumed at least 10 pints of beer and several shots that evening. Ms Donohue described him as “much drunker than anyone else” involved.
The altercation reportedly began after a comment made by the victim’s partner “clearly got under Mr Round’s skin”, leading to a violent outburst just moments after Round exited the pub.
The victim testified that after a fight between Round and her partner was broken up, she witnessed Round punch his wife. She intervened, telling him, “You can’t do that,” at which point he allegedly turned around and struck her.
The woman sustained a black eye, bruising and swelling to her face, a cut lip, and a cut finger. In cross-examination, defence counsel David Leathley questioned the extent of the complainant’s injuries, suggesting they would have been more severe had a professional fighter been involved. The victim retorted, “No they wouldn’t because Mr Round loses most of his fights.”
Ms Donohue argued that the punch to the victim’s face, particularly the black eye, was a “significant injury” unlikely to have been caused by simply pulling two people apart.
Round was also accused of using racist language, including the N-word, during the attack, though he denied these claims. Mr Leathley pointed to inconsistencies in the victim’s statements and argued that Round “is not a racist”, noting his previous relationship with one of the complainant’s cousins.
Round will return to court for sentencing next month.
Crime
Swansea Crown Court to deal with Narberth rape case
A 46-YEAR-OLD Haverfordwest man has appeared before a District Judge charged with raping a woman at an undisclosed location in Narberth.
Richard Murray, recently of Hill Street, Haverfordwest is accused of raping the woman on August 25, 2022. He is further charged with sexually assaulting a woman and of causing a female to engage in sexual activity without her consent. Both offences are alleged to have been committed on the same date, August 25.
Murray denied all three charges when he appeared before District Judge Mark Layton sitting at Haverfordwest magistrates court on Tuesday, September 17.
Judge Layton declined jurisdiction in the matter and the case will now be heard at Swansea Crown Court.
Murray was released on conditional bail, the condition being not to have any direct or indirect contact with the alleged victim.
The matter will next be heard at Swansea Crown Court on October 14.
Crime
Pet running loose in Milford Haven was a banned fighting dog
A DOG that was seen running loose on a main road in Milford Haven was found to be an unregistered fighting XL Bully which, according to police experts, had the strength to cause someone ‘substantial injury’.
Officers were called to a property in Milford Haven on March 24 following numerous reports from members of the public that a dog was running loose on the road, causing what the Crown Prosecution described as ‘a hazard’ to drivers. There they found the dog enclosed in a front garden.
This week it’s owner, Megan Pouparrd, 20, of Sunningdale Drive, Hubberston, pleaded guilty to possessing or having custody of a fighting dog.
“It was a typical XL Bully dog in relation to its appearance and size,” Crown Prosecutor Abigail Jackson told District Judge Mark Layton sitting at Haverfordwest magistrates court this week.
The dog, which had wandered approximately one mile from its owner’s home, was caught and taken away by officers for further examinations to be carried out to confirm its breed.
A police statement read out to Judge Layton stated that the dog was ‘very restless and curious’.
“He made no attempt to jump on us and was more interested in finding out about his new surroundings,” said the report.
“He was a very relaxed dog, but was also extremely strong, and could easily have knocked someone off their feet.”
A destruction order for the dog was submitted to the court by the police, however following a request by District Judge Mark Layton, this was delayed pending a behaviourist report to be carried out on the animal.
Sentencing was adjourned to October 8.
(Image: File)
Crime
Letterston man in court over ‘silly neighbours’ dispute’
A NEIGHBOURS’ dispute reached the courts this week when Letterston resident Stuart Wing pleaded guilty to causing criminal damage to his neighbour’s car.
“It was a silly dispute,” the 59-year-old told a district judge sitting at Haverfordwest magistrates court this week.
“We used to be good neighbours, but it was the stupidest of things. I’d put his bin bags back but then he fell out with me, giving me hand signals and calling me a scumbag.”
The incident took place on June 21, 2023 at Spring Gardens, Letterston.
“The victim [Clark Gretton], had left his property and entered his vehicle,” Crown Prosecutor Abigail Jackson told Judge Mark Layton.
“[The victim] said, ‘I’ll be glad to get away from these scumbags’, but the defendant was near and must have heard him, because he picked some gravel up and threw it at the car, causing chip marks.”
Ms Jackson said that the cost of the criminal damage to Mr Gretton’s Nissan Qashqai totaled £660.
After pleading guilty to causing criminal damage, Stuart Wing was fined £120 and ordered to pay £85 costs and a £48 court surcharge. He was also ordered to pay £660 compensation to Mr Gretton.
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