Crime

Man in court for ‘goading people to fight’ in castle square

Published

2 years ago

September 25, 2024

A MAN has appeared before magistrates after goading people to fight with him in Castle Square, Haverfordwest.

CCTV footage shown to officers following the incident on September 8 showed Nathan Clark, 30, fighting with another male as he shouted abuse at onlookers and asked another male to have a fight.

“He was aggressive and seemed in a rage for no reason,” Crown Prosecutor Abigail Jackson told Haverordwest magistrates this week.

“He was shouting abuse at people and asked a male to fight. He then walked over to Castle Square where there were several people standing outside the pub, and the defendant then began trying to pick fights with them.”

When police officers arrested Clark, he was found to have 0.6 grams of cocaine in his possession.

Clark, of Goat Street, Haverfordwest, pleaded guilty to using threatening or abusive words and behaviour that was likely to cause distress and to a second charge of possessing cocaine, which is a Class A drug. He was represented by solicitor Liam Francis.

“He’s extremely disappointed to be back before the courts as he feels that since his release from custody he’s been making significant progress,” he said.

“He was not the person to throw the first punch and feels he was acting in self defence, however his behaviour and the words he was using that day were unacceptable. He accepts that he should have handled things differently.

“My client was not the aggressor, but he was attacked by two other males.”

Mr Francis said that the last three years have been ‘incredibly difficult’ for the defendant.

“Not only has he had to serve a period in custody, but he’s lost his mother, his cousin, his brother, his father and his aunt, all within that time.

“He understands that turning to drink and drugs is not the answer, and he does not want to go back down that path.”

Mr Francis said that Clark has sought support from the Dyfed Drugs and Alcohol Service as a result of the incident, as well as bereavement counselling.

He was fined £240 and ordered to pay a £96 court surcharge and £85 costs. A forfeiture and destruction order was imposed for the drugs.

Crime

Spittal man to stand trial accused of ABH

Published

1 day ago

June 20, 2026

Court Reporter

A SPITTAL man is to stand trial accused of assaulting a man and causing actual bodily harm.

Robert Hedley, 41, of Wesley Way, Spittal, Haverfordwest, is charged with assaulting Liam Morley-Trivett at St Clears on August 30, 2025.

The case was before Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court on Thursday (Jun 18).

Hedley was granted unconditional bail and is due to stand trial at the same court on Monday, June 29.

The trial is listed for 10:00am and has been given a time estimate of twenty minutes.

Crime

Milford Haven woman spared jail despite string of shop thefts

Published

1 day ago

June 20, 2026

Court Reporter

Repeat offender stole from Tesco, Home Bargains, Food Warehouse and petrol stations in wave of offences

A MILFORD HAVEN woman who admitted a series of shop thefts committed over a matter of weeks has been handed a suspended prison sentence by magistrates.

Marion Picton, aged 46, of Hawthorn Path, Milford Haven, appeared before Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday (Jun 18) and pleaded guilty to eight theft offences and a drugs-related offence.

The court heard that Picton carried out a string of thefts at stores across Milford Haven between April and June this year.

Among the offences, Picton admitted stealing meat from Food Warehouse on Apr 23, food worth £60 from Victoria Filling Station on May 29, groceries from Home Bargains on Jun 7 and Jun 8, food from Victoria Filling Station on Jun 7 and Jun 9, groceries and non-food items worth £51.09 from Tesco on Jun 16, and food worth £32.50 from Food Warehouse on the same day.

She also admitted failing to attend an initial drugs assessment after testing positive for Class A drugs, including cocaine and opiates.

Magistrates were told the offences represented persistent repeat offending and had been committed while Picton was already subject to a court order.

The bench imposed an eight-week prison sentence, suspended for 18 months.

As part of the order, Picton must complete up to 15 rehabilitation activity days under the supervision of the Probation Service.

The court ordered her to pay compensation to several of the businesses affected, including Tesco, Home Bargains, Food Warehouse and Victoria Filling Station.

In sentencing, magistrates said the offences were serious enough to justify immediate custody but suspended the sentence because there was a realistic prospect of rehabilitation and Picton appeared motivated to address her addiction issues.

Picton was warned that any further offending during the 18-month suspension period could see the prison sentence activated.