Crime

Judge criticises reluctance to jail offenders after Haverfordwest hammer attack

Published

1 year ago

October 21, 2024

A CROWN COURT judge has hit out at the judicial service’s reluctance to send criminals to custody despite their regular offending when sentencing a Haverfordwest man accused of attacking his victim with a lump hammer.

Addressing Joshua Lee, 21, when he appeared for sentencing at Swansea Crown Court on Monday for a revenge attack against a man he accused of raping his best friend’s sister, Judge Geraint Walters condemned the system for handing out persistent Community Orders instead of custodial sentences.

“Pussyfooting around with sentencing is a mistake in many cases,” he said.

“What’s the point of a fine or a Community Order, when on and on it goes?

“This is a man who needs help, but sometimes that means a more serious sentence.”

Lee, 21, had pleaded guilty to attacking his victim with a lump hammer in Salutation Square, Haverfordwest on the afternoon of Sunday, August 25.

Counsel for the Crown, John Hartson, KC, said the attack took place soon after 4pm.

“The victim was walking through the town centre when he was assaulted by the defendant and punched to the back of his head,” he said.

“[The victim] turned around and recognised the defendant but he was then punched to the head numerous times. There were 20 hits to his head and he was also hit twice to his face. The defendant then produced a lump hammer and used it to hit the victim to his right temple. He felt immediate pain.”

The defendant ran off but was later traced by police officers to an address in Fleming Crescent, Haverfordwest.

“He came out with his arms in front of him, saying, ‘So [the victim] raped my best friend’s sister. Now I’ve dealt with it.”

Meanwhile defence counsel David Johns, KC, said Lee’s life in the run-up to the revenge attack had been exceptionally difficult.

“He had a very difficult upbringing and was put into the care system when he was two years old where he was physically abused,” he said.

“This is a young man with mental health problems, who’s extremely immature, and it’s exacerbated by the fact that he’s had little or no moral guidance.

“Maybe if he’d had some sort of proper support before now, things would have been different.”

Mr John’s comments were endorsed by Judge Geraint Walters.

“The defendant was brought up in the most depressing way, and that is not his fault,” said Judge Walters.

“No two-year-old can be blamed for being taken into care and no two-year-old can be blamed for being abused so yes, you are the product of your upbringing.

“The courts, over the years, have given you one Community Order after another and they’ve achieved absolutely nothing. Someone should have taken the bull by the horns before now.

“You’re now getting some structured intervention in the prison which you were not getting in the community. I’d like to think that this is the last time that you’ll end up in court.”

Joshua Lee pleaded guilty to assault causing actual bodily harm and to possessing an offensive weapon, namely a lump hammer, in a public place.

He was sentenced to 15 months in prison. Half of this sentence will be served in custody with the remaining time being served on post-sentence supervision.

A five-year restraining order was imposed, preventing him from having any form of direct and indirect contact with the victim and a forfeiture and destruction order was made for the lump hammer.

Crime

Broad Haven man remanded in custody over sexual harm prevention order breach

Published

18 hours ago

March 20, 2026

Court Reporter

Defendant admitted using Xbox without informing police as required under court order

ANTHONY COOMBES, aged 26, of Sand Banks, Broad Haven, appeared before Llanelli Magistrates’ Court on Thursday (Mar 20) charged with breaching a sexual harm prevention order.

The court heard that between February 26 and March 19, 2026, at Haverfordwest, Coombes repeatedly breached the order by using an Xbox device without informing police within three days, as required.

The offences relate to a sexual harm prevention order imposed at Swansea Crown Court on October 20, 2021.

Coombes indicated guilty pleas to the offences at the first hearing.

Magistrates committed the case to Swansea Crown Court for sentence.

He was remanded in custody ahead of the next hearing, which is due to take place at 9:00am on Friday, April 3, at Swansea Crown Court.

The court refused bail on the grounds that he was likely to offend, citing the nature and seriousness of the offences and his previous record and character.

A pre-sentence report was ordered.

Crime

Illegal dog breeders ordered to pay over £129,000 after council probe

Published

19 hours ago

March 20, 2026

Tom Sinclair

FOUR people from Mynyddygarreg, Kidwelly, have been ordered to pay more than £129,000 following a successful prosecution for illegal dog breeding.

At Swansea Crown Court on Tuesday (Mar 10), before His Honour Judge Thomas KC, Stacey May June Edwards, Peter John Edwards, Sian Eleri Thomas and David Malcolm James Thomas, all of Sea Breeze, Mynyddygarreg, pleaded guilty to offences under the Breeding of Dogs (Wales) Regulations 2014.

The court imposed confiscation orders totalling £129,873.41 under the Proceeds of Crime Act across the four defendants. They were also ordered to pay £8,000 in costs, while each defendant received a £2,000 fine.

The investigation began in April 2021 after Carmarthenshire County Council’s Animal Health team received an enquiry from Peter Edwards about obtaining a dog breeding licence. Although licensing guidance was provided and a partial application was submitted in February 2022, this was later withdrawn.

In March 2024, the council received a complaint that puppies were being advertised for sale without the required licence. Officers subsequently contacted online advertising platforms and issued data requests to assess the scale of activity.

Analysis of records from Pets4Homes, Freeads and Gumtree revealed multiple litters being advertised by members of the same household.

Correspondence under the Police and Criminal Evidence Act confirmed that up to 25 dogs were kept at the property, including between 16 and 19 breeding females.

While some defendants claimed joint ownership of the dogs, others attempted to minimise their involvement.

The Herald understands that numerous puppy advertisements were posted between July 2020 and April 2025, demonstrating a sustained pattern of unlicensed breeding.

Carmarthenshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Climate Change, Decarbonisation and Sustainability, Cllr Aled Vaughan Owen, said: “This case demonstrates the council’s firm stance against unlicensed and illegal dog breeding.

“These regulations are in place to protect animal welfare and ensure that breeding activities are subject to proper oversight. The scale of activity uncovered at this property was entirely unacceptable, and we welcome the court’s decision to issue significant confiscation orders under POCA.”

He added: “We urge anyone with concerns about illegal dog breeding to report it. Our Animal Health officers will continue to investigate thoroughly and take action against those who disregard the law.”

Residents are reminded that anyone breeding and selling dogs must comply with licensing regulations designed to protect both animal welfare and consumers.

Crime

Publican jailed for six years for supplying cocaine and cannabis

Published

20 hours ago

March 20, 2026

Rieve Nesbitt-Marr

Milford Haven man sentenced at Swansea Crown Court following drug dealing operation

A MILFORD HAVEN publican has been jailed for six years after admitting supplying cocaine and cannabis.

The defendant, who previously appeared before magistrates and was remanded in custody, was sentenced at Swansea Crown Court following an investigation into drug dealing activity linked to the town.

The court heard that he had been involved in the supply of Class A and Class B drugs, with evidence including material recovered by police and analysis of mobile phone data. Investigators said the activity had been ongoing since at least 2024.

Cocaine, a Class A drug, carries the most serious penalties under UK law, and the involvement of both cocaine and cannabis was reflected in the length of the sentence imposed.

During proceedings, the court was told that the case went beyond isolated incidents, with the defendant playing a significant role in the supply chain. The judge said the offending was serious and sustained, warranting an immediate custodial sentence.

He was sentenced to six years in prison.

The case had previously been heard at Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court, where the defendant was remanded due to the seriousness of the allegations before being sent to the Crown Court for sentencing.