Crime

Internet dating app relationship turns sour for Pembrokeshire couple

Published

2 years ago

November 6, 2024

AN internet dating app relationship has resulted in a four-figure fine for a Pembrokeshire man after he refused to accept that a two-month relationship was over.

Gareth Thomas, 51, met Rachel Blundell on an unknown dating app in January of this year.

“The relationship lasted for seven or eight weeks, they had meals out together and the defendant stayed over at her property on a few occasions,” Crown Prosecutor Sian Vaughan told Haverfordwest magistrates this week.

“The relationship came to an end for whatever reason, but the defendant chose to continue sending her texts which were persistent and unwanted.”

In a victim impact statement read out to the court, Ms Blundell said that Thomas’s persistence left her feeling anxious.

“I’m unsure why he feels the need to contact me, because the relationship is over,” she said.

“He knows where I live and I’m afraid he’ll start causing issues with me. I just want him to accept that the relationship is over and he’ll leave me alone because it makes me feel alarmed, harassed and distressed. I’m scared about what he might do in the future.”

Thomas, of Gatehouse View, Pembroke, pleaded guilty to a charge of harassment without violence. He was represented in court by Mr Michael Kelleher.

“He agrees that there was repeated contact with Ms Blundell, but there were no threats nor violence.”

Mr Kelleher went on to say that Thomas was confused following Ms Blundell’s decision to terminate the relationship.

“She claimed that her father had been taken ill, but then went onto another dating site, and my client couldn’t quite understand why. He was confused, he didn’t know why it happened, and he was even optimistic that she’d have second thoughts and they could sort things out. He was never once told not to contact her.”

Meanwhile probation officer Charmaine Fox said that Thomas believed the way in which Ms Blundell ended the relationship was ‘a lie’.

“In the past he’s been able to rekindle a relationship, and he thought this may happen again. But things are very different in modern society, and the way people contact each other is now very different.”

Thomas was fined £833 and ordered to pay a £114 surcharge and £85 costs. He was sentenced to a 12-month community order during which he must carry out 20 rehabilitation activity requirement days. He must also adhere to a 12-month restraining order preventing him from approaching and entering any address which Ms Blundell may reside in and not to enter any electronic data that refers directly to Ms Blundell.

Crime

Spittal man to stand trial accused of ABH

Published

2 days 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

2 days 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.