Crime

Trial continues for Merthyr Tydfil men over pub altercation in Saundersfoot

Published

2 years ago

December 12, 2024

ARON O’NEILL and his cousin, Shaun Nicholas, are standing trial at Swansea Crown Court, accused of being involved in an altercation with James O’Neill, a family member, at the Boathouse in Saundersfoot in 2022.

Nicholas, an apprentice electrician, described the evening as initially enjoyable before tensions escalated. He admitted to drinking six pints of Madri, while his cousin consumed five. “Towards the end of the night, I was slightly tipsy. We were having a great night,” he told the court.

Trouble reportedly began when Aron O’Neill was asked to leave the bar for vaping indoors, despite warnings. CCTV footage allegedly showed him vaping before he exited the premises with Nicholas and other family members. A physical confrontation followed soon after.

Nicholas recounted the altercation: “I felt a bump to the left of me and thought, what is going on? I saw the complainant, Stephen Kanauros, going for my uncle. I didn’t want him to hit my uncle.”

Aron O’Neill said he intervened when Kanauros allegedly punched his father, James O’Neill, in the face. “I hit the man a couple of times, two or three times, to defend my father,” he admitted.

CCTV footage reportedly showed Kanauros holding James O’Neill’s head. Nicholas admitted to striking Kanauros, saying, “I punched him in the face. I saw him assault my uncle. I panicked; I’ve never been in a situation like this before.” When questioned about allegations of biting, Nicholas denied it, stating, “I saw Stephen going close to my uncle’s head, but no biting.”

Aron O’Neill claimed he tried to de-escalate the situation. “The man picked me up. I said no, I don’t want anything to do with this. I then left the premises.” He denied allegations that the incident stemmed from an earlier argument between his father and bar staff, calling it “irrelevant to this incident.”

The court reviewed CCTV footage of the altercation. O’Neill disputed claims that his punches connected, asserting, “You can slow it down frame by frame. It’s completely false. I completely missed.”

During police interviews, O’Neill, who spent 13 hours in custody, said he was scared. Nicholas described the event as “still a blur,” admitting he was shocked by his actions.

Prosecutor Dyfed Thomas questioned Nicholas on whether his drinking influenced his actions. Nicholas replied, “It was a traumatic experience. I panicked. I was defending my uncle.” He acknowledged that alcohol and adrenaline might have affected his memory, saying, “I didn’t think I assaulted anyone, and I can’t remember anyone assaulting me. It partly could be because of alcohol, but also adrenaline.”

Thomas highlighted the severity of the injuries, describing the force needed to cause significant damage to Kanauros’s lip. “This was not a nibble or a bite that left teeth marks. This was a bite that removed part of the lip. How much force and determination does it take to bite a lip off?” he asked.

The defence argued the actions of the accused were acts of self-defence. Nicholas’s lawyer, Mr Singh, said, “Shaun Nicholas acted out of a desire to protect his uncle. How is this any different from when Mr Kanauros defended his wife?”

Judge Catherine Richards reminded the court, “The law of self-defence is common sense. If someone is under attack, it is reasonable to defend oneself.”

The trial continues.

Crime

Bomb hoax allegation lands Carmarthenshire man before court

Published

3 hours ago

June 20, 2026

Court Reporter

A CARMARTHENSHIRE man has appeared before magistrates accused of making a bomb hoax and assaulting police officers.

Anthony Mold, 38, of Sandy Road, Llanelli, appeared before Llanelli Magistrates’ Court on Thursday (Jun 18).

Mold is charged with communicating false information by alleging that a bomb or other explosive substance was present at Dafen Police Station.

The allegation relates to an incident on May 6 this year.

The defendant also faces charges of assaulting two police officers, damaging a police vehicle, and breaching a Community Protection Notice.

Court records show the damage charge relates to a Dyfed-Powys Police vehicle.

Mold entered guilty pleas to the offences before the court.

District Judge M Layton remanded him in custody for the preparation of reports ahead of sentencing.

The case was adjourned until Thursday, July 2, when Mold is due to be sentenced at Llanelli Magistrates’ Court.

Crime

Carmarthenshire pensioner, 86, accused of causing prostitution for gain

Published

3 hours ago

June 20, 2026

Court Reporter

AN 86-YEAR-OLD Carmarthenshire pensioner has appeared before magistrates accused of causing or inciting prostitution for gain.

Hywel Charles, of Rhandirfelin, Llanelli, appeared before Llanelli Magistrates’ Court on Thursday (Jun 18).

Charles is charged under the Sexual Offences Act 2003 with intentionally causing or inciting another person to become a prostitute for, or in expectation of, gain for himself.

The allegation relates to an incident said to have taken place at Llanelli on October 9, 2025.

Complainant protected

The complainant in the case is protected by automatic anonymity under the Sexual Offences Amendment Act 1992.

Charles appeared before District Judge M Layton at a ground rules hearing.

He was represented by John Allchurch, of Goldstones Solicitors, while Nia James prosecuted for CPS Wales.

The defendant was remanded on conditional bail.

He must not contact a named person directly or indirectly.

Charles is due to appear again at Llanelli Magistrates’ Court on Thursday, August 6, for a further case management hearing.

Crime

Children most at risk in Dyfed-Powys TikTok-linked crime cases

Published

3 hours ago

June 20, 2026

Tom Sinclair

FOI data reveals forty-two under-18 victims as police record more than 130 incidents mentioning the platform

CHILDREN were the largest group of victims in Dyfed-Powys crimes where TikTok was mentioned, new Freedom of Information figures have revealed.

Data obtained by JF Law shows that Dyfed-Powys Police recorded 131 TikTok-linked violence, stalking and harassment offences between 2023 and 2025.

Of those, forty-two victims were under the age of eighteen.

Pembrokeshire recorded 32 incidents over the three-year period, with eight in 2023, thirteen in 2024 and eleven in 2025.

Across the force area, Carmarthenshire recorded the highest number of incidents, with 51. Powys recorded 29 and Ceredigion recorded thirteen.

Stalking and harassment made up the vast majority of the Dyfed-Powys cases, accounting for 128 of the 131 offences. Three were recorded as violence with injury.

Wales-wide concern

The figures were obtained through Freedom of Information requests covering Welsh police forces.

South Wales Police recorded the highest number, with 2,034 crimes where TikTok or Tik Tok was mentioned in police records between 2023 and 2025.

Those figures rose from 488 in 2023 to 656 in 2024 and 890 in 2025.

Gwent Police recorded 373 incidents, while North Wales Police recorded 199.

The North Wales data included cases of harassment, malicious communications, blackmail, sexual grooming, sexual activity involving a child under sixteen, exposure and voyeurism, and threats to kill.

Police forces stressed that the figures do not mean TikTok caused the crimes. The data relates to cases where the platform was mentioned in the modus operandi field or investigation summary.

‘Digital hunting ground’

Ellie Lamey, a Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority specialist at JF Law, said: “The sheer volume of these cases is a stark warning to parents and authorities alike.

“We are seeing everyday platforms being weaponised by predators to target our youngest and most vulnerable, turning what should be a harmless online space into a digital hunting ground.

“The trauma inflicted by cyber-stalking, harassment, and online-facilitated abuse has profound, real-world consequences that can completely shatter a family’s sense of security.”

She added: “It is crucial that victims know there are concrete legal avenues available to fight back.

“Nobody should have to navigate this nightmare in silence, and we are committed to helping survivors secure the protection, justice, and support they need to move forward.”

JF Law provides legal support and advice to those affected by online harassment, abuse and related crimes. Their website is www.jflaw.co.uk.