Crime

Cigarette butts and litter land more defendants in court

Published

11 seconds ago

January 10, 2025

PEMBROKESHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL’S ongoing campaign against littering brought a wave of cases to Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court this week, earning enforcement officers the local nickname “The Fag Butt Police.”

Multiple individuals were fined after being found guilty of depositing cigarette butts or other litter in public spaces. Magistrates highlighted the significant costs of keeping the county clean and the importance of enforcing the Environmental Protection Act 1990.

Some of the defendants have contacted The Herald and questioned the fairness of the costs imposed. With costs often set at £266.66 on top of fines and victim surcharges, the total penalties approached or exceeded £500 in many cases. Observers noted that such high costs might be disproportionate for minor offences like littering, especially in bulk prosecutions designed to be more efficient.

One of those fined, said: “The costs seem high for what should be a streamlined process. Transparency on how these costs are calculated would help reassure the public about fairness.”

Cases heard in court

Paul Andrew, 50, of Bramble Lodge, Stepaside, Narberth, was fined £220, ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £88, and costs of £266.66 for dropping a rolled-up cigarette in Jones Terrace, Tenby. Total: £574.66.
Wayne Balch, 50, of Adelaide Road, Elvington, Dover, was fined £220, with £88 victim surcharge and £266.66 costs for littering with a cigarette butt at Withybush Retail Park, Haverfordwest. Total: £574.66.
Matthew Collins, 46, of Marble Hall Road, Milford Haven, was fined £220, with a victim surcharge of £88 and costs of £266.66 for leaving a cigarette butt outside McDonald’s, Merlin’s Bridge. Total: £574.66.
Omid Buergin, 59, of Coolhurst Road, London, was fined £220, with £88 victim surcharge and £266.66 costs for dropping a rolled-up cigarette in Upper Frog Street, Tenby. Total: £574.66.
Simon Green, 45, of Mans Dewi, Capel Dewi, Carmarthen, was fined £220, with £88 victim surcharge and £266.66 costs for littering in Springfield Retail Park, Haverfordwest. Total: £574.66.
Aisha Jephcott, 24, of West Haven Estate, Cosheston, Pembroke Dock, was fined £220, with £88 victim surcharge and £266.66 costs for dropping a cigarette butt on Dimond Street, Pembroke Dock. Total: £574.66.
Edward Washbrook, 52, of Maes Y Mynydd, Newport, was fined £220, with £88 victim surcharge and £266.66 costs for discarding a cigarette butt outside Withybush Hospital, Haverfordwest. Total: £574.66.
Jemma Palmer, 41, of Tir Einon, Llanelli, was fined £220, with £88 victim surcharge and £266.66 costs for dropping a rolled-up cigarette on High Street, Tenby. Total: £574.66.
Louisa Braidman, 34, of Fourth Avenue, Walsall, was fined £220, with £88 victim surcharge and £266.66 costs for leaving a cigarette butt outside Denis Café, Tenby. Total: £574.66.
Haray Norcross, 39, of Penybont Road, Pencoed, Bridgend, was fined £220, with £88 victim surcharge and £266.66 costs for littering with a cigarette butt on Moorland Road, Narberth. Total: £574.66.
Maria Mihailiva, 36, of St Davids Place, Goodwick, was fined £220, with £88 victim surcharge and £266.66 costs for dropping a cigarette butt outside Morrisons, Haverfordwest. Total: £574.66.
Michael Raymond, 55, of St James Road, Wick, was fined £40, with £16 victim surcharge and £100 costs for littering in Heywood Lane, Tenby. Total: £156.00.
Joshua Spicer, 38, of Castle Terrace, Narberth, was fined £220, with £88 victim surcharge and £266.66 costs for discarding a cigarette butt near Narberth Primary School. Total: £574.66.
Andrew Griffiths, 41, of St Margarets Court, Aberdare, was fined £40, with £16 victim surcharge and £130 costs for littering in St George Street, Tenby. Total: £186.00.
Stacey Davies, 35, of Felin Ban Estate, Cardigan, was fined £40, with £16 victim surcharge and £100 costs for leaving a cigarette butt outside Haverfordwest Hospital. Total: £156.00.
Sam Daines, 32, of Larch Road, Milford Haven, was fined £40, with £16 victim surcharge and £100 costs for littering on Priory Street, Milford Haven. Total: £156.00.

Crime

Man avoids jail after punching police officer twice

Published

2 days ago

January 8, 2025

Sarah-Jane Absalom

A 58-YEAR-OLD Haverfordwest man narrowly avoided jail after punching a police officer twice in the face.

Police were called to a property on Dew Street just after 10:00pm on July 6, following reports of a male motorist involved in a road traffic collision.

At the scene, officers encountered Barrie Knight.

“He’d been to the Mariners to pick up a family member and clearly there’d been an incident,” Crown Prosecutor Nia James told District Judge Mark Layton at Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court this week.

“For some reason, the police came to his address, and [Barrie Knight] threw his fist towards one of the officers, who felt a sharp pain to his nose, where contact was made.”

Ms James explained that the officer was struck at least twice, although no visible injuries were caused.

“It was more luck than judgement that he wasn’t hurt, and this should not be tolerated,” she added.

When asked to provide a breath sample, Knight refused.

“He was taken to the police station, where officers again tried to obtain breath samples from him, but there was a deliberate refusal,” Ms James continued.

Knight pleaded guilty to common assault of an emergency worker and failing to provide a specimen for analysis.

He was sentenced to eight weeks in custody, suspended for 12 months. Additionally, he must carry out 200 hours of unpaid work, was disqualified from driving for 18 months, and ordered to pay £100 compensation to the officer, a £154 court surcharge, and £85 in costs.

Crime

Milford Haven veterinary manager jailed for £50,000 work fraud

Published

2 days ago

January 8, 2025

Tom Sinclair

A FORMER veterinary surgery manager who stole £50,000 from her employers has been jailed for three years.

Charlotte Devonald, 44, of Cromwell Road, Milford Haven, abused her position of trust at Animal Doctors veterinary surgery in Clydach, Swansea Valley, by diverting cash takings into her personal bank account and misusing a company fuel card.

Swansea Crown Court heard that Devonald carried out the thefts over a two-year period between November 2020 and November 2022 while earning an annual salary of £35,000. Despite being entrusted with financial responsibilities, including payroll, banking cash takings, and managing supplier payments, she systematically stole from the surgery.

***Animal Doctors veterinary surgery in Clydach, Swansea Valley***

The theft was uncovered after discrepancies in financial records were flagged by the surgery’s accountants. Further investigation revealed that Devonald had made multiple cash deposits into her personal account, ranging from £100 to £1,000, and had fraudulently spent over £5,000 on the company’s fuel card, including buying fuel for friends.

In a police interview, Devonald denied wrongdoing and claimed others had access to the office safe. However, she later pleaded guilty to theft and fraud by abuse of position on the day her trial was due to begin, after one of the business owners returned from Australia to give evidence.

During sentencing, Judge Paul Thomas KC described Devonald’s actions as a “brazen and cynical breach of trust” and criticised her for not telling her daughter about the prosecution and the likelihood of imprisonment, calling it “another example of your cruel selfishness.”

An impact statement from the surgery’s owners detailed how the thefts left the business in debt to suppliers and HMRC, forced valued staff to leave, and caused severe emotional and financial strain.

Defending, Jon Tarrant said Devonald was a “fragile and isolated” woman who struggled to confront the reality of her actions. He added that she expressed remorse and asked for her love to be conveyed to her daughter.