Crime

Protester failed to observe reproductive health clinic protection order

Published

11 months ago

January 21, 2025

A PROTESTOR from west Wales has been ordered to pay more than £7,500 after breaching a designated safe zone outside a reproductive health clinic in Ealing.

Stephen Green, 73, from Carmarthen was ordered to pay £7,536.50 in prosecution costs following a judgement taken at Isleworth Crown Court on Wednesday 15 January, which dismissed his appeal against a conviction for the offence of failing to comply with a public space protection order.

He was first issued with a £100 fixed penalty notice (FPN) in March 2023, after failing to comply with a Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO).

The PSPO, which was introduced in 2018 by Ealing Council, creates a safe zone around the MSI Reproductive Choices clinic in Mattock Lane to shield visitors from pro-life/pro-choice protests.

The PSPO also sets out a designated area for protesters, respecting their right to freedom of speech, which Green ignored as part of his protest on Monday 6 February 2023.

At the time of the incident, Green was seen carrying a sign bearing the religious verse: “For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother’s womb.”

After failing to pay the fixed penalty notice, the case was taken to Uxbridge Magistrates’ Court, where Green was handed a 12-month conditional discharge and ordered to pay £2,426 in costs.

He appealed the decision on 30 October 2024 at Isleworth Crown Court but his case was ultimately dismissed by the judge who ordered Green to pay the additional prosecution costs.

Councillor Jasbir Anand, the council’s cabinet member for tackling crime and anti-social behaviour, said: “We welcome the court’s decision to dismiss Mr Green’s appeal.

“The Mattock Lane Safe Zone exists to protect women from facing unreasonable interference and intimidation at the point they are accessing services for intensely personal reasons. Whilst we of course respect people’s right to protest, we also respect people’s right to privacy, and the kind of behaviour Mr Green engaged in was totally unacceptable.

“I hope this result sends a clear message; that any breaches will be taken seriously.”

Louise McCudden, advocacy lead at MSI Reproductive Choices UK, said: “We welcome the news that Stephen Green’s conviction has been upheld.

“The local safe zone is very important for our clients and our frontline healthcare workers. The zone is there to make sure anyone who needs it can access confidential medical care without being harassed and intimidated by strangers.

“Every day we are grateful that Ealing Council introduced this protection. At a time when we’re seeing global attempts to roll back reproductive rights, most notably in the United States, it could not be more important to stand up for women and girls.”

Crime

Milford Haven man denies child sex charges as trial date set

Published

19 minutes ago

December 19, 2025

Rieve Nesbitt-Marr

A MAN originally from Milford Haven has pleaded not guilty to a series of sexual offences involving a child after recently moving to Cornwall.

James Kershaw, aged 45, formerly of Milford Haven and now living in Quethiock, Cornwall, appeared in court on Friday (Dec 19), where he denied all four sexual charges put to him.

The hearing was his first Crown Court appearance in the case, during which a trial date was fixed for October 5.

Kershaw was allowed to remain on bail under strict conditions, including that he must have no contact with any prosecution witnesses.

Kershaw appeared via video link from his solicitor’s office in Cornwall. The judge described this as “a very generous decision by the listings officer” and said it had “presumably been arranged due to the distance from you to the court”.

Allegations denied

The charges relate to alleged incidents said to have taken place in Liskeard, Cornwall, between October 26 and November 1, 2023.

Kershaw is accused of engaging in sexual communication with a child under the age of 16 and of causing a child aged 13 to watch sexual activity. He also faces two allegations of causing or inciting a girl aged 13 to engage in sexual activity of a non-penetrative nature on separate dates.

In addition, Kershaw is charged with two counts of breaching a Sexual Harm Prevention Order imposed by Derby Crown Court in May 2022. These allegations include the use of an undisclosed Facebook account and the deletion of messages, both of which are said to be prohibited under the terms of that order.

Kershaw denies all allegations.

The court ordered that Kershaw may remain on bail pending trial, subject to conditions including a strict ban on contacting any witnesses.

The complainant’s identity is protected by law under the Sexual Offences (Amendment) Act 1992.

The case is due to return to court when the trial begins in October.

Crime

Swansea man jailed for online child sex offence dies in prison

Published

16 hours ago

December 18, 2025

Tom Sinclair

A SWANSEA man who was jailed earlier this year for attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child has died while in custody.

Gareth Davies, aged 59, of the Maritime Quarter, was serving an 18-month prison sentence after being convicted in May of sending sexually explicit messages to what he believed was a 14-year-old girl. The account was in fact a decoy used as part of an online safeguarding operation.

The court heard that Davies began communicating with the decoy between November and December 2024 and persistently pursued the individual, later attempting to arrange a face-to-face meeting. He was arrested after being confronted by the decoy operators.

Davies had pleaded not guilty but was convicted following a trial. At the time of sentencing, police described the messages as extremely concerning and said his imprisonment was necessary to protect children.

It has now been confirmed that Davies died at HMP Parc on Wednesday (Nov 27) while serving his sentence.

The Prisons and Probation Ombudsman has launched an independent investigation into the death, which is standard procedure in all cases where someone dies in custody. No cause of death has been released at this stage.

A coroner will determine the circumstances in due course.