Crime

Gwent Police officer from Pembrokeshire accused of making sexual comments to women

Published

11 months ago

February 4, 2025

A POLICE officer from Pembrokeshire has been accused of making degrading sexual comments to women he met while on duty and turning up at their homes uninvited, a court has heard.

Luke Silver, 33, of Freshwater East Road, Lamphey, is a serving police constable with Gwent Police. He is alleged to have asked women if they “liked sex,” when they “last had sex,” and told one of them she had “big boobs.” It is also claimed he visited women’s homes while off duty, with one complainant describing him as “a creepy police officer.”

A trial at Cardiff Crown Court on Tuesday (Feb 4) heard that Silver subjected the alleged victims to “sexually explicit and unwanted comments” which left them “upset and distressed.”

PRETENDED TO BE A GAS MAN

The allegations surfaced on July 4, 2022, after one woman reported Silver turning up at her home in Cwmbran two days earlier. Prosecutor Roger Griffiths told the court that Silver had finished work when he arrived at the woman’s address wearing a dark top. Claiming to be a “gas man” from housing group Pobl, he asked to use her toilet.

Once inside, he allegedly went upstairs, used the toilet, then sat in her living room, engaging in inappropriate sexual conversation. The woman claims he asked when she “last had sex,” if she “enjoyed sex,” and requested to see a tattoo on an intimate part of her body. He also allegedly asked if he could “pop in for a cup of tea” when in the area and inquired if she had a boyfriend.

When she asked him to leave, Silver is said to have requested a hug, which she refused. The woman later recognised him as the officer who had driven her home a year earlier, during which he allegedly turned off his police radio and asked her inappropriate sexual questions, including what sexual positions she liked. He is also accused of saving his phone number in her mobile.

SECOND WOMAN INSTALLED RING DOORBELL OUT OF FEAR

Following advice from Women’s Aid, the woman reported the incident to the police, leading to Silver’s arrest on July 5. He claimed he had visited her home because he and his partner were looking to get a cat.

Investigators later examined Silver’s work phone, uncovering messages between him and a woman who had previously reported a domestic violence incident. The court heard that Silver made “explicit sexual comments” about the size of her breasts and asked about her sexual preferences while collecting a witness statement.

The woman said she became so “scared” of his behaviour that she installed a Ring doorbell camera. She later withdrew her domestic violence complaint to prevent Silver from attending her home. However, he is alleged to have visited her off duty, continuing to make unwanted sexual remarks, asking if she liked sex and when she last had it. In voicemails to a friend, the woman repeatedly described him as “a creepy police officer.”

ACCUSED OF MISUSING POLICE SYSTEM

The court also heard that Silver allegedly accessed a police log related to the first complainant on July 1, just a day before visiting her home.

Silver denies three counts of corrupt or improper use of police power or privileges and three counts of causing a computer to perform a function to secure or enable unauthorised access to a programme or data.

The trial continues.

Crime

Jury discharged after failing to reach verdict in historic abuse trial

Published

3 hours ago

December 18, 2025

Rieve Nesbitt-Marr

CPS have a week do decide if they wish to pursue a re-trial, judge confirms

THE JURY has been discharged in the trial of a Milford Haven man accused of historic child sex offences after telling the court it was unable to reach a verdict, even by majority.

Thomas Kirk, aged 50, of Meyler Crescent, Milford Haven, is charged with the oral rape and sexual assault of a child, with the offences alleged to have taken place in Pembrokeshire between 2007 and 2009, when the complainant was aged between thirteen and fifteen. He denies the charges.

On Thursday (Dec 18), the jury returned to Swansea Crown Court and was asked whether it had reached a verdict on either count upon which at least ten jurors were agreed.

The foreman replied: “No.”

Judge Paul Thomas KC then asked whether there was any realistic likelihood that further deliberations would lead to a verdict being reached.

The foreman replied: “No, your honour.”

Judge Thomas KC said that in those circumstances he would discharge the jury and give the prosecution seven days to decide whether it would seek a retrial.

Addressing the jurors, the judge said they should not think they had failed or let anyone down.

“These things happen,” he said. “It’s one of the strengths of the jury system that people hold different views.”

He thanked the jury for their service and wished them a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

The court heard that the prosecution will now consider its position, with a further hearing expected next week to determine whether a retrial will take place.

Crime

Police appeal to locate 69-year-old man wanted in harassment investigation

Published

3 hours ago

December 18, 2025

Tom Sinclair

DYFED-POWYS POLICE are appealing for information to help locate a man from the Ammanford area who is wanted in connection with a harassment offence.

Alan Tait, aged 69, is being sought by officers as part of an ongoing investigation.

Police believe he may currently be in the Derbyshire area, but say he also has links to South Wales and Gwent.

Anyone with information that could assist officers in locating him is urged to contact Dyfed-Powys Police.

Crime

Man jailed after strangling partner and attacking police officer

Published

16 hours ago

December 17, 2025

Court Reporter

A MILFORD HAVEN man who strangled his partner during a violent domestic assault before attacking a police officer has been jailed for two years.

Timothy John, aged 38, of Howarth Close, Milford Haven, appeared at Swansea Crown Court after admitting a series of offences arising from an incident in October.

The court heard that John had been arguing with his partner about his drug use when the situation escalated into violence. Prosecutor Craig Jones said the defendant grabbed the woman by the throat and held her in a chokehold for around ten seconds, leaving her struggling to breathe and fearing she would lose consciousness.

During the attack, John also punched and kicked the victim before smashing a glass bong over her head. At the time, the woman was still in her underwear and managed to flee the property and run into the street to seek help.

John also damaged the victim’s mobile phone by biting the screen, rendering it unusable.

Police attended the address the following day to take a statement from the victim and discovered John hiding in a bedroom. When officers attempted to detain him, he assaulted a female police officer, knocking her glasses to the floor, before escaping from the property.

The defendant handed himself in around 24 hours later.

John pleaded guilty to intentional strangulation, assault occasioning actual bodily harm, assaulting an emergency worker, criminal damage, and escaping from lawful custody. The court was told he has five previous convictions for six offences, although none for violence.

Defending, Dan Griffiths said John accepted the relationship was over and had been using cocaine at the time of the incident, which had made him paranoid, volatile and unpredictable.

He told the court that John had previously worked as a fisherman, roofer and welder, but had struggled with alcohol and substance misuse. Mr Griffiths added that a pre-sentence report highlighted a difficult upbringing and noted a lack of insight into his offending, with concerns that he attempted to minimise his behaviour.

The defence urged the court to consider a suspended sentence to allow John to work with probation services.

Sentencing, Judge Catherine Richards said the offence involved serious strangulation and a sustained assault on an intimate partner, leaving the victim frightened in her own home.