Crime

Man found not guilty over Goodwick pub bust-up

Published

1 year ago

February 21, 2025

A MAN has been found not guilty at Swansea Crown Court on Friday (Feb 21) after throwing a glass at another man in The Glendower Hotel, Goodwick, leaving him with a fractured eye socket.

Judge P. H. Thomas KC addressed the defendant, saying: “What the jury didn’t know is that you have a long history of violence. If you come before the court again, you should expect a sentence.”

Daniel Mitchell, 29, of Dunster Close, Rugby, but living in Goodwick at the time, had been on trial for inflicting grievous bodily harm and damaging property.

As the trial unfolded, the jury heard that the incident, which took place on April 18, 2023, stemmed from a longstanding financial dispute.

He pleaded not guilty to both charges, arguing that he had acted in self-defence.

Mitchell claimed he had lent the complainant £240, which had not been fully repaid. On the night in question, both men were drinking at The Glendower Hotel, where they became embroiled in a heated argument near the pool table.

CCTV footage showed the complainant walking over to Mitchell, at which point, Mitchell recalled: “I was feeling scared during the conversation. I felt like something was going to happen.”

The complainant allegedly responded: “I only owe you £50.”

Tensions escalated quickly. CCTV footage then captured the complainant pushing Mitchell backwards twice, nearly causing him to fall from his seat.

‘I wanted him to stop attacking me’

Mitchell told the court: “When he came for me again, I threw my whole glass at him from two metres away. I wanted him to get away and stop attacking me.”

The glass struck the complainant in the face, leaving him with a three-centimetre laceration above his eye, a two-centimetre laceration below, and a fractured eye socket.

Following the incident, Mitchell fled the pub and went to a friend’s house in Fishguard. Later that night, he walked 45 minutes back to Goodwick, where police found him hiding in a wardrobe upon his arrest.

Prosecuting counsel Georgia Donohue argued: “Throwing a glass in a man’s face was completely excessive, and you were not acting in proportionate self-defence.”

However, Mitchell’s defence barrister Ashanti-Jade Walton countered:

“The jury must assess this through the lens of the heat of the moment. Mr Mitchell’s main goal was to leave, and he acted instinctively.”

Walton emphasised that Mitchell had been pushed twice before reacting and did not have time to weigh his response.

After deliberating for around 90 minutes, the jury returned not guilty verdicts for both grievous bodily harm and criminal damage.

Judge Thomas discharged Mitchell from the dock, but warned him that any future offences would not be met with such leniency.

Crime

Spittal man to stand trial accused of ABH

Published

8 hours 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

8 hours 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.