Crime

Man jailed for historic child sex offences in Milford Haven

Published

1 year ago

March 28, 2025

A MILFORD HAVEN man who raped a young girl and abused two children in the 1980s has been jailed for 16 years.

Gary Hicks, now 64 and living in Luton, was convicted at Swansea Crown Court of a series of serious sexual offences carried out between 1987 and 1989. The abuse took place when he was aged between 27 and 29 and targeted two victims, both under the age of eleven at the time.

Hicks denied all the charges but was found guilty following two separate trials.

In August last year, he was convicted of five offences: two counts of indecency with a child and three of indecent assault. He was acquitted of one count of rape and one of indecent assault, while a second rape charge saw no verdict returned.

That charge was brought back before the court in a retrial in February, during which the jury delivered a unanimous guilty verdict.

The Herald understands that Hicks carried out a range of degrading and abusive acts. These included forcing the girl to masturbate him and subjecting her to digital and vaginal rape. He also made the male victim place his penis in Hicks’ mouth and urinate.

The court was told Hicks threatened the girl to prevent her from speaking out. He told her no one would believe her, adding she would lose all her friends if she ever told anyone what had happened.

“These words had their intended effect,” said Judge Huw Rees during sentencing.

The abuse remained undisclosed for more than three decades. It was only in the early hours of October 13, 2022, that the female victim contacted police and disclosed what had happened. The male victim later came forward with his own allegations.

Hicks was interviewed on March 6, 2023, and continued to deny any wrongdoing.

The court heard that he had four previous convictions covering seven offences—only one of which dated from before the abuse. He had no history of sexual offending.

Defence counsel Mark Kelly KC said Hicks had not committed similar offences since and urged the court to consider the impact of imprisonment on his elderly mother, aged 92, and his long-term partner, aged 70.

Judge Rees sentenced Hicks to 16 years in custody, with a further year on licence. He must serve two-thirds of his sentence before being eligible for release.

He was also placed on the Sex Offenders Register for life, and both victims were granted indefinite restraining orders for their protection.

Brave survivors: Both victims gave evidence in court decades after the abuse (Pic: Herald).

Crime

Spittal man to stand trial accused of ABH

Published

1 day 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

1 day 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.