Crime

Haverfordwest man assaulted partner during pub row over drugs

Published

12 months ago

May 18, 2025

A HAVERFORDWEST man assaulted his partner during a night out after she told him he could not take drugs, a court has heard.

Swansea Crown Court was told that Kieran Vaughan and his partner had gone out for lunch and drinks on March 8 when the incident took place.

Prosecutor Georgia Donohue said that while they were out socialising, Vaughan was approached by another person and began discussing drugs. When his partner told him he was not to take any drugs that evening, tensions escalated.

The pair moved on to another pub, where an argument broke out. During the dispute, Vaughan grabbed his partner’s hand and tried to pull her engagement ring off her finger.

She later attended A&E with pain in her arm. Although no fracture was found, she was believed to have suffered a sprained wrist. She left the hospital before receiving treatment.

Vaughan was arrested later that day and initially denied any assault.

He was originally charged with several offences including assault occasioning actual bodily harm, two counts of strangulation, assault by beating, controlling and coercive behaviour, and sending a threatening message.

However, all charges except the ABH were later dropped after the victim withdrew her support for the prosecution and indicated she wanted to resume the relationship.

Vaughan, aged 37 and of Caradoc Place, subsequently pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of assault by beating. The prosecution accepted the plea.

The court heard that Vaughan has 27 previous convictions for 44 offences and was already subject to a community order at the time of the assault.

Defending, Jon Tarrant said his client had spent the equivalent of four months in custody on remand and had been aware the complainant no longer supported the case before he entered his guilty plea.

Sentencing, Judge Huw Rees imposed a four-month prison term, meaning Vaughan would be released immediately under standard prison release arrangements.

The existing community order remains in force.

“There is a lot of work for you to do,” Judge Rees told him.

Community concern reignites over Caradoc Place address

Following Vaughan’s release, concerns have resurfaced among neighbours in the Furzy Park and Caradoc Place area of Haverfordwest, where both he and his partner reside.

Six residents have previously written to housing association ATEB demanding action over ongoing disturbances at the address, citing antisocial behaviour, threats, and intimidation.

One neighbour told The Herald this on Friday evening: “He is back at the house. We are all worried. The police told us nothing—he just turned up.”

In March, the situation prompted a major police response after an incident at the property led to the arrest of a woman. At that time, neighbours described chaotic scenes as the arrest unfolded, with one mother, Yana Gencheva, tearfully recounting how the stress was affecting her autistic daughter.

Another neighbour, Jan Davies, who has lived in Caradoc Place for over a decade, said in a letter to ATEB: “It’s currently impossible to live in Caradoc Place. We are not enjoying retirement—we’re living in fear in our own homes.”

The Herald has contacted ATEB again for comment on the renewed anxiety in the community following Vaughan’s return.

Crime

Farming company fined £19,000 for damaging protected wildlife site

Published

9 hours ago

May 5, 2026

Sarah-Jane Absalom

A CARDIGAN farming company has been ordered to pay almost £20,000 after recklessly damaging a Site of Special Scientific Interest.

Jenkins Ty Hen Ltd, run by David Glyn Jenkins and William Lloyd Jenkins, of Ty Hen, Verwig, admitted damaging the Llwyn Ysgaw, Caeau Crug Bychan and Ty Gwyn SSSI through the unauthorised use of manure, slurry, fertilisers and lime.

The offences took place between June 21 and July 31, 2024.

The court heard that Natural Resources Wales had repeatedly warned the company about how the protected land should be managed.

Aled Watkins, prosecuting for NRW, said an agreement made in 2004 made clear that the landowners needed written consent before carrying out certain activities on the site, including the use of slurry, herbicides, pesticides, fertiliser or lime.

He said: “A significant amount of guidance, advice and warnings has been directed to the company over a substantial period of time, as there have been problems before.”

The court was told advice had been given in 2017, with further discussions in 2021. Further problems were identified in 2024, leading to advice letters and then a formal warning in June that year.

Mr Watkins said: “Even after the letters were sent, no consent request was made.

“The common sense conclusion was that, where the original agreement was clear and advice had been given years prior, this was a deliberate act by the landowners of spreading slurry on the SSSI.”

Jenkins Ty Hen Ltd pleaded guilty to intentionally or recklessly destroying or damaging flora on the protected site, contrary to the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.

The company also admitted permitting the use of manure, slurry, silage liquor, fertiliser or lime without written consent from NRW, knowing it was likely to damage rare flora and fauna as well as geological and physiographical features.

Defending, solicitor Harry Dickens said the company had not deliberately set out to damage the land.

“This is more akin to the business damaging the land rather than setting out within their practices to do that damage,” he said.

He added that various contractors were used at the farm and were not always aware of the regulations.

“The defendants did not go out intentionally to harm the flora and fauna,” he said.

“Yes, they had foresight of the warnings and the previous agreement, but this is more akin to wilful blindness rather than going out intending to damage the land. It was not a flagrant disregard.

“The defendants were not loutish in their usage of the land, they are not vandals, they have not been silent and neither have they stonewalled NRW.”

Mr Dickens said the farmers accepted the need to restore the land and were keen to work productively with the authorities.

District Judge Mark Layton said Jenkins Ty Hen Ltd had breached NRW requirements.

“They spread fertilisers, herbicides and slurry on the land which was a breach,” he said.

“This was clearly a deliberate act of culpability and a complete disregard after already being given advice and warnings.”

The court heard the company’s most recent financial turnover was just over £1.6m. It was described by the defence as a micro-business.

Jenkins Ty Hen Ltd was ordered to pay £19,940.66, made up of a £9,000 fine, £8,940.66 costs to NRW and a £2,000 surcharge.

A restoration order was also made requiring work to improve the quality of the damaged SSSI land.

Crime

Trial of men accused of murdering Ian Watkins delayed

Published

12 hours ago

May 5, 2026

Tom Sinclair

THE TRIAL of two prison inmates accused of murdering former Lostprophets singer Ian Watkins has been delayed by a day.

Watkins, who was serving a 29-year sentence for child sexual offences, died following an alleged attack at HMP Wakefield last October.

Rashid Gedel, 25, who has been referred to in court as Rico Gedel, and Samuel Dodsworth, 43, were due to stand trial at Leeds Crown Court on Tuesday (May 5).

The case is now expected to begin on Wednesday (May 6).

Watkins was jailed in December 2013 for 29 years, with a further six years on licence, after admitting a series of child sex offences, including the attempted rape of a baby.

He was arrested after police executed a drugs warrant at his home in Pontypridd on September 21, 2012. Officers seized computers, mobile phones and storage devices, which later revealed evidence of his offending.

Watkins had previously been taken to hospital after being attacked in prison in 2023.

In 2019, he was jailed for an additional ten months after being found guilty of possessing a mobile phone while in prison.

Crime

70-year-old denies assault and restraining order breach

Published

5 days ago

May 1, 2026

Rieve Nesbitt-Marr

A PENSIONER from Pembroke Dock has denied breaching a restraining order and assaulting another man.

Henry Howlett, 70, of Market Street, appeared before Swansea Crown Court today (Friday, May 1), charged with breaching a restraining order and common assault.

The charges relate to an alleged incident on November 9 last year.

Howlett has previously appeared before magistrates in connection with a separate alleged incident involving a neighbour.

Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court previously heard that a dispute arose on July 17 after neighbour Steven Bromhall was washing his car outside his home in Market Street.

Prosecutor Nia James told the court that, as a taxi arrived to collect Howlett, the driver opened the window while passing and Mr Bromhall inadvertently sprayed the taxi driver with water from a hosepipe.

“The taxi driver started remonstrating, and the defendant then began waving his walking stick in the air, towards Mr Bromhall,” she said.

The court heard Mr Bromhall sustained an injury to his back, although it remained unclear whether he had been struck by Howlett’s stick.

Howlett pleaded not guilty to common assault in relation to that incident and was released on unconditional bail. A trial date was set at Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court.

At Swansea Crown Court today, His Honour Judge P H Thomas KC asked Howlett whether he was legally represented.

“I can’t find anyone decent, I’m still searching, my lord,” Howlett replied.

When the court attempted to take his pleas, Howlett repeatedly interrupted in an effort to give an explanation, prompting the judge to tell him: “Be quiet, Mr Howlett.”