Crime

Pregnant woman strangled by ex after refusing to drop complaint

Published

10 months ago

May 30, 2025

Evans jailed for 28 months following terrifying incident in Pembroke

A PEMBROKE DOCK man has been jailed after he forced his way into his pregnant ex-partner’s home and strangled her when she refused to withdraw a police complaint.

LEIGHTON EVANS, aged 30, of London Road, had been banned from contacting the woman following allegations of assault. Despite this, on the evening of November 8 last year, he appeared in her garden and climbed through a window into her home in Pembroke.

The victim, who was 30 weeks pregnant at the time, found Evans sitting on her sofa rolling a cigarette. Prosecutor Georgia Donohue told the court that he began accusing her of “ruining his life” and demanded she retract the complaint she had made to police.

When the woman refused, Evans attempted to leave undetected by avoiding her doorbell camera. However, he began arguing with her again at the side of the house.

Ms Donohue said Evans made threatening remarks, including telling her she would “lose her baby”. When she tried to push him away, Evans grabbed her by the throat with both hands. She managed to fight him off and he fled.

The woman immediately contacted friends, who in turn called the police.

Evans initially told officers he had been at home all evening and claimed CCTV would support his story. When asked about a red mark on his neck, he said it was from shaving. However, during transport to the station, he admitted being at the woman’s home but alleged she had attacked him.

The court heard the woman now feels vulnerable and fearful when people knock at her door. “I just want to feel safe,” she said.

Evans had previously been convicted at Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court on February 3 for battery and criminal damage, relating to a separate incident last October where he threw a fork at the victim, punched her, and smashed her phone. He was sentenced to 16 weeks in prison for those offences.

Initially denying the charges of intentional strangulation and witness intimidation, Evans changed his plea to guilty on the day of trial in relation to the strangulation.

Defending, Emily Bennett said Evans had found his first time in custody “sobering and distressing” and accepted the relationship was over. “He knows he must leave her alone,” she said.

Judge Catherine Richards sentenced Evans to 28 months in prison. A three-year restraining order was imposed to protect the victim.

Crime

Train disruption after youths seen playing on tracks at Haverfordwest station

Published

5 hours ago

April 1, 2026

Tom Sinclair

Police attend after dangerous incident involving football on railway line

TRAINS were delayed at Haverfordwest railway station on Tuesday (Apr 1) after a group of youths were seen playing with a football near live tracks, prompting a police response.

Footage captured by a bystander shows several young people on the platform throwing and kicking a ball across the station. In one clip, a youth is seen kicking a football from Platform 2 towards Platform 1, but the ball overshoots and lands beyond a fence into the station car park.

More concerning footage shows the ball rolling onto the railway line, with one youth climbing down onto the tracks to retrieve it—an act that poses serious risk of injury or death due to live rails and the potential for oncoming trains.

The incident caused disruption to services, with two trains delayed by 25 minutes while the situation was dealt with.

Police attended the scene, although it is not yet clear whether any arrests were made. Officers have been approached for comment.

Railway safety rules strictly prohibit access to the tracks except by authorised personnel, and incidents such as this are treated seriously due to the potentially fatal consequences.

The Herald understands that such behaviour can also lead to significant disruption across the rail network, affecting passengers and services well beyond the immediate area.

Anyone with further information about the incident is urged to contact police.

Crime

Driver given interim ban after A478 crash

Published

1 day ago

March 31, 2026

Sarah Jane Absalom

Motorist fled scene after colliding with fence and hedge near Clunderwen

A LLANDISSILIO motorist has been handed an interim driving disqualification after failing to stop following a collision on the A478.

Haverfordwest magistrates heard this week that Dean Duffy, 31, collided with a fence and hedge while driving his Ford Puma at Clunderwen on Tuesday (Mar 4). His failure to stop and report the incident led to his court appearance.

Duffy, of Maesybryn, Llandissilio, pleaded guilty to failing to stop after a road traffic collision, failing to report the accident, driving without third party insurance and driving while disqualified.

Crown Prosecutor Sian Vaughan told the court: “A vehicle collided with a fence and hedge and the bumper came off. The vehicle was abandoned, but correspondence on the seat identified the defendant as possibly being the person responsible.”

Magistrates adjourned sentencing until Tuesday (Apr 28) to allow for the preparation of a pre-sentence report by the probation service.

Duffy was disqualified from driving on an interim basis pending sentence.

Crime

Dock motorist avoids jail after drug-drive crash

Published

1 day ago

March 31, 2026

Sarah Jane Absalom

A PEMBROKE DOCK motorist has narrowly avoided a custodial sentence after taking his mother’s car without permission and crashing into a wall, causing damage to a parked BMW.

Haverfordwest magistrates heard this week that on September 27, 2025, Tony Brundrett, 21, took his mother’s Vauxhall Astra from her home and drove off without her consent.

Crown Prosecutor Sian Vaughan told the court that Brundrett lost control of the vehicle and collided with a wall.

“The wall collapsed as a result of the impact, causing damage to a parked BMW,” she said.

The owner of the BMW said the vehicle suffered bodywork damage and scratching following the incident.

When arrested, Brundrett was found to have 253 micrograms of benzoylecgonine – a cocaine metabolite – in his system, more than five times the legal limit of 50.

The court heard that although Brundrett’s mother confirmed the car was hers, she did not wish to criminalise her son.

Brundrett, of Kavanagh Court, Pembroke Dock, pleaded guilty to aggravated vehicle taking, driving without insurance, driving otherwise than in accordance with a licence, criminal damage, and drug-driving.

Defending, Alaw Harries said: “He accepts his behaviour was foolish and irresponsible and wishes to apologise to the court for what took place.

“At the time of the offence, he was experiencing significant personal difficulties. This was the first and last time he has taken drugs, and he was not thinking clearly. While that is not an excuse, it provides context. He is now in a much better place.”

Magistrates sentenced Brundrett to 18 weeks’ custody, suspended for 24 months. He was disqualified from driving for two years and ordered to pay £100 compensation, a £154 surcharge and £85 costs.