News

Jail for meat cleaver wielding takeaway chef

Published

11 years ago

December 18, 2014

A TAKEAWAY worker who wielded a meat cleaver at a civil enforcement officer was sent to custody for 24 weeks on Tuesday. Zhi Hua Zhao, aged 56, of Newcastle Emlyn, had pleaded not guilty to a charge of using threatening and abusive words at Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court on July 29. However at his trial on Tuesday, Magistrates found him guilty.

Prosecuting, Vaughan Pritchard Jones said: “On the date in question, Nicholas James, a civil enforcement officer, had gone to the Red Cow restaurant in Adpar to collect a fine that Mr Zhao owed. Mr James identified himself but at first there was some confusion on Zhao’s part and he told Mr James that the person he was looking for was not in the restaurant and told him to come back on another day.

He was in fact the man he was looking for and he was trying to avoid making the payment. He made it clear that that he wasn’t going to leave until he had the money and Zhao became more agitated. He turned the lights off and went to close the door. Mr James turned them back on again but Zhao turned the lights off again and locked the door. Zhao shouted at him to get out, Mr James replied ‘How can I get out when you’ve locked the door’? He became more agitated and Zhao then disappeared into the kitchen area.

He came back holding a meat cleaver. He was holding it parallel to the ground but he then raised his arm so the blade was pointing upwards. He then said ‘this will make you leave’ and he continued to tell the man to leave. At that stage the enforcement offi cer said he would call 999 and the defendant seemed to calm down. Some customers then entered the store but as a result of hearing him on the phone to the police they left.

Mr James has then gone to leave the restaurant but at this point Zhao pushed him out of the door. He spoke to the gentleman again with a colleague a few days later and payment was made. There were no problems at the second attempt.” Defending, Mike Kelleher said: “It is strange that the bailiff would not have cards in another language to help someone understand why he was there.

He produced paperwork that came from Northampton, if you had a penalty from a Carmarthen court it would seem a bit strange to see a letter from Northampton. Mr Zhao can also not read English. This could have been sorted out in a better way. I have explained to you how he reacted, he couldn’t understand what was going on, he may not have known of the powers that a bailiff possesses. It is not a threatening move to turn the lights off and it is our case that he locked the door but then unlocked it straight away.

This was an unfortunate incident, he was confused and the whole situation has been blown out of proportion simply because Mr Zhao did not understand.” The Magistrates deliberated and after some time they found that Mr James was an honest, straightforward and credible witness. They added that the case was found proven beyond reasonable doubt and found Zhao guilty. On sentencing the Magistrates heard how Zhao has a previous conviction for a very similar offence. The Chairman of the bench said: “We feel that the only appropriate sentence in this case is an immediate custodial sentence. We have taken into account the seriousness of the offence and Mr Zhao’s antecedent history and send you into custody for a period of 24 weeks.”

Crime

Milford roofer fined after abusive call to rival firm

Published

10 minutes ago

March 25, 2026

Sarah-Jane Absalom

56-year-old admitted making threats and using offensive language in business dispute

A MILFORD HAVEN roofer has been fined after making an abusive and threatening phone call to a rival company.

Haverfordwest magistrates heard that on Sunday (Feb 2), John Fitzgerald, 56, made a single phone call to a competing roofing business.

“During the course of the phone call, threats were made to the other company’s boss,” said Crown Prosecutor Nia James.

“The reason for the threats was that the defendant believes this other company is taking business away from him. The lady who took the call felt alarmed and distressed as he used foul language towards her.”

The court heard the victim contacted police following the incident but chose not to provide a victim impact statement and did not seek a restraining order.

“When he was spoken to by officers he said he’d been a d***,” added Nia James.

“He said he’d had a couple of beers and was getting wound up, as he was fed up with them nicking his work. But it was just one phone call.”

Representing Fitzgerald, Fenn Richards said he accepted his wrongdoing.

“He accepts wrongdoing as he’d had a few too many drinks, he made the phone call, and people were winding him up,” she said.

“The defendant has been in the roofing trade since he was 14, and he believed this person had set up a new business and was taking business away from him. But he didn’t mean any harm by it.”

Fitzgerald, of Elm Lane, Milford Haven, was fined £80 and ordered to pay £85 court costs and a £32 surcharge.

Crime

St Davids man banned after drink-driving in Haverfordwest

Published

12 minutes ago

March 25, 2026

Sarah-Jane Absalom

Army veteran over limit after veering across centre line in town centre stop

A ST DAVIDS man has been disqualified from driving after being caught drink-driving in Haverfordwest town centre.

Haverfordwest magistrates heard that just after 12:30am on Monday (Mar 10), police officers saw a black Mercedes C220 pull away from a green light on Thomas Parry Way.

“As he tried to pull away the officers saw him veer over the centre line, so as a result of the manner of his driving, he was stopped,” said Crown Prosecutor Nia James.

A roadside breath test proved positive. Further breathalyser tests showed Gray had 52 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath. The legal limit is 35.

Gray, 49, of Bank House, Goat Street, St Davids, pleaded guilty to drink-driving.

Representing him, Fenn Richards said he had intended to wait until he reached home before drinking.

“But after stopping in Carmarthen, he had some alcohol assuming he wouldn’t be over the limit, and then stupidly, decided to have another drink,” she said.

The court heard Gray is a former army serviceman of 13 years and is currently employed by Stena Ferries in Fishguard.

“Naturally he’s unsure how his disqualification is going to affect his employment,” added Fenn Richards.

“He’s absolutely devastated to be here today.”

Gray was disqualified from driving for 15 months. He was fined £438 and ordered to pay £85 costs and a £175 surcharge.

Crime

Waterston motorist banned after drink-drive crash near Neyland

Published

13 minutes ago

March 25, 2026

Court Reporter

33-year-old more than twice legal limit after losing control on bend

A WATERSTON motorist has been disqualified from driving after crashing his vehicle while more than twice the legal drink-drive limit.

Rhys Duignan, 33, was seen driving a Suzuki Baleno at Lower Scoveston, Neyland, at around 6:30pm on Friday (Mar 7).

“He was involved in a single road traffic collision when his vehicle left the road on the offside,” Crown Prosecutor Nia James told Haverfordwest magistrates this week.

Police attended and carried out a roadside breath test, which proved positive. Further tests at the police station gave a reading of 75 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath. The legal limit is 35.

Duignan, of Main Road, Waterston, Milford Haven, pleaded guilty to drink-driving.

Representing him, Fenn Richards said he had been dazzled by an oncoming vehicle and was unable to take a bend.

“He didn’t think he was over the legal limit at the time, but has since been to the doctor to enquire about getting help to assist with his alcohol consumption,” she said.

The court heard Duignan has also contacted the Dyfed Drug and Alcohol Service since his arrest.

Duignan was disqualified from driving for 19 months. He was fined £120 and ordered to pay £85 court costs and a £48 surcharge.