Crime

Man admits £20,000 damage to Pembrokeshire County Council’s offices

Published

12 months ago

July 4, 2025

Earlier incident involved rare charge under 1824 vagrancy law

A MILFORD HAVEN man who caused thousands of pounds’ worth of damage to Pembrokeshire County Council’s offices in Haverfordwest has admitted his guilt in court.

CHRISTIAN TEELEY, aged 21, of Vicary Crescent, appeared before magistrates on Monday (June 24), where he pleaded guilty to two counts of criminal damage committed on May 30.

The court heard that Teeley damaged a door at the council’s main offices on Freemans Way, causing an estimated £20,000 of damage. He was also charged over a separate incident that same day, during which he damaged a holding cell at Haverfordwest Police Station.

Magistrates imposed a £120 fine, £85 in prosecution costs, and a £48 victim surcharge. He was also ordered to pay £100 in compensation to Pembrokeshire County Council.

The Herald can reveal that Teeley is the same man who appeared before the court earlier this year facing a rare charge under a centuries-old piece of legislation.

On April 15, he was due to answer an allegation of being found on enclosed premises — the Haverfordwest Job Centre — “for an unlawful purpose” under Section 4 of the Vagrancy Act 1824. The incident is said to have taken place on September 18, 2024, with the intended unlawful purpose reportedly being criminal damage.

The little-used law, introduced to control vagrancy following the Napoleonic Wars, remains in force in England and Wales despite repeated calls for its repeal. Critics say it criminalises homelessness and poverty.

The case raised eyebrows among campaigners, and The Herald understands it could yet attract national attention from those urging Parliament to finally remove the law from the statute books.

Crime

Spittal man to stand trial accused of ABH

Published

23 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

23 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.