Crime

Ben Lake urges Prime Minister to back victims of wrongful convictions

Published

12 months ago

July 9, 2025

Ceredigion MP demands justice for man cleared after five years in prison

CEREDIGION Preseli MP Ben Lake has called on the Prime Minister to meet with his constituent Brian Buckle, who spent over five years in prison before being cleared of all charges, but has been denied compensation under current law.

Speaking during Prime Minister’s Questions on Wednesday (July 9), Mr Lake highlighted the “devastating impact” the wrongful conviction has had on Mr Buckle and his family, and urged the government to support reform of the compensation system for victims of miscarriages of justice.

Mr Buckle was wrongfully convicted in 2017 and imprisoned for five years and four months before the Court of Appeal overturned his conviction in September 2022. A retrial in May 2023 resulted in a unanimous not guilty verdict being returned by the jury in just over an hour.

Despite his acquittal, Mr Buckle has been denied compensation due to a controversial change in the law made in 2014. The amendment, introduced under the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act, requires victims of wrongful convictions to prove their innocence “beyond reasonable doubt” — a test described by European Court of Human Rights judges as “virtually insurmountable.”

Only 6.6% of people whose convictions are quashed after a miscarriage of justice are awarded compensation under the current rules.

Mr Lake told Parliament that the situation was “wholly unjust” and continues to affect Mr Buckle’s life long after the criminal proceedings ended.

In March this year, Mr Lake led a debate in Westminster Hall calling on the UK Government to adopt recommendations made by the Law Commission, including replacing the “beyond reasonable doubt” standard with a test based on the “balance of probabilities” to determine eligibility for compensation.

Addressing the Prime Minister, Mr Lake said: “My constituent Mr Brian Buckle is a victim of a miscarriage of justice. He was wrongfully imprisoned for over five years before being exonerated at retrial.

“Despite a jury unanimously finding him not guilty of the crimes for which he was imprisoned, and the devastating impact this injustice continues to have on him and his family, his application for compensation was denied due to a 2014 change to the law.

“Would the Prime Minister consider meeting Mr Buckle to discuss his case, and lend his support to APPEAL’s campaign for fair compensation for those who have been victims of a miscarriage of justice?”

In response, Prime Minister Keir Starmer said: “Can I thank him for raising this particular case which saw a grave miscarriage of justice. In relation to the statutory test for compensation, this has been raised in the House before and I’ve undertaken to have a look at it. I know he’s working, I think, with the Minister responsible on the particular case that he raises.”

Crime

Spittal man to stand trial accused of ABH

Published

19 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

19 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.