Crime

Waterston man jailed for grooming child – repeat offender ignored previous court warnings

Published

6 months ago

July 30, 2025

A WATERSTON man has been jailed for two years after attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child and breaching a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) — just three years after being spared prison for almost identical offending.

Terry Hughes, aged 41, of Meadow Way, appeared before Swansea Crown Court on Wednesday morning (July 30) where he was sentenced to a 24‑month prison term. He will also remain on the Sex Offenders Register for ten years and is subject to a new ten‑year Sexual Harm Prevention Order.

Latest offences

The court heard that between September 1, 2024, and June 25, 2025, Hughes, for the purpose of obtaining sexual gratification, attempted to communicate with a child under the age of 16, encouraging her to send naked photographs.

In multiple incidents, he also tried to cause a 13‑year‑old girl to view sexual images. During the same period, he created an indecent photograph of a child.

These actions were in direct breach of an existing SHPO made by Cardigan and Pembrokeshire Magistrates’ Court on July 5, 2022, which prohibited him from having any contact with children.

The judge told Hughes that the new offences were aggravated by the fact they were committed while he was already subject to a court order designed to protect children.

Previous offending in 2022

Hughes had stood before the courts in June 2022 for a strikingly similar case. On that occasion, he was brought before Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court after being caught communicating with a child via an online racing video game.

At the time, Hughes was already on the Sex Offenders Register for a previous offence. He was acting as a moderator for the game, a role that gave him contact with young players. Between July and August 2021, he engaged in sexualised conversations with a child, including comments that hinted at sexual content and asking whether the child’s parents were at home.

When police attended his address for a routine offender management visit, Hughes delayed handing over his phone. Officers later discovered he had been deleting conversations in an attempt to hide his offending.

Magistrates described this as a “breach of trust” that demonstrated “an increased degree of manipulation”.

Despite this, Hughes avoided an immediate prison sentence. He was given a six‑month custodial sentence suspended for 24 months, placed on the Sex Offenders Register for seven years, and ordered to pay costs and a victim surcharge. The court believed there was a “realistic prospect of rehabilitation” and warned him that any further offending would almost certainly lead to prison.

Failure to heed warnings

Hughes has now proved those warnings correct. Less than two years after walking free from court, he embarked on a fresh series of grooming attempts — this time breaching the very court order that had been imposed to prevent such behaviour.

The fact that Hughes was able to offend again despite being under the supervision of offender managers and bound by a Sexual Harm Prevention Order will raise questions over how effectively high‑risk offenders are monitored in the community.

Public protection

The new ten‑year Sexual Harm Prevention Order imposes strict conditions on Hughes, including prohibiting unsupervised contact with children, banning him from deleting internet history, and restricting his use of internet‑enabled devices. He will be subject to police monitoring upon his release.

The case underlines the risk posed by repeat child sex offenders who reoffend despite court intervention and supervision. It also highlights the dangers of unsupervised online communication between adults and children, particularly through gaming platforms.

Crime

Man to stand trial accused of making death threat to Herald editor

Published

17 hours ago

January 30, 2026

Court Reporter

Defendant allegedly threatened serious harm in telephone call

A 34-YEAR-OLD Pembroke man is due to stand trial on Monday (Feb 2) accused of sending a message threatening death or serious harm to Pembrokeshire Herald editor Tom Sinclair.

Anthony Jones, of Castle Quarry, Long Mains, Monkton, is listed to appear before magistrates for trial at 12:00pm.

Court records show Jones faces two charges.

The first alleges that on February 24, 2025, in Pembroke, he made a communication that conveyed a threat of death, intending – or being reckless as to whether – the recipient would fear the threat would be carried out.

The charge is brought under section 181 of the Online Safety Act 2023. The offence carries a maximum penalty of twelve months’ imprisonment and/or an unlimited fine.

The second charge relates to an unrelated incident on April 8, 2025. Jones is accused of using threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour towards a police officer, causing harassment, alarm or distress. The offence is alleged to have been racially aggravated under the Crime and Disorder Act 1998.

That charge carries a maximum sentence of six months’ imprisonment and/or an unlimited fine.

Both matters were previously adjourned from December 10, 2025 for a full trial hearing.

The Herald understands the alleged threat formed part of online communications sent earlier this year and was reported to police.

Jones denies the offences and the case is expected to be contested.

The trial is scheduled to take place at Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court.

Crime

Pembroke man accused of child sex offences sent to Swansea Crown Court

Published

17 hours ago

January 30, 2026

Court Reporter

Defendant indicates intention to plead guilty as magistrates rule case too serious for local sentencing

A PEMBROKE man has been sent to the Crown Court after indicating he intends to plead guilty to a series of serious child sex offences.

David Lewis, aged 42, of Ashdale Lane, appeared before Llanelli Magistrates’ Court on Thursday (Jan 30).

Lewis indicated guilty pleas to attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child and attempting to cause or incite a female child under 13 to engage in sexual activity. A further charge of attempting to cause a child under 13 to engage in sexual activity was also put to him.

The offences relate to online and electronic communication.

Magistrates said the case was too serious to be dealt with at their level and committed Lewis to Swansea Crown Court for sentence.

He was granted conditional bail ahead of his next court appearance.

Crime

Disqualified HGV driver charged after dangerous A40 incident

Published

21 hours ago

January 30, 2026

Tom Sinclair

Lorry seen on wrong side of road before multi-force stop

A DISQUALIFIED driver has been charged after an HGV was reportedly driven erratically along the A40 between Narberth and St Clears in the early hours of Thursday (Jan 29).

Dyfed-Powys Police confirmed that 22-year-old Tajinder Singh, of Tudor Road, Southall, has been charged with driving whilst disqualified and using a motor vehicle on a road without insurance.

He was remanded in custody to appear at Llanelli Magistrates’ Court today (Friday, Jan 30).

The incident began when an off-duty police officer reported seeing the heavy goods vehicle being driven on the wrong side of the carriageway on multiple occasions, raising serious concerns for the safety of other road users.

Roads Policing Unit officers carried out immediate checks and traced the vehicle travelling eastbound along the A48 between Carmarthen and Cross Hands.

Specialist Tactical Pursuit and Containment (TPAC) tactics were authorised, with support requested from South Wales Police and the National Police Air Service due to the scale of the risk and the vehicle’s route.

The lorry was kept under constant observation as it continued along the A48 and onto the M4 before eventually stopping at an industrial estate in the Fforestfach area of Swansea.

Officers detained the driver at the scene. The vehicle was seized under Section 165A of the Road Traffic Act.

A spokesperson for Dyfed-Powys Police said officers will continue to take action against dangerous driving.

Anyone with concerns about unsafe or reckless driving is urged to report it to police.