Crime

Haverfordwest man sentenced for child abuse and bestiality images

Published

11 months ago

August 8, 2025

A HAVERFORDWEST father has been given a suspended prison sentence after police found child sexual abuse material and hundreds of bestiality images on his devices.

Dean Pellington, 31, was arrested on May 29 last year in connection with an unrelated matter. Swansea Crown Court heard that during the investigation, officers seized several of his devices. Pellington provided passcodes and PINs to police, and a later examination revealed the illegal content.

Prosecutor David Singh said 205 extreme pornographic images involving animals were recovered, including one showing a woman performing a sex act on a horse. Officers also found two Category A images – the most serious level – along with three Category B and three Category C indecent images of children.

Among them was an image of a 12-year-old girl with a dog positioned between her legs, and another of a girl lying with her head in the groin area of a naked 12-year-old boy.

When questioned, Pellington accepted that he was the sole user of the devices but claimed to have no knowledge of the files, suggesting they may have been sent via a group chat. Judge Paul Thomas KC dismissed this explanation as “beyond belief” and rejected his initial denial of having a sexual interest in children.

The court heard that Pellington, had no previous convictions. Defence counsel Dean Pulling said his client now accepted there was “an aspect of sexual gratification” involved and had co-operated fully with the investigation.

Pellington admitted three offences of making indecent images of children and one offence of possessing extreme pornographic images.

Judge Thomas told him: “Those images were created using real children who were sexually abused and traumatised, likely suffering lifelong harm, because there is a market for people like you to view them. Saying you acted out of curiosity is the default excuse for men with a sexual interest in children.”

He was sentenced to six months in prison, suspended for 18 months, ordered to complete 26 sessions of an accredited programme, 100 hours of unpaid work, and 20 rehabilitation activity days.

Pellington must register as a sex offender for seven years and is subject to a sexual harm prevention order for the same period.

Crime

Spittal man to stand trial accused of ABH

Published

2 days 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

2 days 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.