A MILFORD HAVEN man has been sent to the Crown Court for trial after appearing before magistrates accused of a historic sexual offence.

Martin Howell, aged 54, of Trafalgar Road, Milford Haven, appeared at Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday (Dec 10).

The court heard that Howell is charged with indecent assault on a girl under the age of 16, an offence alleged to have taken place on March 27, 1985.

The case is unusual in that the alleged incident is said to have occurred when the defendant himself was 13 years old, one day short of his 14th birthday.

No plea was entered at the hearing.

Due to the seriousness of the allegation, magistrates declined jurisdiction and ordered that the case be sent to the Crown Court for trial.

Howell was granted conditional bail.

The complainant is entitled to lifelong anonymity under the Sexual Offences (Amendment) Act 1992.

THREE prisoners have denied murdering child killer Kyle Bevan, who was found dead in his cell at HMP Wakefield.

Bevan, aged 33, was serving a minimum sentence of 28 years after being convicted of murdering his partner’s two-year-old daughter, Lola James, in Haverfordwest in 2020.

The defendants, Lee Newell, 56, and a second man who cannot be named for legal reasons, appeared at Leeds Crown Court via video link, where they entered not guilty pleas to a charge of murder.

A third accused, Mark Fellows, 45, did not attend the hearing, but his barrister told the court that he also denies the offence. A not guilty plea was entered on his behalf.

Judge Guy Kearl KC said the case would proceed to trial, which is expected to last up to four weeks and is scheduled to begin in June.

Bevan was jailed in 2023 after a jury found him guilty of killing Lola James following a prolonged assault lasting several hours. The toddler suffered catastrophic head injuries, which doctors said were comparable to those typically seen in high-speed road traffic collisions.

Medical evidence presented at Bevan’s trial detailed 101 separate injuries, including extensive bruising and scratches, with indications that weapons had been used during the attack.

The court previously heard that Bevan, described as a prolific drug user, had moved into the family home within days of making contact with Lola’s mother, Sinead James, via Facebook.

Bevan, originally from Aberystwyth, Ceredigion, had denied murdering the child but was convicted following a trial at Swansea Crown Court.

DYFED-POWYS POLICE is urging farmers to be vigilant after a digger was stolen and an attempted burglary reported at rural properties off Old Hakin Road, Haverfordwest, in the early hours of Sunday (Dec 14).

Officers say a small digger was taken from a farm and driven around a mile from the scene before being abandoned nearby. A second incident was reported shortly afterwards, in which someone attempted to enter several vehicles and outbuildings at another address before leaving empty-handed.

Rural crime warning

Police have issued fresh crime-prevention advice to the farming community following the two reports, stressing the importance of securing boundaries, machinery and outbuildings.

Farmers are being urged to:

• Install and maintain fences, gates and warning signs.
• Use high-quality locks on barns, sheds and storage units.
• Keep keys to high-value equipment in a safe, secure location.
• Install security cameras in strategic places.
• Join or participate in Farm Watch schemes to share intelligence with neighbours and police.

Dyfed-Powys Police’s Rural Crime Team is also offering farm visits to help mark equipment and carry out security audits. These can be arranged by emailing [email protected].

Further advice on preventing rural crime is available at:
https://www.dyfed-powys.police.uk/advice/advice-and-information/rc/rural-crime/

Appeal for information

Enquiries are ongoing and police are asking anyone with information to contact them using any of the following methods:

🖥️ Online form: https://www.dyfed-powys.police.uk/contact/af/contact-us-beta/contact-us/
📧 Email: [email protected]
💬 Direct message via social media
📞 Call 101

Information can also be given anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Please quote reference 25001019854.

(Image of digger is for illustrative purposes only and may differ from the actual digger stolen.)