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Crime

West Wales man jailed for grooming schoolgirl

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Victim became pregnant after abuse that left her feeling “worthless”

A WEST WALES man has been jailed after grooming a schoolgirl, having sex with her, and getting her pregnant.

Liam Peat, 25, of Heol y Graig, Crynant, appeared at Swansea Crown Court where he was sentenced to three years and nine months in prison after admitting two counts of sexual activity with a child.

Jailed: Liam Peat, 25

The court heard Peat began communicating with the girl on Snapchat when he was 19 and she was just 13. Their conversations, which began innocently, soon became sexual in nature. He requested explicit images, sent her sexual videos of himself, and told her to delete the evidence.

As the relationship developed, the pair met up in secret on a number of occasions. Prosecutor Dyfed Thomas said Peat manipulated the child and gained her trust before having intercourse with her when she was 14 and 15. Protection was “rarely” used.

The girl later became pregnant and told her mother, who alerted police. At first, she did not feel able to make a formal complaint, but in 2023 she decided she wanted justice.

When interviewed, Peat initially denied knowing her real age and claimed he thought she was older. He later admitted the offences on the day his trial was due to start, after the victim arrived at court prepared to give evidence.

In a statement read to the court, the girl said the abuse had left her feeling “worthless” and at times not wanting to be alive, but added she was determined not to let what happened control her future.

The court was told Peat had no previous convictions but did have two cautions for battery from separate incidents on nights out. His barrister, Matt Murphy, said he had acted as an immature young man and also suffered from ADHD, but accepted prison was inevitable.

Judge Paul Thomas KC said Peat had “inveigled” himself into the child’s life, grooming her while he was an adult. He said any remorse was “late in the day” and only shown once the victim was ready to give evidence against him.

Peat was sentenced to 45 months in custody.

 

Crime

Two men bailed after Fleming Crescent burglary report

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TWO men have been arrested following a reported burglary at a property in Haverfordwest.

Dyfed-Powys Police confirmed that officers were called after a residential burglary was reported at Fleming Crescent on Sunday (Apr 26).

The incident is understood to have taken place sometime between 8:35pm and 11:55pm.

Residents reported seeing police tape and several police vehicles in the area at around 9:49pm.

A police spokesperson confirmed that two men, aged 25 and 28, both from Pembrokeshire, were arrested on suspicion of burglary.

Both men have since been released on bail.

 

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Crime

Pembrokeshire hairdresser avoids prison after pub assault

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WHEN a Fishguard mobile hairdresser was branded a chav in her local pub, she took umbrage by throwing a glass of gin at the woman who had spoken the words.

But this week Haverfordwest magistrates heard that when the glass shattered into the victim’s face, the woman sustained lacerations to her neck and chin.

Appearing before the Bench was 43-year-old Donna Thomas of White Lodge, Dyffryn, Goodwick,  who pleaded guilty to assaulting Hannah Llewhelin, causing her actual bodily harm.

The court was told that Thomas arrived at The Royal Oak pub in Fishguard, at around 8pm on October 18, accompanied by her husband. Approximately an hour later, Hannah Llewhelin arrived.

“The defendant began speaking to the victim and an argument broke out,” said Crown Prosecutor Dennis Davies.

“The defendant hit the victim to her face with a glass which smashed against her face, neck and skin, causing lacerations.”

Photographs of the lacerations were shown to the Bench.

But the probation service stressed that the assault had been prompted by a derogatory remark made to the defendant by Hannah Llewhelin.

“The defendant had had two drinks earlier that evening, she drank two more at the pub prior to the incident, and was tipsy but was aware of what was happening around her,” commented the probation officer.

 “She went over to the table where the victim was sitting, her husband introduced her to the victim who he’d known since his school days, and they began discussing land on friendly terms.  But the victim then laughed at the defendant’s  job, which is a self-employed mobile hairdresser, and called her a chav. 

“Without thinking, Donna Thomas went to throw the drink over the victim’s face but she knocked the glass.  She didn’t intend to hurt her physically, but just wanted to throw the drink.”

Thomas was sentenced to 18 weeks in custody suspended for 18 months.  During this time she must carry out 20 rehabilitation activity requirement days and 150 hours of unpaid work.  She was ordered to pay £750 compensation to Hannah Llewhelin, a £154 court surcharge and £85 costs.

 

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Crime

Farm worker overturns Mercedes when over drink-drive limit

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A Pembrokeshire farm worker has  lost his licence after overturning his Mercedes when he was over the drink-drive limit.

This week Haverfordwest magistrates were told that at around 3.40pm on January 10, police received reports that a black Mercedes had been involved in a single vehicle road collision on the A487 at Roch.

When officers arrived, they discovered the overturned Mercedes with its driver, Richard James, 45, trapped in the driving seat.

At around 5 pm James was arrested and transported to Withybush hospital where blood samples were carried out.  These gave a reading of 112 mcg of alcohol, the legal limit being 80.

James, of Bryn Seion, Solva, pleaded guilty to drink-driving and was represented in court by solicitor Jess Hill who informed magistrates that the defendant had collected items for work on the afternoon in question.

“He’d consumed alcohol the night before and had also taken some prescribed medication,” she said.  “He believed he would be safe to drive the following day, but obviously this wasn’t the case.”

Jess Hill added that James is expecting to lose his employment as a farm worker, as the mandatory driving ban will prevent him from driving the vehicles involved with his work.

James was disqualified from driving for 14 months and ordered to pay a £346 fine, a £138 court surcharge and £85 costs.

 

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