Crime
Pembroke Dock mother unlawfully killed in brutal knife attack, inquest rules
A MOTHER and grandmother who was described as “a complete joy to the world” was unlawfully killed in a violent knife attack at her Pembroke Dock home, an inquest has concluded.
Lisa Fraser, 52, was found dead at her home in Military Road at around 8:00am on May 13, 2022. She had sustained multiple sharp-force injuries, including a fatal cut to the throat.

The morning of the attack
The inquest, which took place at County Hall, Haverfordwest, heard that Matthew Harris, 41, had carried out a string of threatening and destructive incidents across Neyland and Pembroke Dock in the early hours of that morning.
One elderly motorist was left terrified when Harris approached him with a knife and told him: “You are going to die.” Armed police were called to the area.
When officers reached Military Road, they saw Harris leaving Mrs Fraser’s house with his hands raised. He told them he needed to go to prison, claiming: “I killed a Nazi. I’ve just killed a Nazi in there.”
Inside the property, officers found Mrs Fraser lying in a rear bedroom with injuries that were not compatible with life.
Arrest and custody
Harris, a father of two who had worked at Pembrokeshire’s oil refineries as a mechanical engineer, was arrested and charged with murder. He was remanded in custody but never stood trial.
Just two weeks after the killing, on May 27, 2022, Harris was found hanged in his cell at HMP Long Lartin in Worcestershire. He later died in hospital.
No justice in the courts
As a result of his death in custody, Harris never faced a jury for the killing of Mrs Fraser. The inquest noted that the family were denied the chance to see the case brought before crown court, leaving many questions unanswered.
For Mrs Fraser’s loved ones, the suicide of her attacker meant that justice was never delivered through the legal system. Instead, the inquest provided the only formal opportunity to set out the events of that day and record how she was unlawfully killed.
Background of the attacker
The inquest was told Harris had a long history of drug use dating back to his school years and had previously served a prison sentence for a drug offence. Although he had suffered with anxiety in his youth, he had no formal mental health diagnosis.
A psychiatrist who interviewed him after his arrest said there was “little to suggest” he suffered from a psychotic illness.
Witnesses reported that in the days before the killing, Harris had displayed erratic and paranoid behaviour, including claiming he had been poisoned.
Tributes to Lisa Fraser
Mrs Fraser was a wife, a mother of three, and grandmother to an eight-month-old grandson. Originally from Kent, she had moved to Pembrokeshire in 2003. She worked in local care homes before taking up a cleaning job in 2021.
Her daughter Phoebe described her as “the glue that kept us all secure.”
“Lisa Fraser was the most innocent, caring person you would ever come across,” she told the inquest. “She should be remembered for the amazing caring soul that she was. Laughter followed her everywhere. She was a complete joy to the world and would support anyone who needed it.”
Phoebe added that her mother doted on her grandson during the eight months they shared together, and cared for adults with additional needs “as if they were her own.”
Her wider family said she had “touched the hearts of everyone she had contact with” and hoped she was now “dancing in gold dust.”
Coroner’s conclusion
Pembrokeshire Coroner Paul Bennett ruled that Mrs Fraser’s death was a case of unlawful killing.
He said: “Lisa Fraser woke up on May 13, 2022, on what was expected to have been a normal day. Like her neighbours in Pembroke Dock, she had no concerns about leaving her property door unlocked. There was no reason to think that anyone would enter the house and do such a terrible thing.”
He concluded: “Lisa Fraser died as a result of stab wounds she sustained to the neck when she was subject of an unprovoked assault committed upon her by an individual who entered the property, who was of sound mind and intended to kill her or cause her grievous bodily harm.”
Mr Bennett commended the Fraser family for their dignity during the four-day inquest, offering his “sincerest and genuine condolences.”
Crime
Pembrokeshire hairdresser avoids prison after pub assault
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 Llewellyn, 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 Llewellyn 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 Llewellyn.
“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 Llewellyn, a £154 court surcharge and £85 costs.
Crime
Farm worker overturns Mercedes when over drink-drive limit
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.
Crime
Pembrokeshire man charged with making hundreds of indecent images of children
A PEMBROKESHIRE man has appeared before magistrates charged with making hundreds of indecent images of children.
David Lewis, 42, is accused of making 261 of the most serious category A images of a child together with 71 category B images and 51 category C images of a child. The offences are alleged to have been committed between March 19, 2025 and August 6, 2025.
He is further accused of distributing one indecent category A image of a child at an undisclosed location in Llanteg, Narberth, on July 27, 2025.
This week Lewis – formerly of Ashdale Lane, Pembroke but now residing at Hoopers Guest House in Swansea – appeared before Haverfordwest magistrates where he submitted no pleas to all four charges.
Crown Prosecutor Dennis Davies told magistrates that a total of 81,000 images and videos are currently being investigated in respect of the defendant, with the result that the police enquiry is not yet complete.
“A lot of these photographs are of babies, with the result that their severity is not suitable for the magistrates court,” Dennis Davies told the Haverfordwest Bench.
As a result of the Crown’s comments, magistrates declined jurisdiction and the matter will now be dealt with by Swansea Crown Court, commencing on May 29. Lewis was released on unconditional bail.
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