Crime

Jury to hear previous rape conviction in Morgan trial

Published

6 months ago

September 29, 2025

Court also rules on limits of defence questioning

A CROWN Court judge has ruled that jurors will be told about a Haverfordwest garage owner’s previous conviction for rape as part of his trial on a fresh allegation.

Ceri Morgan, 61, of Cardigan Road, denies raping a woman, aged 16 or over, between November and December 2009.

Legal arguments were heard on Monday (Sept 29) in the absence of the jury, who were sworn in earlier in the day and then released until Tuesday morning.

Prosecutors applied to introduce Morgan’s 1999 conviction for rape, committed against another victim. Normally, juries are not told about a defendant’s criminal record, but the Crown argued that the conviction showed a pattern of behaviour relevant to the current allegation.

Mr Recorder P Lewis agreed, telling the court: “It would be open to the jury to conclude, first, that the single conviction for rape does indeed establish a propensity to commit offences of the relatively rare kind now charged, and secondly, that as a consequence of such a propensity, it is thus more likely that the defendant is guilty of this offence.”

He stressed, however, that it remained “a matter for the jury” to decide whether the old conviction pointed to a pattern.

The judge also considered an application from the defence to cross-examine the complainant — who cannot be identified for legal reasons — about issues arising from the prosecution’s evidence.

While allowing limited questioning, Mr Recorder Lewis reminded counsel that the law restricts the scope of such cross-examination in sexual offence cases. “We have to stay within the bounds of section 41*,” he said. “It would be unfair otherwise, but I do think questions must be phrased around specific instances, not generalities.”

He added that if the prosecution led evidence about the relationship, “the defence must be entitled to explore that to the degree indicated.”

Mr Recorder Lewis said he was “concerned” about questions framed in vague terms and suggested they be “laser focused” on specific allegations.

The trial continues in Court 4 at Swansea Crown Court, with the jury due back at 10:30am on Tuesday (Sept 30) to hear opening remarks. Morgan remains on bail under strict conditions.

*Section 41 of the Youth Justice and Criminal Evidence Act 1999 limits the extent to which a complainant in a sexual offence case can be questioned about their sexual history. Judges may allow only specific questions if they are directly relevant to the issues in the trial.

Crime

Shop workers left ‘cheap, ashamed and scared’ after sexual assaults by customer

Published

2 hours ago

March 17, 2026

Sarah Jane Absalom

Victims quit jobs and suffer ongoing anxiety following incidents in Milford Haven store

TWO Pembrokeshire shop workers have described feeling “cheap, ashamed and scared” after being sexually assaulted by a customer, a court has heard.

One of the victims said the incident had left her struggling to cope, in a personal statement read to Haverfordwest magistrates.

“This whole matter has made me feel depressed and cheap,” she said.

“I’ve had to leave my job at the shop because the anxiety became overwhelming. When I think about what happened, I feel ashamed. I want the person responsible to understand the impact it’s had on me. He is the one who should feel ashamed and embarrassed, not me.”

Appearing before the court was John Mason, 76, who pleaded guilty to two charges of sexual assault committed between April 2024 and August 2025.

Prosecutors said Mason entered a shop in Milford Haven on two separate occasions and sexually assaulted two members of staff by grabbing their buttocks over their clothing.

In a second victim impact statement, the other woman described the lasting impact of the incident.

“I live quite near to him and have suffered anxiety since it happened, as I’m constantly aware he could be nearby,” she said.

“It’s always on my mind, and I don’t understand why he thought it was acceptable to behave like that.”

Mason, who has no previous convictions, was represented by solicitor Tom Lloyd.

“This is a man of previously good character, and this experience has been life-changing for him,” he said.

“He was playing golf with friends when he received a call from police. He immediately co-operated, made a full admission, and accepted that his behaviour was unacceptable.

“He has shown genuine remorse for the distress caused, which is not always seen. He is deeply sorry and will not come before the courts again.”

Magistrates ordered Mason, of Coombs Drive, Milford Haven, to pay £500 compensation to each victim. He was also fined £550, ordered to pay a £114 surcharge and £85 costs, and made subject to a nine-month community order, including 15 rehabilitation activity requirement days.

Crime

Army medic caught drink driving at McDonald’s car park in Haverfordwest

Published

2 hours ago

March 17, 2026

Sarah Jane Absalom

Soldier nearly three times over limit avoids community order due to military career

A PEMBROKESHIRE army medic has admitted driving through a McDonald’s car park while nearly three times over the legal drink-drive limit.

Police were called to McDonald’s in Haverfordwest shortly before 1:00am on February 28 after a staff member reported concerns that a motorist entering the drive-through may have been under the influence of alcohol.

Officers found off-duty corporal combat medical technician Jessica Charles-Davies, 27, sitting behind the wheel of a Suzuki.

“She confirmed the vehicle was hers and said she had consumed alcohol, a pint of cider, around two hours earlier,” Crown Prosecutor Linda Baker told Haverfordwest magistrates this week.

However, a roadside breath test revealed 118 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath, more than three times the legal limit of 35. Further tests at the police station recorded a lower reading of 92 microgrammes.

Charles-Davies, of Guillemot Avenue, Haverfordwest, pleaded guilty to drink driving. She was represented by solicitor Tom Lloyd.

The court heard that after completing her AS levels at 17, she joined the military and now serves as a corporal combat medical technician.

“She’s worked all over the world, including deployments in East Africa, Europe, Mozambique and Kenya,” said Mr Lloyd. “Her work is her life.”

In a letter read to the court, the defendant expressed remorse for her actions.

“I’m deeply sorry and would do anything to take it back,” she wrote.

“I’m aware of the impact drink driving has on others, and I accept full responsibility. This has scared me to the core, and I don’t recognise the person I see in the mirror.

“I’m filled with remorse and shame, and this experience will stay with me forever.”

Due to the high reading, magistrates were advised that a community order would normally be imposed, including unpaid work and rehabilitation activity requirements. However, the court was urged to take her military career into account.

“This woman has an exemplary background and is highly regarded by colleagues and friends,” said Mr Lloyd.

“That night she made a serious mistake which she deeply regrets. The consequences are already life-changing.

“She faces demotion and relocation, likely far from her family and partner. The court must consider whether this is a case where sympathy is warranted, and we say it is.”

After a short adjournment, magistrates agreed to depart from sentencing guidelines.

“In the interests of justice, we are prepared to deviate from the guidelines,” said the presiding magistrate, citing the defendant’s previous good character and the mitigation presented.

Charles-Davies was fined £1,000 and ordered to pay a £400 surcharge and £85 costs. She was disqualified from driving for 23 months.