Crime

Milford Haven man let waste pile up outside his home for five years

Published

4 months ago

October 14, 2025

A COURT has been shown shocking photographs of a five-year accumulation of household waste abandoned outside a council property in Milford Haven.

Overflowing bin bags, a discarded sofa, rotting food including animal bones, and piles of household items had been left to build up behind the property in Vicary Crescent, occupied by Gavin James.

The problem has been going on for years, with the photo we are showing being taken in 2023.

The court heard that the build-up had attracted rats, which were frequently seen at the address.

This week James, aged 45, appeared before Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court, where he pleaded guilty to breaching a criminal behaviour order by failing to clear the waste despite repeated requests from Pembrokeshire County Council between July 27, 2024 and March 14, 2025.

“The matter goes back to 2020, during which a total of four notices have been served on him,” said solicitor Jill Davies, representing Pembrokeshire County Council.

“Pembrokeshire County Council arranged for a private contractor to remove the waste via skip collections on at least two occasions, and in August 2024, another skip was arranged by his family members. But no improvement has been made to the property, which is located in a built-up residential area.”

Defence solicitor Tom Lloyd said the waste accumulation was linked to difficulties in James’s personal life.

“The father-of-six suffered a breakdown in his 25-year marriage, and this contributed to the offence,” he said.

After considering a report from the probation service, magistrates imposed a 12-month community order requiring James to take part in a talking therapy programme. He was also fined £120, ordered to pay £427 costs to Pembrokeshire County Council, and a £114 court surcharge.

“You need to deal with this problem in some way, because unless you do, it’s only going to get worse,” the presiding magistrate told him.

Long history of enforcement action

This is not the first time Gavin James, of Vicary Crescent, has appeared before magistrates over waste-related offences.

In 2023, both he and his then-partner, Marie Danielle James, were fined after ignoring repeated council notices under the Prevention of Damage by Pests Act. Contractors had to be hired to clear the rubbish after they failed to comply.

In 2024, James was again prosecuted for failing to comply with a Community Protection Notice, issued after further complaints about household waste piling up behind his home. He failed to attend court, and the case was proved in his absence. Magistrates fined him £300, imposed a £120 victim surcharge, and ordered him to pay £2,759 in council costs.

Following that conviction, Pembrokeshire County Council successfully applied for a Criminal Behaviour Order (CBO) restricting him from allowing waste to accumulate at the property or causing harassment, alarm or distress to neighbours by failing to clear it.

Despite the order, the same problems persisted, leading to this latest prosecution.

Crime

Man to stand trial accused of making death threat to Herald editor

Published

12 hours ago

January 30, 2026

Court Reporter

Defendant allegedly threatened serious harm in telephone call

A 34-YEAR-OLD Pembroke man is due to stand trial on Monday (Feb 2) accused of sending a message threatening death or serious harm to Pembrokeshire Herald editor Tom Sinclair.

Anthony Jones, of Castle Quarry, Long Mains, Monkton, is listed to appear before magistrates for trial at 12:00pm.

Court records show Jones faces two charges.

The first alleges that on February 24, 2025, in Pembroke, he made a communication that conveyed a threat of death, intending – or being reckless as to whether – the recipient would fear the threat would be carried out.

The charge is brought under section 181 of the Online Safety Act 2023. The offence carries a maximum penalty of twelve months’ imprisonment and/or an unlimited fine.

The second charge relates to an unrelated incident on April 8, 2025. Jones is accused of using threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour towards a police officer, causing harassment, alarm or distress. The offence is alleged to have been racially aggravated under the Crime and Disorder Act 1998.

That charge carries a maximum sentence of six months’ imprisonment and/or an unlimited fine.

Both matters were previously adjourned from December 10, 2025 for a full trial hearing.

The Herald understands the alleged threat formed part of online communications sent earlier this year and was reported to police.

Jones denies the offences and the case is expected to be contested.

The trial is scheduled to take place at Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court.

Crime

Pembroke man accused of child sex offences sent to Swansea Crown Court

Published

12 hours ago

January 30, 2026

Court Reporter

Defendant indicates intention to plead guilty as magistrates rule case too serious for local sentencing

A PEMBROKE man has been sent to the Crown Court after indicating he intends to plead guilty to a series of serious child sex offences.

David Lewis, aged 42, of Ashdale Lane, appeared before Llanelli Magistrates’ Court on Thursday (Jan 30).

Lewis indicated guilty pleas to attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child and attempting to cause or incite a female child under 13 to engage in sexual activity. A further charge of attempting to cause a child under 13 to engage in sexual activity was also put to him.

The offences relate to online and electronic communication.

Magistrates said the case was too serious to be dealt with at their level and committed Lewis to Swansea Crown Court for sentence.

He was granted conditional bail ahead of his next court appearance.

Crime

Disqualified HGV driver charged after dangerous A40 incident

Published

16 hours ago

January 30, 2026

Tom Sinclair

Lorry seen on wrong side of road before multi-force stop

A DISQUALIFIED driver has been charged after an HGV was reportedly driven erratically along the A40 between Narberth and St Clears in the early hours of Thursday (Jan 29).

Dyfed-Powys Police confirmed that 22-year-old Tajinder Singh, of Tudor Road, Southall, has been charged with driving whilst disqualified and using a motor vehicle on a road without insurance.

He was remanded in custody to appear at Llanelli Magistrates’ Court today (Friday, Jan 30).

The incident began when an off-duty police officer reported seeing the heavy goods vehicle being driven on the wrong side of the carriageway on multiple occasions, raising serious concerns for the safety of other road users.

Roads Policing Unit officers carried out immediate checks and traced the vehicle travelling eastbound along the A48 between Carmarthen and Cross Hands.

Specialist Tactical Pursuit and Containment (TPAC) tactics were authorised, with support requested from South Wales Police and the National Police Air Service due to the scale of the risk and the vehicle’s route.

The lorry was kept under constant observation as it continued along the A48 and onto the M4 before eventually stopping at an industrial estate in the Fforestfach area of Swansea.

Officers detained the driver at the scene. The vehicle was seized under Section 165A of the Road Traffic Act.

A spokesperson for Dyfed-Powys Police said officers will continue to take action against dangerous driving.

Anyone with concerns about unsafe or reckless driving is urged to report it to police.