Crime

Man given two-year Criminal Behaviour Order after noise complaints case

Published

4 months ago

November 23, 2025

A PEMBROKE DOCK man has been handed a two-year Criminal Behaviour Order after a series of allegations that he breached a community protection notice by creating unreasonable noise at his home.

Paul Richard McNally, aged sixty-two, of Laws Street, appeared before Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday (Nov 19) for seven linked charges of failing to comply with a community protection notice. The notice required him to prevent loud or offensive noise, including shouting and aggressive language, from causing a nuisance to neighbours.

Multiple charges dismissed

McNally had previously pleaded not guilty to six of the alleged breaches, said to have taken place between February and June this year in Pembroke Dock.

At Wednesday’s hearing, magistrates dismissed all six charges after no evidence was offered by Pembrokeshire County Council, which had brought the prosecution.

An application by the council to introduce bad-character evidence was also withdrawn.

A spokesperson for Pembrokeshire County Council said: “Following multiple complaints to the council, officers used The NoiseApp and professional sound-monitoring equipment to gather evidence of McNally repeatedly banging and shouting expletives whenever his neighbour carried out normal daily tasks, such as running taps or flushing the toilet.

The persistent shouting and thumping on the ceiling caused the tenant significant alarm and distress.

A Community Protection Warning (CPW) was issued, directing McNally not to create excessive noise or verbally abuse other tenants. Despite this, the behaviour continued and further evidence was obtained.

The council then served a Community Protection Notice (CPN) under the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014, again requiring him to stop. However, the nuisance persisted, and the authority brought a prosecution for breaching the CPN.

Magistrates fined McNally £162 and ordered him to pay a £65 victim surcharge and £1,000 in costs to Pembrokeshire County Council. A Criminal Behaviour Order (CBO) was also imposed to prevent any further noise or abusive conduct. Any breach of the CBO will be referred back to the court and could result in a custodial sentence.

Cllr Jacob Williams said: “A Community Protection Notice is a formal legal measure councils can use to deal with nuisance behaviour that has a serious impact on people’s quality of life.

“Unfortunately, the CPN in this case was ignored, leaving the authority with no option but to pursue the matter through the courts. The conviction – and the significant costs imposed – could have been avoided had the notice been complied with.”

Guilty plea to April incident

However, McNally changed his plea to guilty on a separate charge relating to an incident on April 5.

Magistrates imposed a Criminal Behaviour Order lasting until November 2027. The order prohibits McNally from shouting aggressively at neighbours, using foul or offensive language towards them, or creating unreasonable noise from his property, including banging or slamming doors in a way likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress.

He must also stay in regular contact with supervising officers Rachel Stevenson-Thomas and Steve Morbey, and notify them of any change of address.

Fines and costs

McNally was fined £162. He must also pay a £65 victim services surcharge and £1,000 in prosecution costs. A collection order was made, with the court indicating that deductions from benefits may be applied. The total of £1,227 must be paid by December 19.

The court noted that his guilty plea was taken into account when sentencing.

Crime

Man sentenced for stalking Milford Haven woman

Published

9 hours ago

March 15, 2026

Court Reporter

Restraining order imposed by Haverfordwest magistrates

A MAN has been sentenced after admitting stalking a woman in Milford Haven.

Andrew Richards, 39, of High Street, Neyland, appeared before Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court for sentence on Monday (Mar 9).

Richards had previously pleaded guilty to stalking without fear, alarm or distress, contrary to section 2A(1) and (4) of the Protection from Harassment Act 1997.

The court heard that between December 2, 2025 and February 15, 2026, he pursued a course of conduct which amounted to the stalking of Tamsin Matthias and which he knew, or ought to have known, amounted to harassment.

Magistrates imposed a community order running until September 8, 2027.

As part of the order, Richards must undertake alcohol treatment for nine months under the direction of the probation service.

He must also complete up to twenty days of rehabilitation activity as directed by probation.

Richards was ordered to pay a £120 fine, £500 compensation to the victim, £85 prosecution costs and a £114 surcharge.

The court made a restraining order lasting until September 8, 2027.

Under the order, Richards must not contact the victim directly or indirectly and must not post, or cause to be posted, any material on social media or the internet referring to her directly or indirectly.

The court heard a victim personal statement from the complainant, which was read to the court by the prosecutor.

The case was prosecuted by Dennis Davies, with Richards represented by Mike Kelleher.

The hearing was before magistrates Mrs J Morris, Mr C Pattison and Mr J Steadman.

Crime

Man, 80, sentenced for stalking after campaign of unwanted emails and posters

Published

9 hours ago

March 15, 2026

Court Reporter

Restraining order imposed after Haverfordwest case

A MAN has been sentenced for stalking after admitting a campaign of unwanted contact and harassment in Haverfordwest.

Michael Lockheart, 80, of Daisy Lane, Haverfordwest, appeared before Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court for sentence on Monday (Mar 9).

The court had previously heard that between July 27 and September 10, 2025, Lockheart pursued a course of conduct which amounted to stalking.

The offence involved sending numerous unwanted emails after being told to stop making contact, putting up defamatory posters in public places, and sending malicious correspondence to the complainant’s GP and local authority.

Lockheart had entered a guilty plea to stalking without fear, alarm or distress, contrary to section 2A(1) and (4) of the Protection from Harassment Act 1997, on January 27, 2026.

Magistrates imposed a community order running until March 8, 2028.

As part of that order, Lockheart must undergo non-residential mental health treatment for 12 months under Dr Cormac Duffy, as directed by probation.

He must also complete up to 25 days of rehabilitation activity.

Lockheart was ordered to pay £1,000 compensation, a £600 fine, £85 costs and a £114 surcharge.

The court also made a restraining order lasting until March 8, 2028.

Under that order, he must not seek, approach or communicate with the complainant by any means, directly or indirectly. He must not knowingly enter any address where she is living, and must not post, or cause to be posted, any material online or on social media referring to her directly or by implication.

A victim personal statement was read to the court by the prosecutor.

The case was heard by Mrs J Morris, Mr C Pattison and Mr J Steadman.