Crime

Covid loan fraudster ordered to repay almost £200,000 after Swansea hearing

Published

2 months ago

January 19, 2026

A HAVERFORDWEST man who fraudulently secured £150,000 in Covid support for mobile phone businesses has been ordered to repay almost £200,000 — and faces prison if he fails to pay.

Zahid Afzal, 37, of Albert Street, appeared at Swansea Crown Court on Monday (Jan 19) for a confiscation hearing under the Proceeds of Crime Act. The court ordered him to pay £197,306 within three months.

Afzal was previously handed a two-year prison sentence suspended for two years in June 2025 after pleading guilty to fraud offences following an Insolvency Service investigation. He was also ordered to complete 300 hours of unpaid work.

The Insolvency Service said Afzal made two legitimate applications for Bounce Back Loans in 2020, totalling £52,500, for his companies Phone Bits Limited and Phones Onn Ltd. However, it said he then exploited the scheme by applying for three additional maximum-value loans of £50,000 each, despite companies only being entitled to one Bounce Back Loan.

The £150,000 was paid between May and November 2020 — one £50,000 loan for Phone Bits Limited and two £50,000 loans for Phones Onn Ltd.

Investigators said Afzal falsely declared that Phone Bits Limited had not already received a Bounce Back Loan when he made a further application in May 2020, despite £32,500 having been paid into the company’s account the day before.

They also said he inflated the turnover figure for Phones Onn Ltd on applications in July and November 2020, stating it was £200,000 — the minimum required to secure a £50,000 loan — after earlier declaring turnover of £80,000 when applying legitimately for a £20,000 loan.

The Insolvency Service said significant amounts of the money paid into the businesses were later transferred into Afzal’s personal accounts, contrary to scheme rules which required the loans to be used for the economic benefit of the business.

Afzal has repaid only £2,722 in the more than five years since the applications were made, the Insolvency Service said. If he fails to repay the £197,306 within the time allowed, he faces two years in prison — and will still be required to repay the money even if jailed.

The confiscation figure includes the three £50,000 loans and indexation to reflect changes in the value of money since 2020.

The Insolvency Service said it also secured a restraint order against Afzal’s accounts, preventing assets from being moved or spent while proceeds of crime action was pursued.

Afzal’s businesses operated mobile phone shops or kiosks in Carmarthen, Shropshire, Andover in Hampshire and North Devon.

Crime

Man fined after vessel collision in Milford Haven

Published

12 hours ago

March 5, 2026

Court Reporter

A NEWPORT man has been fined thousands of pounds after admitting a series of harbour safety offences following a vessel collision in Milford Haven.

Nolan Orford, aged 51, Bishton Village, Newport, appeared before Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court on Thursday (Mar 5).

The court heard that the offences took place on June 4, 2025, when Orford was navigating a vessel named Andy 02 within the Milford Haven Waterway.

Prosecutors, acting on behalf of the Milford Haven Port Authority, said Orford failed to comply with directions lawfully given by the harbourmaster under the Milford Haven Conservancy Act 1983 and the Milford Haven Byelaws 1984.

The first offence related to the manner in which the vessel was navigated. The court was told that Andy 02 was manoeuvred in such a way that it caused damage, danger or inconvenience to other users of the Haven, resulting in a collision with another vessel.

Orford also admitted failing to report the collision to the harbourmaster immediately after the incident, despite being the master of the vessel and required to do so under harbour regulations.

A further offence concerned an act affecting the safety of navigation in the Haven, after Andy 02 struck a vessel that was on its moorings.

Orford had originally denied the charges but changed his pleas to guilty on February 17.

Magistrates fined him £1,125 for the first offence and a further £1,125 for the third offence relating to the safety of navigation.

He was also fined £750 for failing to report the collision.

In addition, Orford was ordered to pay £6,000 in prosecution costs and a £1,200 surcharge to fund victim services.

The court made a collection order and allowed the total amount to be paid at a rate of £100 per month starting from April 2.

The offences were brought under Section 23 of the Milford Haven Conservancy Act 1983 and various Milford Haven Byelaws governing navigation safety within the Haven.

Speaking after the case, the Harbourmaster at the Port of Milford Haven, Mike Ryan said: “We are responsible for ensuring the safe and lawful use of the Waterway. Most users comply with the byelaws and navigational requirements, which exist to protect all who operate on or enjoy the Haven.

“We encourage anyone who is unsure of their responsibilities to consult the guidance available online. Users who do not comply with these byelaws may be subject to legal action.

“This incident is a reminder to everyone using the Waterway of their obligations: to always maintain a proper lookout, to navigate at a safe and appropriate speed, and to take early and decisive action to avoid the risk of collision.

“And, in the event of any collision or incident, users are legally required to report the matter to the Harbourmaster without delay. We will act, including pursuing prosecution when necessary, to keep everyone safe.”

The Port of Milford Haven is responsible for managing the safe use of the Milford Haven Waterway within the defined port limits. The Milford Haven Conservancy Act 1983 and the Milford Haven Harbour Byelaws 1984 provide the legal framework for these responsibilities and give the authority power to prosecute those who endanger the safe use of the Waterway.

Crime

Neighbour nuisance case adjourned after defendant reported unwell

Published

12 hours ago

March 5, 2026

Court Reporter

A HAKIN resident accused of repeatedly breaching a community protection notice has had his case adjourned after failing to attend court due to illness.

Tania Evans, of James Street, Hakin, Milford Haven, was due to appear before Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court on Thursday (Mar 5).

The defendant, who was not present and is not in custody, faces six charges brought by Pembrokeshire County Council relating to alleged breaches of a community protection notice.

The court heard that the allegations relate to repeated incidents at a property in Hakin between October and December last year.

Evans is accused of failing to comply with the conditions of a community protection notice by allowing excessive noise and disruptive behaviour to occur at the address.

According to the charges, Evans allegedly failed to ensure that loud music, abusive shouting, excessive noise, or intimidating behaviour by himself or visitors to the property did not create an unreasonable disturbance for people living nearby.

The alleged breaches are said to have taken place on six occasions: October 28, December 3, December 9, December 23, December 25 and December 31, 2025.

In one of the later incidents, it is further alleged that Evans failed to ensure people at the property did not act in a way likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress in the neighbourhood through amplified music, shouting or intimidation.

Each charge relates to an alleged breach of a community protection notice issued under the Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014.

Community protection notices are powers used by local authorities and police to tackle persistent anti-social behaviour that has a detrimental effect on the quality of life of those in the locality.

Magistrates were told that the defence requested an adjournment because the defendant was unwell and unable to attend court.

The bench granted the request but warned that the case would proceed if Evans failed to attend the next hearing.

All six matters were adjourned to Thursday, April 2 at 11:00am at Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court.

Crime

Woman sentenced after being found ‘drooling’ in parked car following drug use

Published

15 hours ago

March 5, 2026

Sarah Jane Absalom

Motorist admitted being in charge of vehicle while unfit through drugs

A WOMAN has been sentenced after being found “drooling” in a parked car after taking a cocktail of drugs.

Police and ambulance crews were called by a concerned member of the public who reported seeing a man and woman apparently unconscious inside a Suzuki Alto parked in Kilgetty on October 16.

“The male and female appeared to be unconscious and were drooling from their mouths,” Crown Prosecutor Sian Vaughan told Haverfordwest magistrates this week.

“The engine wasn’t running, but the member of the public was concerned that when they roused, they might attempt to drive away.

“She thought it was possible they had taken an overdose.”

When police arrived around 30 minutes later, they found the pair still slumped over in the back seat of the vehicle.

“They were still drooling and appeared unconscious,” continued Ms Vaughan.

“When officers spoke to Elizabeth King, it was obvious she was confused and inconsistent about the events.”

Subsequent drug tests showed that King, 32, of Meadow View, Station Road, St Clears, had several drugs in her system, including cocaine, benzoylecgonine, EME, pregabalin and norcocaine.

King pleaded guilty to being in charge of a vehicle while unfit through drugs.

Representing her in court, solicitor Tom Lloyd told magistrates that the defendant is a recovering heroin addict.

“Despite this addiction, she has managed to remain of previous good character,” he said.