Crime

Former Pembrokeshire Army officer stripped of MBE after fraud conviction

Published

2 months ago

March 9, 2026

Rieve Nesbitt-Marr

A FOMER Army officer from Pembrokeshire has been stripped of his MBE following a criminal conviction for fraud.

Major Lloyd Hamilton, who grew up in Haverfordwest and attended Sir Thomas Picton School, had been awarded the honour in 2011 for his service in Afghanistan and his involvement with a charity supporting injured service personnel.

Hamilton was a founding member of the sailing charity Toe in the Water, which provided competitive sailing opportunities for wounded servicemen and women. The organisation later dissolved in 2018, according to Companies House records.

However, the honour has now been revoked following a decision by the Honours Forfeiture Committee.

Fraud conviction

Hamilton was convicted in 2021 after unlawfully claiming more than £13,000 in allowances while serving overseas.

The court heard that between January and August 2018 he continued to claim education allowance payments from the Ministry of Defence to help cover the cost of sending his children to a private boarding school.

The payments were only permitted while his wife was living with him at his overseas posting. After the breakdown of their marriage, she remained at the family home in Hampshire, making him ineligible for the allowance.

Despite this, Hamilton continued claiming the payments to help fund his children’s education at Queen Ethelburga’s Collegiate in North Yorkshire, where fees were reported to be close to £50,000 a year.

At court he was convicted of fraud and given a three-month prison sentence suspended for 18 months. He was also ordered to complete 150 hours of unpaid work.

Following the conviction he was dismissed from the Army.

Honour removed

The Cabinet Office confirmed that Hamilton was among nine people whose honours have been forfeited in the latest update to the Honours Forfeiture list.

Honours can be removed when the Honours Forfeiture Committee determines that the recipient’s actions have brought the honours system into disrepute.

Hamilton’s MBE had originally recognised both his military service and his voluntary work supporting injured veterans through sailing.

The forfeiture means he is no longer entitled to use the MBE title.

Crime

Man appears in court charged over death of Blood Bike Wales volunteer

Published

12 hours ago

April 28, 2026

Sarah-Jane Absalom

FAMILY WATCHED FROM PUBLIC GALLERY AS CASE SENT TO CROWN COURT

A PEMBROKESHIRE man has appeared before magistrates charged with causing the death of Blood Bike Wales volunteer Tim Minett by dangerous driving.

Mr Minett was riding a Blood Bike Wales Honda motorcycle on the afternoon of July 2, 2025, when it was involved in a collision with a Volkswagen Crafter van on the A478 between Glandycross and Blaenffos.

He had been transporting blood supplies for the NHS at the time.

This week the van’s driver, Roger King, 57, appeared before Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court charged with causing Mr Minett’s death by dangerous driving.

King stood in the dock to confirm his name, age and address as members of Mr Minett’s family watched from the public gallery.

Magistrates were told that, due to the seriousness of the allegation, the case can only be dealt with at the Crown Court.

Proceedings will continue at Swansea Crown Court on May 29.

King was released on unconditional bail until that date.c

Crime

Man breached restraining order by entering woman’s home

Published

12 hours ago

April 28, 2026

Sarah-Jane Absalom

COURT HEARS APPLICATION MADE TO DISCHARGE ORDER

A PEMBROKESHIRE man has been sentenced after being found inside a woman’s home despite being banned from contacting her.

Peter Bromley, 51, of Parc y Chwarel, Fishguard, was made subject to a restraining order by Haverfordwest magistrates on February 26.

The order prevented him from having any direct or indirect contact with Rhiannon Bowen.

But on April 8, police received a call claiming Bromley was present at Ms Bowen’s address in Fishguard.

Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court heard that when officers arrived at the property, Ms Bowen initially denied that Bromley was there.

However, when officers gained access to the property, they found Bromley inside the kitchen.

This week Bromley pleaded guilty to breaching the restraining order.

He was legally represented by solicitor Tom Lloyd, who told magistrates that Ms Bowen had recently begun proceedings to have the restraining order removed and discharged.

“Considerable progress has been made by the defendant in various areas of his life,” said Mr Lloyd.

Bromley was fined £200 and ordered to pay £85 court costs and an £80 surcharge.

He must also complete a 12-month alcohol treatment requirement.

Crime

Drink-driver hit bicycle and failed to stop

Published

13 hours ago

April 28, 2026

Sarah Jane Absalom

SENTENCE ADJOURNED FOR PROBATION REPORT

A 23-YEAR-old motorist has been given an interim driving ban after admitting he was over the drink-drive limit when he damaged a bicycle in a collision.

Ajay Mathias was driving his Ford Fiesta along the A478 at Allensbank on April 8 when he collided with the bicycle.

Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court heard that subsequent breath tests showed Mathias had 44 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath. The legal limit is 35.

Mathias, of Min y Llan, Letterston, appeared before magistrates this week where he pleaded guilty to drink-driving and failing to stop after a road accident.

Sentencing was adjourned until April 30, when magistrates will consider a probation report.

Mathias was released on unconditional bail until that date.