Crime
Milford man sentenced after confronting neighbour with fence post
CCTV footage showed defendant entering garden while victim was home alone with children
A MILFORD HAVEN man has been sentenced for entering his neighbour’s garden brandishing what the court described as a highly dangerous weapon.
CCTV footage shown to Haverfordwest magistrates this week showed Leigh Barnard, 29, enter the garden of a property in Hakin in the night of November 3, 2024, and hurl abuse at the owner as he stood holding a short wooden fence post.
“I felt vulnerable and scared,” the victim told police officers following Barnard’s arrest. “I found the whole incident frightening”.
The Crown said that the complainant had resided at her property for a number of years, and had never experienced any unpleasantness until that night.
“She was home alone with her young daughters, as her husband had gone to work,” said Crown Prosecutor Sian Vaughan.
“She suddenly became aware of banging on the door and saw the defendant in the garden holding a piece of wood.
“He’d gone round there armed with the wood for no reason whatsoever.”
But Barnard’s solicitor, Matt Riddler, said the incident had been provoked by the defendant’s concern for his father who had arrived home earlier that evening having sustained a serious head injury.
“Tension was heightened because the defendant’s father had arrived with substantial injuries to his head, and blood pouring down his face,” said Mr Riddler. “Leigh Barnard went round to the property to defend himself and his father.”
When the police arrived at the property, Barnard immediately handed over the fence post to the officers.
“What happened that night was totally out of character,” concluded Matt Riddler.
“He has genuine remorse and will comply with anything the court thinks is appropriate.”
Barnard, of Alban Crescent, Waterston, Milford Haven pleaded guilty to possessing an offensive weapon in a public place.
After considering a comprehensive pre-sentence report prepared by the probation service as well as personal and professional referees in relation to Leigh Barnard, magistrates sentenced the defendant to a 12 month community order during which he must complete 20 rehabilitation activity requirement days and 100 hours of unpaid work.
No restraining order was imposed on the defendant, neither was Barnard ordered to pay any compensation to the victim. However he must pay a £114 court surcharge and £85 costs.
A forfeiture and destruction order was imposed for the wooden fence post.
Crime
‘Knife attack’ at Spittal property leaves man in hospital
POLICE have arrested a woman following what is being described as a ‘knife attack’ at a property in Spittal on Monday night (Mar 10).
Emergency services were called to the domestic incident shortly before 8:30pm after the ambulance service requested assistance from Dyfed-Powys Police.
Officers and paramedics attended the property where a man and a woman were both found with injuries. The man was taken to hospital by ambulance for treatment.
A 30-year-old woman was arrested at the scene on suspicion of inflicting grievous bodily harm with intent and assaulting an emergency worker. She remains in police custody while enquiries continue.
Witnesses reported seeing police and ambulance crews at the property during the evening, prompting concern among local residents about what had happened.
Dyfed-Powys Police confirmed that officers remain at the scene while investigations are ongoing.
A spokesperson said there is no ongoing risk to the wider community and described the incident as isolated.
Crime
Driver caught with three illegal drugs in system on way to MOT test
Tenby stop check revealed cocaine and cannabis in motorist’s blood
ATTEMPTS to take his vehicle for its annual MOT has backfired after the vehicle’s owner was found to be driving with a cocktail of illegal drugs in his system.
Bradley Bostock, 27, was stopped by officers on December 16 as he drove his Ford Fiesta along Heywood Lane, Tenby.
But further investigations by officers confirmed he had 108 mcg of benzoylecgonine in his system together with 17 mcg of cocaine and 2.4 mcg of Delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol. The legal limits are 50, 10 and 2 respectively.
“There’s no detail of the rationale behind why he was stopped, but three drugs were noted in his blood,” said Crown Prosecutor Sian Vaughan when Bostock appeared before Haverfordwest magistrates this week.
Bostock pleaded guilty to three charges of drug driving and was represented in court by Jess Hill.
“He was taking his vehicle to Tenby for an MOT that day but was stopped by officers for a stop check,” she said.
“He’s from Yorkshire and often feels isolated here as he has no family and uses drugs to help deal with his loneliness.”
Bostock, of Corston Cottages, Axton Hill, Pembroke was sentenced to a 12 month community order during which he must complete 10 rehabilitation activity requirement days and 90 hours of unpaid work.
He was disqualified from driving for 17 months and ordered to pay a £114 court surcharge and £85 costs.
Crime
Father-of-three ordered to pay for bus stop damage after drinking binge
Blood trail led police from damaged shelter to defendant’s home
A FATHER-OF-THREE had admitted carrying out over £500 worth of damage to a bus stop after a drinking binge in Milford town centre.
A blood trail led officers from the bus stop to Hawthorn Way, to the home of Hayden Dimond.
This week Dimond, 31, appeared before Haverfordwest magistrates where he admitted the criminal damage offence.
Crown Prosecutor Sian Vaughan informed magistrates that the damage caused to the bus stop totalled £530.60.
“The defendant accepted responsibility in his police interview and pointed them in the direction of the damaged bus stop,” Diamond’s solicitor, Jess Hill, informed the Bench.
“At the time he was highly intoxicated and acted upon impulse.
“He had problems with binge drinking but now rarely consumes alcohol, but whenever he does, it’s monitored so he remains on an acceptable level.”
“What happened that night was not intentional.”
Dimond, Hawthorn Path, Milford Haven, was ordered to pay £530 compensation to Pembrokeshire County Council and was fined £40. He must also pay £85 court costs and a £16 surcharge.
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