Man sentenced after admitting two child cruelty offences in Carmarthen

A 27-YEAR-OLD man has been sentenced after admitting two offences of child cruelty involving two young children.

Llanelli Magistrates’ Court heard that Liam Jacob pleaded guilty to two counts under the Children and Young Persons Act 1933.

The offences related to allegations that, on Dec 28, 2025, Jacob caused or procured the children to be assaulted, ill-treated, neglected, abandoned or exposed in a way likely to cause unnecessary suffering or injury to health.

Jacob, of Carmarthen, entered indicated guilty pleas on March 24 and was sentenced on Tuesday (Apr 14).

The court imposed a community order running until April 13, 2027. As part of that sentence, Jacob must complete up to 25 days of rehabilitation activity and 150 hours of unpaid work within 12 months.

He was also ordered to pay £85 in prosecution costs and a £114 surcharge. The court made a collection order for deductions from benefits, with the financial penalty to be paid within 28 days.

Magistrates decline jurisdiction after more than 20 grams of Class A drugs and £2,610 in cash found in vehicle

A FISHGUARD man has been sent to Crown Court for sentence after admitting possessing cocaine with intent to supply.

Rhun Francis, 53, of Penbanc, Fishguard, appeared before Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court this week, where he pleaded guilty to possessing cocaine with intent to supply, possessing cannabis and possessing criminal property, namely £2,610 in cash.

The court heard that Francis was stopped and searched by police while driving on August 13.

Crown Prosecutor Linda Baker said that when officers asked if there were drugs in the vehicle, Francis immediately produced two bags of white powder from the front console and placed them on the driver’s seat.

“A further wrapper of cocaine was found in a wallet in the vehicle,” she said.

The total drugs recovered amounted to 20.79 grams of cocaine and 17 grams of cannabis.

The court was told that during police interview Francis admitted having “a big problem with cocaine use”.

“People ask him to get them some, and he supplies up to seven people fairly regularly,” said Ms Baker.

“He only supplies a few grams at a time and charges £95 for a gram and £50 for a half.

“He uses up to 50 per cent of what he buys for his personal use and then he sells the rest.”

Francis was represented by solicitor Michael Kelleher, who said the offending involved a limited number of users and was driven by the defendant’s own addiction.

“The amount of dealing is limited to a maximum of seven people and was only used to facilitate his own habit,” he said.

“The amount of drugs found was relatively small and the cash found in his possession would have gone on to purchase more cocaine. But the vast majority of this money was left over from a building job carried out at his property. His phone analysis corroborates with this.”

Because of the seriousness of the offences, magistrates declined jurisdiction.

Francis will now be sentenced at Swansea Crown Court on May 5. He was released on unconditional bail.

Motorist told police he had drunk heavily in early hours before being stopped in High Street

A MOTORIST who was almost three times over the drink-drive limit was seen speeding through Neyland High Street before being stopped by police, magistrates have heard.

Christopher Harper, 47, of Strongbow Walk, Pembroke, was seen leaving the marina car park at around 10:00am on March 26 while driving a Nissan Juke.

Crown Prosecutor Linda Baker told Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court this week that the vehicle had earlier been seen parked in the lower marina car park.

“The driver appeared to be under the influence of something and seemed incapable of driving,” she said.

Officers watched as the vehicle pulled out of the car park and travelled at speed towards the High Street.

“The officers activated their blue lights and the vehicle finally came to a stop at the top of the High Street,” she said.

When spoken to by police, Harper admitted he had consumed a large amount of alcohol at around 2:00am that morning.

He gave a positive roadside breath test and was arrested. Further breath tests carried out at the police station showed he had 98 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath. The legal limit is 35.

Harper pleaded guilty to the drink-driving charge and represented himself in court.

“It was stupid and I shouldn’t have done what I did,” he told magistrates in mitigation.

Because of the high alcohol reading, magistrates adjourned sentencing until April 16 so that a probation report can be prepared.

Harper was released on unconditional bail, and an interim driving ban was imposed pending sentence.