A court has heard how three women were repeatedly spied upon by a Pembrokeshire stalker who threatened to burn their properties and ‘beat the s*** out of them’.

Haverfordwest magistrates were told that between October 18 and November 10, 2025, Thomas Austin, 31, stalked his three victims by:

• Attempting to access their security cameras;
• Repeatedly contacting them on social media and 
• Spying on them in their homes.   

He also took  images of them at various locations in Pembroke Dock.  

This week Austin, of Shore House, Long Mains, Monkton, pleaded guilty to two charges of stalking without fear, alarm or distress and one charge of harassment without violence.

“Threats were made towards each of the three parties,” outlined Crown Prosecutor Sian Vaughan.

“The defendant threatened to come down to their properties and on one occasion he stated he was going to burn the house down.  On another occasion he said he was going to come down and punch anyone who was there.”

Ms Vaughan read out a direct quote made by the defendant to one of his victims.

“I’m going to come over and beat the s*** out of you,” he told the female.

The Crown concluded by saying that Austin was heavily under the influence of alcohol and cocaine when each of the offences were committed.

Austin, who is employed as a fishing boat skipper, was legally unrepresented in court.  In his mitigation, he said the offences were committed in frustration, when he was denied contact with his children.

“I was trying to call them,  but [the victim] blocked my number,” he said.  “As a result I was unable to contact my children.”

After considering his mitigation, magistrates sentenced Austin to 12 weeks in custody suspended for two years .  During this time he must complete 25 rehabilitation activity requirement days and 21 group sessions of building relationship counselling sessions. He must also pay a total of £400 compensation to the three victims, a £154 court surcharge and £85 costs.

“After a huge amount of consideration, we find it’s crossed the custody threshold,”commented the presiding magistrate when passing sentence.

“But we’ve suspended it because we think there’s a realistic prospect of rehabilitation.”

Magistrates also imposed a two-year restraining order preventing Austin from having any form of direct or indirect contact with the mother of his children.

A 32-year-old man has appeared before magistrates charged with burglary at a Haverfordwest property with intent to commit damage.

Darryan Bolstridge-Edwards, 32, is accused of gaining entry into a property at Fleming Crescent on February 14 as a trespasser, with intent to cause damage to the building or its contents.

This week Bolstridge-Edwards, of Brickhurst Close, Johnston, appeared before Haverfordwest magistrates via a video link from HM Parc Prison where he has been remanded in custody.  He denied the offence and elected a Crown Court trial.  Proceedings will now commence at Swansea on June 12.

A North Pembrokeshire man has appeared before magistrates charged with exposing himself in a sexual manner in a north Pembrokeshire town.

Rhydian Morse, 40, is accused of outraging public decency by exposing himself at an undisclosed location in Narberth on November 19, 2024.  He faces a second charge of sexually assaulting a female, aged 16 or over, on November 12, 2024.

This week Morse, of Precelly View, Grondre, Clynderwen, appeared before Haverfordwest magistrates court where he denied both charges. He elected a Crown Court trial and his trial proceedings will now commence at Swansea Crown on June 12.  He was released on unconditional bail.