News

Wife of former mayor discharged after repaying £13,355

Published

9 years ago

November 14, 2016

Peter and Doris Kraus

THE WIFE of a former mayor of Pembroke Dock has received a discharge after a judge heard she had repaid all the £13,355 in pension credits she had received without telling anyone her husband was working.

Doris Kraus, aged 68, whose husband Peter served twice as mayor, had admitted failing to notify the Department for Work and Pensions of a change in her financial circumstances.

Kraus, of Kent Row, Llanion Park, Pembroke Dock, received pension credits from March 2010 after telling the Department she had no income and that her husband was winding down his business.

Richard Ace, prosecuting, told Swansea Crown Court she had been told several times that if the situation changed she had to notify the DWP.

“That did not happen,” said Mr Ace.

Her husband began working for the National Trust in April, 2011, sometimes earning £1,700 a month but in other months nothing at all.

By the time Kraus contacted the DWP she had been overpaid £13,355.02, which she had since borrowed from her children and repaid to the Department.

James Hartson, her barrister, said the offending had not been through dishonesty or recklessness but negligence.

“She is of impeccable character and finds the whole case very unedifying and salutary. She is mortified to find herself in the dock of the crown court. She will never grace this court again.

“She has never been in debt in her life, not even overdrawn,” he added.

The judge, Mr Recorder Richard Booth, said the case would have been dealt with by local magistrates but for the intention of the DWP to apply for an order forcing Kraus to repay the money. But that had happened anyway.

Kraus was told the discharge meant that if she reoffended during the next 12 months the sentence could be amended.

Crime

Man charged with strangulation and assault offences after October incident

Published

26 minutes ago

December 14, 2025

Court Reporter

A MAN recorded in court as having no fixed abode has appeared before magistrates charged with intentional strangulation and two further assault offences.

Michael Sudbury, 50, whose address was not read out in court, but in Herald records is Glan Hafan, Llangwm, appeared before the bench facing multiple charges.

The charges relate to an incident on 22 October 2025 and include:

Intentional strangulation, contrary to section 75A of the Serious Crime Act 2015
Common assault
Assault by beating

No further details of the alleged incident were opened in court, and no plea was entered at this stage.

Sudbury was remanded on conditional bail, with the case listed to return to magistrates later this month.

Crime

Haverfordwest man sent to Crown Court on multiple serious charges

Published

49 minutes ago

December 14, 2025

Court Reporter

Defendant remanded in custody

A HAVERFORDWEST man has been sent to Swansea Crown Court to stand trial on a series of A 49-year-old Haverfordwest resident has been committed to Swansea Crown Court to face trial on multiple serious charges deemed too grave for magistrates to handle.

David Guy, of Market Street, Haverfordwest, appeared before Haverfordwest magistrates facing a series of allegations stemming from a single case. The charges, which were not detailed in open court, include:

Assault occasioning actual bodily harm (ABH)
A second count of assault
Criminal damage
An additional allegation of interpersonal violence
A public order offence

Magistrates declined jurisdiction, determining that the matters exceeded their sentencing powers, and sent the case in its entirety to Swansea Crown Court.

Guy was remanded in custody pending his next appearance. The court register notes: “Sent to Crown Court for trial in custody – next hearing at Swansea Crown Court.”

A date for the initial Crown Court hearing will be set administratively. Guy will remain in custody until then.

The Pembrokeshire Herald will provide further updates as the case progresses in the Crown Court.

Crime

Castlemartin man back before magistrates over multiple alleged assaults

Published

55 minutes ago

December 14, 2025

Court Reporter

Defendant remanded on conditional bail ahead of further hearing

A CASTLEMARTIN man has appeared repeatedly before magistrates this month over a string A 40-year-old man from Castlemartin has made repeated appearances before magistrates this month in connection with a series of serious alleged offences, including assault occasioning actual bodily harm (ABH), intentional non-fatal strangulation, common assault, and criminal damage.

Anthony Alcock, of Pwll Street, Castlemartin, is facing six linked charges stemming from incidents said to have occurred earlier this year. These appear to relate to the same complainant in what is understood to be a single ongoing domestic abuse prosecution.

During recent administrative hearings at Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court, Alcock did not enter pleas while matters of bail and case management were addressed.

Charges Include:

Assault occasioning actual bodily harm (ABH)
Intentional non-fatal strangulation
Common assault on a woman
Criminal damage in a domestic context
Additional assault allegations involving the same complainant
Breach of bail conditions

Alcock was initially granted conditional bail but was subsequently brought before the court on two occasions for alleged breaches. On those instances, magistrates remanded him in custody ahead of further hearings. He was later re-granted conditional bail, subject to strict conditions such as no contact with the complainant and exclusion from specified locations.

Magistrates have now declined jurisdiction, ruling that the case—particularly the more serious charges involving non-fatal strangulation—is too grave for summary trial. It has been committed to Swansea Crown Court for plea, trial, or sentencing.

No detailed evidence has been presented in open court at this preliminary stage. Alcock remains on conditional bail pending his next appearance at the Crown Court.