News

Judge demands inquiry into Haverfordwest court knife incident

Published

9 years ago

March 6, 2017

A JUDGE has said today he expected an inquiry into how a defendant managed to get a knife passed security at Haverfordwest magistrates court.

Lukasz Robert Pawlowski, aged 33, even got the knife into the dock of a court where he used it to slash his own throat while magistrates considered what sentence to pass.

Pawlowski, of Pembroke Dock, had to be airlifted to Swansea’s Morriston hospital after the incident on January 11.

Pawlowski appeared before Judge Paul Thomas at Swansea Crown Court to be sentenced for the original offence of sexual assault and now also possessing a knife in a public place.

Judge Thomas said he expected an inquiry.

“This was a serious breach of court security. I have little doubt others will be in trouble because of it,” he added.

Robin Rouch, prosecuting, said the first offence took place on October 30 when Pawlowski walked into a shop in Pembroke Dock and asked a 30 year old assistant for a kiss. She refused but he leant over the counter and kissed her.

Pawlowski then asked for details about the prices of alcohol. When she stepped from behind the counter to help him he grabbed her and kissed her on the lips.

“She began to cry. Afterwards, she said she felt dirty and thought she could no longer work in the shop unless the manager was there,” added Mr Rouch.

Pawlowski was arrested and told police he has “misread” the situation and was sorry.

Pawlowski appeared before Haverfordwest magistrates on January 11 to be sentenced.

Mr Rouch said magistrates needed to read a pre sentence report prepared by a probation officer. While they were doing that Pawlowski was allowed to use a toilet and returned to the dock 60 seconds later.

The court clerk noticed he was rustling through a bag and then saw him apparently scratching the right side of his neck. Although no blood was visible at first it became clear he was holding a knife and then Pawlowski made a “concerted” effort to cut his throat.

He bled profusely and was found to be clutching a black kitchen knife with a three inch blade.

Mr Rouch said three mental health nurses attending a neighbouring courtroom went to his assistance and he was airlifted to hospital.

Mr Rouch said he had made a serious effort to injure himself.

It transpired, he added, that Pawlowski had hidden the knife in the toilet after entering the court building but before he went into the courtroom.

Jon Tarrant, the barrister representing Pawlowski, said it appeared he had got it into his head that he would go to prison, although that wasn’t the case.

“He appears to have misread that too,” said Mr Tarrant.

Pawlowski was later remanded into custody and held at Parc prison near Bridgend.

Judge Thomas said it was ironic that Pawlowski had been afraid of going to jail and then had done something which would land him in jail.

He said he found the case unique.

He told Pawlowski, “You have caused a great deal of alarm and distress to the people who saw what you were doing.”

And he told him it had been “very wrong” to grab a woman and kiss her on the lips.

Drunkenness appeared to be behind it, he added, but that was no excuse.

Judge Thomas said Pawlowski had served two months in jail on remand and that was enough.

Pawlowski was made the subject of a three year community order and told to complete 10 days of a rehabilitation activity. He was also ordered to complete 80 hours of unpaid work and to register with the police as a sex offender for the next five years.

He was also made the subject of a restraining order preventing him from making contact with his sex victim.

Business

First wind turbine components arrive as LNG project moves ahead

Published

7 minutes ago

December 4, 2025

Tom Sinclair

THE FIRST ship carrying major components for Dragon LNG’s new onshore wind turbines docked at Pembroke Port yesterday afternoon, marking the start of physical deliveries for the multi-million-pound renewable energy project.

The Maltese-registered general cargo vessel Peak Bergen berthed at Pembroke Dock shortly after 4pm on Wednesday, bringing tower sections and other heavy components for the three Enercon turbines that will eventually stand on land adjacent to the existing gas terminal at Waterston.

A second vessel, the Irish-flagged Wilson Flex IV, is due to arrive in the early hours of this morning (Thursday) carrying the giant rotor blades.

The deliveries follow a successful trial convoy on 25 November, when police-escorted low-loader trailers carried dummy loads along the planned route from the port through Pembroke, past Waterloo roundabout and up the A477 to the Dragon LNG site.

Dragon LNG’s Community and Social Performance Officer, Lynette Round, confirmed the latest movements in emails to the Herald.

“The Peak Bergen arrived yesterday with the first components,” she said. “We are expecting another delivery tomorrow (Thursday) onboard the Wilson Flex IV. This will be blades and is currently showing an ETA of approximately 03:30.”

The £14.3 million project, approved by Welsh Ministers last year, will see three turbines with a combined capacity of up to 13.5 MW erected on company-owned land next to the LNG terminal. Once operational – expected in late 2026 – they will generate enough electricity to power the entire site, significantly reducing its carbon footprint.

Port of Milford Haven shipping movements showed the Peak Bergen approaching the Haven throughout Wednesday morning before finally tying up at the cargo berth in Pembroke Dock. Cranes began unloading operations yesterday evening.

Weather conditions are currently favourable for this morning’s arrival of the Wilson Flex IV, which was tracking south of the Smalls at midnight.

The abnormal-load convoys carrying the components from the port to Waterston are expected to begin next week, subject to final police and highway approvals.

A community benefit fund linked to the project will provide training opportunities and energy-bill support for residents in nearby Waterston, Llanstadwell and Neyland.

Further updates will be issued by Dragon LNG as the Port of Milford Haven as the delivery programme continues.

Photo: Martin Cavaney

Crime

Banned for 40 months after driving with cocaine breakdown product in blood

Published

12 minutes ago

December 4, 2025

Sarah-Jane Absalom

A MILFORD HAVEN woman has been handed a lengthy driving ban after admitting driving with a controlled drug in her system more than ten times over the legal limit.

SENTENCED AT HAVERFORDWEST

Sally Allen, 43, of Wentworth Close, Hubberston, appeared before Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court on Thursday (Dec 4) for sentencing, having pleaded guilty on November 25 to driving with a proportion of a specified controlled drug above the prescribed limit.

The court heard that Allen was stopped on August 25 on the Old Hakin Road at Tiers Cross while driving an Audi A3. Blood analysis showed 509µg/l of Benzoylecgonine, a breakdown product of cocaine. The legal limit is 50µg/l.

COMMUNITY ORDER AND REHABILITATION

Magistrates imposed a 40-month driving ban, backdated to her interim disqualification which began on November 25.

Allen was also handed a 12-month community order, requiring her to complete 10 days of rehabilitation activities as directed by the Probation Service.

She was fined £120, ordered to pay £85 prosecution costs and a £114 surcharge. Her financial penalties will be paid in £25 monthly instalments from January 1, 2026.

The bench—Mrs H Roberts, Mr M Shankland and Mrs J Morris—said her guilty plea had been taken into account when passing sentence.

Local Government

Sewage leak at Pembroke Commons prompts urgent clean-up works

Published

2 hours ago

December 4, 2025

Tom Sinclair

Council pollution officers say they have no enforcement powers over Welsh Water infrastructure

SEWAGE contamination on the Commons in Pembroke has prompted an urgent response from pollution officers, after a leak was reported by a member of the public on Tuesday.

Pembrokeshire County Council’s Pollution Control Team confirmed they were alerted yesterday afternoon to sewage surrounding a manhole cover on the site. The Herald understands that officers immediately notified Welsh Water (DCWW) network technicians to investigate the incident “as a matter of urgency”.

County councillor Jonathan Grimes, who represents Pembroke St Mary South and Monkton, said the authority had been clear that it holds no enforcement powers over Welsh Water assets.

“Whilst we work constructively with Welsh Water, we have no authority to intervene on their apparatus or to carry out enforcement action against them for such pollution incidents,” the Pollution Control Team said in a statement shared with the councillor.

Urgent works underway

Council officers visited the site on Wednesday morning alongside contractors and Welsh Water technicians to assess clean-up options. According to the team, works will include cleaning the contaminated ground in and around the manhole cover and fencing off the affected area “until safe”.

Cllr Grimes said officers would return to the scene on Thursday to check on progress and ensure the area is properly secured.

Residents who notice any further issues have been urged to contact the Pollution Control Team directly.

Further updates are expected later this week.