News

Teen ‘joy-rider’ was ‘off her head and tried to bite me’

Published

7 years ago

April 17, 2017

Drone shot: The incident from the air (pic Matt Lewis)

A MILFORD HAVEN woman who bravely tried to grab the keys from the ignition of the silver Mercedes driven by a teenage girl who had failed to stop at the scene of an accident last week has now given her account to The Pembrokeshire Herald.

The girl was driving without a valid licence when she hit other vehicles on Victoria Road, outside Circles Nightclub on April 13 – but carried on driving.

A few minutes later Kate Meakin, 43, of Milton Crescent was a passenger in a friend’s vehicle when she spotted the car.

Recalling Thursday afternoon’s incident, she told The Herald: “I was at the bottom of St Lawrence Hill, near Celtic Hand Car Wash. When we stopped a man in a white van was already shouting, and told me that the driver of the Mercedes was the girl that the police were after for the accident up the road. There was damage to the front of the vehicle from the earlier smash.

“The girl was screaming, proper kicking off. I put my hand in through the open driver’s window and snatched the keys. If I hadn’t tried to take the keys she may have tried to keep on going; but when I put my hand in the window the girl tried to bite me, but I managed to stop her.”

Ms Meakin added: “She was acting crazy, off her head, foaming at the mouth and shouting but not making any sense. In my opinion and from looking at her eyes I would say that she had taken some kind of drug.

Blocked in: The Mercedes came to a stop on St Lawrence Hill (pic. Luke Thomas)

“I then left it to a man in a white van, who I think is an electrician, who finally managed to get the keys out whilst I flagged the police down.”

Luke Thomas, who works for James Findlay Electrical, had managed to get the girl to pull over. He told The Herald: “After I knew it was her after confirming with my boss [who witnessed the earlier crash] I started beeping and flashing and started point to the lay by and for some reason she pulled over. I mounted the curb blocked her in and eventually grabbed the keys.”

Luke Thomas said that he did not see the girl try to bite Kate Meakin.

Police booked the teenager, who cannot be named for legal reasons, and she appeared in court on Friday (Apr 14) to confirm her name and address. Among the charges are aggravated taking without owner’s consent and charges of no driving licence and no insurance.

Carnage: Damaged vehicles outside Circles Nightclub (pic. The Herald)

A Herald reporter who was nearly caught up in the incident on Hamilton Terrace before the driver was apprehended said: “A car came out of the junction by the Haven Hotel, hit the curb and and crashed into the side of a red car. It then bounced back onto the curb, and hit a white car that was following behind the red car.

“After hitting the two cars it drove off. I was driving from the roundabount near Hakin bridge, and I saw it coming toward me on the other side of the road. I noticed it was absolutely smashed to pieces – the front right hand side of the car was completely obliterated.

“It started to cross the white lines and I thought it was going to hit me, so I swerved to the left to avoid it and beeped my horn. It drove off toward the roundabout, and as I started to drive toward Hamilton Terrace I saw there had been a collision, so I got out and waited for the police to arrive.”

One of the drivers caught up in the crash told The Herald that he had just bought the car that morning.

Another witness, who was driving behind the Mercedes moments before it crashed, said he had reported the driver for using their phone whilst driving. He also said the driver was ‘smoking a fag’ at the same time.

Shortly before the incident, a Milford Haven local saw the Mercedes nearly hit a van.

Stevie Parkes told The Herald: “I was on the corner of Robert Street waiting to cross the road. The Mercedes pulled out in front of a van on the other side of the road and then had to swerve to avoid the bollards in the middle of the road.”

Both Dyfed-Powys Police and the Welsh Ambulance Service attended the scene.

No injuries were sustained, however an elderly lady who was in one of the cars was seen to by a nurse.

Map: The joy rider’s car was stopped near car wash (pic. Google)

Crime

Unanimous verdict in Ceredigion sexual assault case

Published

2 days ago

May 3, 2024

Tom Sinclair

A CEREDIGION man has been convicted to three years and six months in prison for sexually assaulting a woman in her own bed after the jury returned a unanimous guilty verdict.

27-year-old Suroj Bk, from Llangrannog, was sentenced this week following a week-long trial at Swansea Crown Court (May 1).

On 7 October 2023, Dyfed-Powys Police received a report that Bk entered the victim’s home and sexually assaulted her while she lay in her bed.

When the victim realised what was happening, she kicked Bk out of her bed and called the police.

Upon receiving the report, officers quickly attended the victim’s home and conducted a thorough search of the surrounding area using police dogs and scenes of crime officers.

Evidence gathered from scene, together with extensive local enquiries, led officers to arrest Suroj Bk the next day (8 October).

While Bk was in custody, detectives, crime scene investigators, and digital forensic officers worked tirelessly to uncover the evidence that ultimately placed Suroj Bk at the scene.

After hearing the evidence, the jury took less than two hours to agree a unanimous guilty verdict.

The detective in charge of the case has praised the victim for her ‘tremendous courage’ in reporting the assault to police.

“Incidents of this nature are thankfully very rare within Ceredigion, and I’d like to reassure the community that this was an isolated incident, and that the identification and arrest of suspect was done quickly and efficiently,” said Detective Inspector Sam Gregory.

“The victim in this case demonstrated tremendous courage in reporting to police, and while this investigation was not straightforward in its nature, it was through the expertise and tenacity of forensic officers, working together with the investigation team, and the victim, that led to this successful prosecution.

“I hope the sentence given to Suroj Bk sends a clear and strong message that Dyfed-Powys Police takes reports of sexual offences seriously.

“We will listen to you, and we will work tirelessly to get justice.”

On Wednesday, 1 May 2024, Saroj Bk was sentenced to three years and six months in prison and a five-year restraining order, and he will be on the sex offenders register for life.

If you have been a victim of a crime such as this, report it to Dyfed-Powys Police either through a direct message on social media, online at: https://www.dyfed-powys.police.uk/ro/report/rsa/alpha-v1/v1/rape-sexual-assault-other-sexual-offences/, by emailing [email protected], or by calling 101.

In an emergency, always call 999.

If you are deaf, hard of hearing, or speech impaired text the non-emergency number on 07811 311 908. Alternatively, contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously by calling 0800 555111, or visiting crimestoppers-uk.org.

News

Body recovered confirmed to be Luke Stephenson, say police

Published

2 days ago

May 3, 2024

Tom Sinclair

DYFED-POWYS police have said today that the body found on Wednesday, May 1, has been confirmed to be Luke Stephenson, who was reported missing from the Pembroke Dock area on April 14.

A spokesperson for the force said: “We will continue to support the family and will assist with issuing a tribute publicly if the family wish to do so.”

In a statement, his family said: “Luke was a joyful and funny young man and always wanted to help others. He was a loving son, brother, grandson and uncle, and will be forever missed.
“We have lost a huge part of our family, and our loss is shared by his many friends who also loved him dearly.
“We would like to thank the local community for the overwhelming support we have received.”

Business

Port of Milford Haven now official ‘a great place to work’

Published

2 days ago

May 3, 2024

Tom Sinclair

THE PORT of Milford Haven has been officially accredited as a Great Place to Work-Certified™ organisation. As the first Port Authority in Britain to secure this Certification™, it is a significant achievement.

“We are very proud to be Great Place to Work-Certified™,” said Vidette Swales, HR Director at the Port of Milford Haven. “It means so much that our employees have reported a consistently positive experience with their colleagues, their leaders and their jobs. Offering a positive employee experience is not only beneficial for the people who work with us but is also key for our continued business success.”

Tom Sawyer, CEO at the Port of Milford Haven added: “Our team is operating the UK’s leading energy port, and it is of the utmost importance that we do that safely, responsibly and effectively. We’re striving for excellence and aim to provide a world class service to our customers as well as supporting sustainable coastal communities for the prosperity of future generations. Our employees are clearly at the centre of this which is why I’m delighted that they feel supported in their role. I’m especially proud that this Certification™ demonstrates our core values of Safety, Excellence, Collaboration and Sustainability so perfectly.”

“We congratulate the Port of Milford Haven on achieving their Certification™,” said Benedict Gautrey, Managing Director of Great Place to Work® UK. “Organisations which put the employee experience at the heart of their business gain their employees’ trust and, in turn, are truly able to build a great workplace culture that delivers outstanding business results.”