Long jail term justified for ‘jealous thug’

Published

8 years ago

July 3, 2017

A ‘JEALOUS’ Pembrokeshire thug who beat his victim with a dog lead in a ‘terrible and terrifying’ attack got the punishment he deserved, senior judges have ruled.

‘Controlling’ Kieran Lee Jones, 19, of Coronation Avenue, Haverfordwest, was locked up for six years at Swansea Crown Court on December 5 last year.

He admitted aggravated burglary, Sir Alan Wilkie told London’s Appeal Court.

Jones had been in a three-year relationship with Saffron Kopjas and, when it came to an end, she was pregnant with his child.

In October last year, Ms Kopjas and her friend, Joseph Jackson, 20, spent an evening in each other’s company.

Photos were posted on Facebook, which Jones saw.

He sent messages to Mr Jackson threatening to ‘kick his head in’ and beat him with a dog chain.

The victim took the threats seriously, wedging a chair underneath the door handle of his home before going to bed.

But the following morning he woke up to hear the front door being knocked down by Jones.

Jones made good his threat and attacked Mr Jackson with a dog lead, hitting him from all angles, before taking his mobile phone and leaving.

The victim was left with red marks and bruising.

In interview, Jones said he had seen the photos on Facebook and suspected Mr Jackson and his ex-girlfriend may have been in a relationship.

The judge who jailed him said his crime was triggered by his ‘bitterness at the break-up’ of his relationship with Ms Kopjas.

Despite still being a teenager, Jones had amassed a ‘significant number of convictions’, said Sir Alan.

He had 30 convictions for crimes including battery and burglary with intent to cause unlawful damage.

Jones’s previous offending included assaulting Ms Kopjas and slashing and ripping up 50 items of her clothing.

A prison report said he had started his sentence in ‘encouraging fashion’ and appeared ‘well-motivated, polite and respectful’.

James Hartson, for Jones, argued his jail term was far too tough and ought to be cut.

It was ‘wholly disproportionate’ to the seriousness of the crime, claimed the barrister.

He said it was ‘not a traditional offence of its type’ and had been ‘motivated by jealousy’.

Mr Hartson pointed to Jones’s youth and immaturity and said that that the crime was ‘short-lived’ and involved ‘minor injury’ and ‘minor theft’.

But Sir Alan said it was a ‘terrible and terrifying’ crime and that he had a ‘chilling feeling about this particular offending’.

It had been motivated by his ‘burning anger’ which had arisen out of a ‘sense of entitlement and feeling entitled to control and possess other people’.

“The sentence, severe as it is, cannot in the circumstances of this case be seen as other than appropriate and not manifestly excessive,” said the appeal judge.

He hoped Jones would use his time behind bars to ‘mature and allow his anger to cool so this destructive cycle of behaviour which has brought him to this point will be brought to an end’.

The judge, sitting with Lord Justice Irwin and Judge Gregory Dickinson QC, dismissed the appeal.

Manorbier Castle Inn warns colossal rates hikes will ‘push venues to the brink’

Published

29 minutes ago

December 8, 2025

Tom Sinclair

Local inn among many facing dramatic increases from April 2026

MANORBIER Castle Inn has warned that its business rates are set to soar from £13,500 to £33,750 when the next revaluation takes effect on 1 April 2026, calling the increase “beyond justification” and a direct threat to local jobs and the rural economy.

The jump, published on the Valuation Office Agency website, represents a rise of more than 150%. The Inn says that even with any relief applied, the scale of the bill will be impossible to absorb.

In a statement, the venue said: “This is not just another attack on independent hospitality businesses – it’s an attack on everything they hold up: employees, suppliers, other businesses, tourism, artists, musicians, the entire community. Even with relief, we and many other businesses will not be able to meet this hike.”

The Inn added that the likely consequences will be severe:
“This scale of increase will force venues to cut jobs, raise prices, and in many cases close entirely. The impact on youth employment, already fragile, will be severe.”

Local residents reacted swiftly on social media, calling the increase “utterly unreasonable” and urging elected representatives to step in.

Widespread rises across Pembrokeshire — and government action following local concern

Manorbier Castle Inn is one of many hospitality and tourism businesses in Pembrokeshire facing substantial rateable value increases. Some premises have reported valuations doubling, tripling or worse.

The Herald has reported extensively on the emerging pattern in recent weeks, prompting significant public debate. Following this scrutiny — and concerns raised by businesses, councillors and industry bodies — the Welsh Government moved to introduce a new support package.

On 3 December 2025, ministers announced a £116 million transitional relief scheme designed to soften the impact of next year’s revaluation. Under the plans:

Any business whose bill rises by more than £300 due to revaluation will have that increase phased in over two years, instead of being applied immediately.
For the first time since 2010, ministers will reduce the standard business rates multiplier, lowering bills for some smaller premises.

However, the multiplier cut is expected to benefit mainly small retail outlets — not pubs, cafés or restaurants, which are among the hardest hit by soaring valuations.

Cllr Huw Carnhuan Murphy, leader of the Independent Group on Pembrokeshire County Council, publicly thanked local media — including The Herald — for helping to raise the alarm. He said the coverage had “pushed the issue up the agenda” and confirmed the group would continue lobbying for support for tourism and agriculture.

Industry bodies have welcomed the relief but warn that it does not counteract the central issue: large increases in rateable values and the loss of previous reliefs that many hospitality venues relied on to survive.

What it means for Manorbier Castle Inn — and the sector

While the Welsh Government’s intervention offers some breathing space, many independent venues say the measures fall far short of what is needed to prevent closures.

Manorbier Castle Inn says the phased-in increase will still undermine the business’s long-term viability, adding that just as trading conditions were beginning to stabilise, “another round of firefighting lands at your feet.”

Across Wales, operators warn that without more comprehensive reform, the sector could see widespread job losses, reduced opening hours and further closures — particularly in rural counties where tourism-dependent businesses sustain local economies.

Outlook

The introduction of transitional relief and a reduced rates multiplier marks a shift in government policy, and follows significant pressure from businesses and media coverage across Pembrokeshire. But for venues facing unprecedented revaluations, including Manorbier Castle Inn, the question remains whether the support will be enough.

With many independent pubs and inns already on the edge, Pembrokeshire’s hospitality sector says the coming months will determine whether cherished local venues can survive into 2026 — or whether the rates rises will finally push them over the brink.

Community

Bike challenge in memory of Samantha to raise funds for St David’s Hospice

Published

3 hours ago

December 8, 2025

Tom Sinclair

A MILFORD HAVEN man will take on an eight-hour stationary bike ride early in the new year to raise money for the hospice that cared for his sister-in-law during her final months.

Ian Hobbs will complete the challenge at Inner Tiger Fitness on Friday, 3 January, in support of St David’s Hospice, Newport, which provided end-of-life care for Samantha, who died from bowel cancer earlier this year at the age of 44.

Ian and his wife Steph say the fundraiser is a way to thank the hospice for the “tremendous care and support” Samantha received during her illness. Ian set an initial target of £500, which has already been met, and has now increased the goal to £1,000.

The effort is also offering an opportunity for local businesses to sponsor Ian’s challenge. He will be wearing a T-shirt displaying the hospice logo, with space for additional business logos to be added ahead of the event.

Steph said the family hope the community will get behind the fundraiser to help raise as much as possible for the hospice, which relies heavily on donations to continue its work.

The JustGiving page for the challenge can be found here:
https://www.justgiving.com/page/ian-hobbs-1

Crime

Opportunist thief jailed for Carmarthenshire handbag robbery

Published

3 hours ago

December 8, 2025

Court Reporter

JAKE DIGHTON, 31, of Bridge Street, Llanelli, has been sentenced to three years and three months in prison after admitting to snatching a woman’s handbag as she walked home after a work’s night out in Llanelli.

Describing the incident that happened late on Friday 20 June, the victim explained how she noticed a shadow appear over her left shoulder as she walked home with colleagues along Glenalla Road.

She recalled thinking the shadow was just a passer-by, but then felt someone forcefully grab her handbag, causing her to fall to the ground.

Despite suffering cuts and bruises, she attempted to chase the suspect as he ran away with her handbag, but lost sight of him and made her way home.

A report was made to police who launched an investigation to identify the suspect. Thanks to CCTV in the local area, the suspect was identified as Jake Dighton who was swiftly arrested on suspicion of robbery.

The strength of evidence against Dighton led him to plead guilty to the charge when he appeared at Swansea Crown Court on Friday 25 July.

On Friday 5 December, he was sentenced to three years and three months for the offence.

The officer in this case, DC Rhydian Davies, said: “We welcome the sentencing of Jake Dighto. This was a traumatic incident for the victim who has been reliving the incident since that night.

“I’m hopeful that this sentencing will help the victim, who has struggled to go out in public since the ordeal, to continue her progress in returning to her ‘old self’.

“Dighton’s predatory behaviour is completely unacceptable, and no one should fear walking the streets of their hometown.

“The impact on the victim cannot be underestimated, and I commend her for her bravery and the strength with which she supported our investigation and the court proceedings that followed.

“It was evident that the incident had had an impact on the victim’s family too, and I’m grateful to her friends, family, and the wider Llanelli community for their support. The level of support shown clearly illustrates that this behaviour will not be tolerated on our streets.

“This was an excellent example of how several departments within Dyfed-Powys Police worked together to bring the perpetrator to justice. I extend special thanks to Llanelli’s Criminal Investigation Department, the Local Investigation Unit, our Neighbourhood Policing and Prevention Team, and our response colleagues.

“Thank you to the local community and wider public who responded to our appeal for information and for supporting our investigation.”