News

Pembroke: Man jailed for 21 years after filming sexual assault on three-year-old

Published

8 years ago

October 2, 2017

A SEX beast who filmed himself sexually assaulting a three-year old-girl has been jailed for 21 years today (Oct 2).

Trevor Vinson, aged 38, shot the footage on a mobile telephone which he hid inside the bag of a vacuum cleaner as police knocked on his front door.

But his horrified partner found the phone and handed it over to the police.

Vinson, formerly of Tumble but now of Valence Walk, Pembroke, admitted six offences of sexual assault and three of making child pornography.

Catherine Richards, prosecuting, told Swansea Crown Court that the girl – no relation to Vinson – had complained to her parents about Vinson touching her.

Trevor Vinson: A car enthusiast

Her father confronted Vinson but he talked his way out of it.

But she complained to her grandmother and the police were contacted.

Miss Richards said Vinson continued to deny doing anything wrong. On being shown the mobile telephone pictures he first denied that the phone belonged to him and then said someone else must have carried out the assaults and done the filming.

But, she added, police were able to prove that he was responsible.

Vinson sat with his head bowed and staring at the floor for the duration of the hearing.

Judge Keith Thomas ruled that Vinson was a dangerous offender as defined by law and would be a risk to young people after his eventual release from prison.

Judge Thomas issued a sexual harm prevention order restricting Vinson’s access to young people in the future.

He said he did not accept that Vinson had any real understanding of the harm he had caused.

Vinson was jailed for 15 years, with an extended licence period of six years.

Judge Thomas told him he would serve a minimum of 10 years behind bars but would be liable to recall to prison until 2038.

The parents of the three-year-old victim said: “As a family we have been rocked to the core, our world has crumbled around us. It has impacted every aspect of us physically and mentally, leading us to second guess every decision we have ever made in regards to our own parenting.

“The whole family group has been left traumatised, we never thought it would happen to our family, it’s something you hear about in the papers but never believe it will be at your own doorstep. We would never have knowingly put our children in danger and will never forgive the deceit and breach of trust that has led to this.

“Dyfed-Powys Police has been phenomenal from the beginning and we would like to personally thank the individual officers who worked with us (Paula and Carrie) and the officers behind the scenes.

“Our advice to all parents is to trust your gut instinct as without that and the bravery shown by our child, this vile person may have still been perpetrating to this day. Please don’t be afraid to speak to the police if you think your child has come into contact with this person, trust in your instincts. No family should ever have to go through this much heartache at the hands of one individual.”

DI Elaine Bendle said: “I am pleased that Vinson has today been sentenced and is no longer able to cause harm to the young victim or anyone else. This is a highly unusual case with evidence being obtained from such a young victim.

“The crimes he committed against this child were abhorrent and I must commend the detectives, digital crime investigators, police officers and staff who worked tirelessly to bring Vinson to justice.

“We would obviously wish for such offences never to occur in our communities and we work closely with colleagues in partner agencies to safeguard vulnerable people, but very sadly abuse still does happen.

“I hope there can be some reassurance felt within our communities that when such crimes are committed, we have dedicated, specially trained officers here prepared to work hard to ensure outcomes like today’s sentencing.

“Goleudy, a service for victims and witnesses, is providing support to the victim and her family to help them come to terms with what has happened.

“I hope anyone else who has experienced similar abuse at any stage of their life can find courage from this case to see that all reports will be taken seriously by Dyfed-Powys Police and fully investigated.”

News

BBC apologises to Herald’s editor for inaccurate story

Published

38 minutes ago

December 4, 2025

Staff Writer

THE BBC has issued a formal apology and amended a six-year-old article written by BBC Wales Business Correspondent Huw Thomas after its Executive Complaints Unit ruled that the original headline and wording gave an “incorrect impression” that Herald editor Tom Sinclair was personally liable for tens of thousands of pounds in debt.

The 2019 report, originally headlined “Herald newspaper editor Tom Sinclair has £70,000 debts”, has now been changed.

The ECU found: “The wording of the article and its headline could have led readers to form the incorrect impression that the debt was Mr Sinclair’s personal responsibility… In that respect the article failed to meet the BBC’s standards of due accuracy.”

Mr Sinclair said: “I’m grateful to the ECU for the apology and for correcting the personal-liability impression that caused real harm for six years. However, the article still links the debts to ‘the group which publishes The Herald’ when in fact they related to printing companies that were dissolved two years before the Herald was founded in 2013. I have asked the BBC to add that final clarification so the record is completely accurate.”

A formal apology and correction of this kind from the BBC is extremely rare, especially for a story more than six years old.

Business

First wind turbine components arrive as LNG project moves ahead

Published

3 hours 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 last week, 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 on
shortly after 4pm on Wednesday 26th November, 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, has arrived in Pembroke Port today 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 last week 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.

The Weather conditions are currently were favourable for this morning’s the 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 early next year, 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

3 hours 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.