News

Family brawl results in court case

Published

5 years ago

February 13, 2019

A 46-YEAR-OLD woman from Pembroke Dock was found guilty of assault following a trial at Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court on Monday (Feb 11).

Nadine Billington of Imble Street, had been accused of assaulting her ex-partner’s sister in June last year following an argument.

Prosecutor, Sian Vaughan, told the court: “The complaint was made on August 13. There is a history of family dynamics but we will try to stay away from that.”

Ms Vaughan explained there had been issue taken with the complainant after she bought a colouring book, crayons and chocolate for Billington’s son. She was also accused of smashing the complainant’s phone.

The complainant, Nicola Algeri, gave her evidence via video link to the magistrates.

She said: “My mum and myself were in the kitchen. My father was in the living room watching football. Nadine came in through the front door and I had a colouring book and crayons with me. I’d been downtown so I thought I’d bring them.

“She came into the kitchen and I said ‘there’s a colouring book and crayons there’, and she said ‘you might as well take them home with you’.

“She takes the crayons off me and slams them on top of the book. She threw the book first and it just missed my face, and then she threw the crayons at me but they didn’t hit me. It was quite a big book.

“She comes toward me and grabbed me by the throat, and she put her fingers down my throat. She had four fingers in my mouth. There was no need. It felt like she was going to strangle me. She was horrible and vicious.

“She cut my lip as well and scratched my arm. I wasn’t saying anything, I didn’t do anything, I didn’t provoke her. She just went off on one.

“She was just abusing me and being mouthy. My mother tried to split us up, and then my father came in and managed to get her out of the house.”

It was put to Nicola Algeri, that in her statement that she made on August 13, she claims that the colouring book hit her on the head but caused no injury.

Nicola claimed she could not remember.

When speaking of the assault, Nicola said: “She prised my mouth open and she had her bloody fingers down my throat.”

When asked why she didn’t bit down, she said: “I didn’t do nothing. I was scared.”

The court was shown a photograph of a bruise on Nicola’s arm following the incident, however there were no photographs of her mouth or her ‘cut lip’.

When asked why she didn’t take a photo of her lip, she said ‘no comment’, then later said she ‘didn’t have a camera to take a photo’.

Nicola’s mother, Ellen Algeri, took to the witness stand following her daughter’s cross-examination to give her account of what happened.

Mrs Algeri told the court that she saw a chocolate bar being thrown across the room and ‘hitting Nicola on the head’, however when she was pressed further, she said she couldn’t be sure it was a chocolate bar that was thrown, and she wasn’t entirely sure whether whatever was thrown did actually hit Nicola.

She also admitted she did not see Billington put her fingers inside Nicola’s mouth.

Albino Algeri, Nicola’s father, was next to speak to the magistrates. He said: “Nadine was trying to do as much damage as she could.”

When asked why he thought Billington would have her fingers down Nicola’s throat, he said: “That’s what I’d like to know! Why did she have her fingers down my daughter’s throat?”

He told the court that Nicola Algeri was crying following the incident, however was the only one to mention this during their evidence.

Finally, it was Nadine Billington’s turn to speak. She told the court that as she was leaving, Nicola Algeri said she had bought a gift for her son.

Billington suggested leaving the gift there, and said Nicola ‘became verbally aggressive’.

She said: “I chucked the book and crayons toward the bin. Nicola started shouting at me because she thought I threw it at her but I didn’t, I threw it diagonally. I threw it because she was being verbally aggressive.

“Nicola came around the table towards me so I pushed her away toward the sink. She looked very angry and aggressive. I thought she was going to hit me. I told her I had enough of the way she was talking to me and she was screaming and shouting, calling me names like slag and slut.

“Ellen Algeri followed me out and said that Nicola wasn’t right in the head and to ignore her. I didn’t strangle her, I just pushed her toward her neck away from me. I didn’t pull at her mouth, and I didn’t touch her phone. I didn’t even see it in her hand.”

After a short time deliberating, the magistrates at Haverfordwest Law Court felt there was a case to answer, and found Billington guilty of common assault.

Billington was handed a 12-month conditional discharge, and ordered to pay £600 costs to the Crown Prosecution Service and £20 victim surcharge.

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.”