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Milford Haven gardener’s ‘paedophile tendencies’ exposed by undercover police operation

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CUSTOMERS of Clearways Garden Services in Milford Haven have been wondering why their local gardener, David Richard Badham, hasn’t turned up for some of his rounds recently, but all has now become clear following his sentencing at Swansea Crown Court.

He was keeping a low profile following a police operation run from Northern Ireland set up to catch paedophiles.

The seemingly respectable green fingered businessman had spent months engaged in sordid and disgusting online chats with what he believed to be a schoolboy. But in fact, his intended victim was an undercover police officer – engaged in a sting operation set up to snare dangerous online offenders.

David Richard Badham repeatedly told the imaginary online victim in very graphic terms he wanted sex with him and asked him to travel to Carmarthen so they could meet and “play”.

Swansea Crown Court heard Badham’s online activities have cost him his good name, “his business, and his family”.

Stephen Rees, prosecuting, said Badham was caught in an undercover operation run by police in Northern Ireland.

Between January 2019 and June 2019, the defendant engaged in highly sexualised conversations with someone he believed to be a 14-year-old boy.

Badham sent a series of graphic messages describing what he wanted to do to the boy and what sex acts he wanted the boy to perform on him.

Despite knowing the age of the would-be victim, the defendant requested photographs of his genitals and sent him videos of a man, believed to be the defendant himself, performing a sex act.

Dyfed Thomas, defence barrister, said the behaviour and resulting conviction was a “substantial fall from grace” which “had cost him his good name, business, and also his family”.

It was only a letter from his wife which saved him from an immediate custodial sentence. The letter, which the court heard showed there was “another side to this man”, who had no previous convictions.

Judge Paul Thomas QC told Badham he had “paedophile tendencies towards young boys” and said the sooner he came to terms with that and sought help the better.

Giving the defendant a one-third discount for his guilty pleas the judge sentenced him to a total of 16 months in prison suspended for two years and ordered him to complete the Horizon sex offenders programme, a rehabilitation course, and 150 hours of unpaid work.

Badham will also now be a registered sex offender for the next 10 years and was made the subject of a sexual harm prevention order for the same length of time

Crime

Police appeal for information after several tractors stolen

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POLICE officers in Pembrokeshire investigating a theft from several tractors, which happened overnight between April 17-18, 2024.

The tractors had been in a field near to Loch Turfin, Haverfordwest.

Included in the stolen items were vehicle keys, tools and waterproof clothing.

A spokesperson said “Police are now appealing for anyone with information that could help them with their investigation to contact PC 772 Boyt either through a direct message on social media, online at: https://bit.ly/DPPContactOnline, by emailing [email protected] or by calling 101.

“Quote reference: 24*355571”

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Pembrokeshire firefighters help deliver fire engines to Ukraine

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FIRE services from across the United Kingdom have rallied together to donate vital firefighting equipment to Ukraine, amidst ongoing conflicts that have seen local fire stations and firefighters come under direct attack.

The Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service (MAWWFRS) was at the forefront of this international goodwill effort, donating three fire appliances and dispatching nine of their personnel to ensure safe delivery.

The initiative, coordinated by Fire Aid UK, involved a total of 11 UK fire services. Over a grueling 5.5-day journey that spanned several countries—starting from Kent Fire and Rescue Service and moving through France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany, and into Poland—33 fire appliances were transported to a location just 20 miles from the Ukraine border. They left Kent on April 23.

This convoy, laden with not just fire engines but also 3000 items of critical firefighting gear including cutting equipment, fire hoses, first aid kits, and generators, was a sight of resilience and humanitarian commitment. Watch Manager Rob MakePeace, a Business Fire Safety Officer, and Watch Manager Keith Jenkins, who is retired but still oversees part-time personnel at Haverfordwest, played pivotal roles in the operation from Pembrokeshire.

Speaking on the experience, Keith Jenkins expressed the profound impact of the mission, “It was a fantastic experience to be involved in. The convoy itself was an amazing sight, but the people we met, places we stayed and the reason we were delivering the appliances was something we will remember for a long time.”

The donation comes at a critical time for Ukraine, where daily attacks have not only jeopardized the lives of local firefighters but have also devastated much of the essential infrastructure needed to fight fires effectively. The additional appliances and equipment from the UK are expected to significantly bolster the capabilities of the Ukrainian fire departments, providing them with the necessary tools to save lives and protect property under dire circumstances.

This act of generosity and the strenuous efforts by the UK firefighters underscore a deep commitment to aiding those in peril, transcending borders and showcasing the best of international cooperation and humanitarian assistance.

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Protest outside Stephen Crabb’s office over Rwanda deportations

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SUPPORTERS of West Wales Stand Up to Racism group will attend a protest outside the office of Stephen Crabb MP in Market Street at 6pm on Tuesday evening (May 7).

The protest is to highlight the inhumane scheme to send refugees to Rwanda.

Since the Rwanda Bill was finally passed last week, refugees have already been identified, detained and are being prepared to be flown to Rwanda to have their asylum claims processed there.

Rushi Sunak has said “To detain people while we prepare to remove them, we’ve increased detention spaces to 2,200.

“To quickly process claims, we’ve got 200 trained, dedicated caseworkers ready and waiting. To deal with any legal cases quickly and decisively, the judiciary has made available 25 courtrooms and identified 150 judges who could provide over 5,000 sitting days.”

The protestors are asking: why is all this money being spent when these vulnerable people could have their asylum claims dealt with in the UK?

If the Prime Minister hoped his Rwanda plan would help get more votes for the Conservative Party in the recent elections, it would appear he was mistaken.

A new report from the Refugee Council warns that the UK Government’s flagship Illegal Migration Act and Rwanda Plan will lead to another catastrophic “system meltdown”, trapping over 100,000 people in permanent limbo while costing taxpayers billions.

West Wales Stand Up to Racism has campaigned against the Government’s plan to send refugees to Rwanda from the time this scheme was first suggested.

Supporters have previously met with Simon Hart MP and attempted to deliver a giant postcard to his office.

The group has taken part in the online Hands in Protest project organised by Artisan Avenue, Tenby which allowed everyone to express on line how they felt about Rwanda by submitting drawings of their own hands. The collective Hands In Protest gives a powerful message that the Rwanda plan should be stopped.

The organisers said: “Supporters will be once more taking the giant postcard on Tuesday, to protest about the Rwanda scheme. We will have small post cards for supporters to write messages to Stephen Crabb, telling him how strongly we feel about this.

“All over the UK, anti-racists are picketing Home Office buildings to show their opposition to the Rwanda scheme and are trying to prevent arrests and giving support to the refugees being arrested and detained.

“West Wales Stand Up to Racism supporters want to make their voices heard too.”

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