News

Two jailed after horrific attack in which Haverfordwest woman lost an eye

Published

5 years ago

August 17, 2021

A WOMAN who lost an eye in a horrific assault on a Haverfordwest council estate three years ago saw her two attackers jailed this week.

Holly Catherall’s face was smashed when Dean Rowlands swung a metal pole into her face on July 3, 2018 in West Court.

Holly lost an eye after the former girlfriend of her new partner instigated the street attack.

Dean Rowlands and Kelly Howard were jailed following a brutal attack in Haverfordwest in 2018 (Pic Police)

Dean Rowlands, who was described at Swansea Crown Court as being ‘evil’ had been encouraged to take part in the incident by Kelly Elizabeth Howard, of West Court, after her former boyfriend had begun a relationship with Ms Catherall.

She was also jailed after the judge heard that Howard had urged Rowlands to “f*** up her face” during the attack.

Also arrested over the disturbances was a third person. That was Thomas Dane Pindair, previously of Cormorant Close, Cashfield Estate, Haverfordwest. At previous hearing he had denied possessing a hammer in West Court on that occasion but he admitted assaulting one Amy Hughes causing her actual bodily harm.

One of the suspects being arrested at The Courts in 2018 (Pic Herald)

Pindair had admitted charges of affray and actual bodily harm against him at an earlier hearing but Howard and Rowlands denied the charges they faced only to be found guilty by a jury following a Crown Court trial.

Dyfed Thomas, defence lawyer for 30-year-old Pindair, said “he never denied using unlawful violence on that day – the only issue he denied was using any weapon”.

He added: “This defendant told the truth about how this awful injury was caused. The remorse for the horrendous injury was clear in the witness box.”

Ms Catherall said she was bleeding so heavily she could not see her skin or nails, just blood, and: “I could not scream, just gurgle.” She was taken to hospital where she had 40 stitches in her eye but it could not be saved.

She also had to undergo a 10-hour operation to her face and continues to suffer searing pain in her cheeks and has scarring in her mouth which is constantly painful and full of ulcers.

Armed police at the scene in 2018 (Pic Herald)

It was confirmed in court that Amy Hughes, the sister of Holly’s new partner Sam, was also assaulted in the incident.

Sentencing, Recorder John Philpotts told Rowlands: “You took a prominent role in the incidence of serious street violence. During the incident you used a weapon to inflict a very grave injury on Holly Catherall

“In my judgement that violence was instigated initially by your partner Kelly Howard because she resented her former partner was in a relationship with someone else but you willingly and enthusiastically entered into verbal abuse and threats of serious violence and in the course of violence a young woman lost her eye. The last thing she saw or will see in her left eye was you about to strike her.”

Rowlands was sentenced to 10 years in prison for causing grievous bodily harm with intent with a further nine months to run concurrently for possession of an offensive weapon, namely the metal pole. He was also made subject to an indefinite restraining order.

Addressing Howard he added: “In my judgement you instigated the violence because you were unable to accept the fact your former partner was in a relationship with another woman. He said she had also attacked Amy Hughes.

Howard received a sentence of two years imprisonment for an offence of affray with a further 12 months concurrent for a second affray offence and was made subject to a restraining order.

Recorder Rowlands told Pindair he had made a “serious error of judgement allowing yourself to be recruited in violence and public disorder”.

He was sentenced to 18 months imprisonment for an offence of ABH with the term suspended for two years. He was also told to carry out 150 hours unpaid work.

Crime

Neighbourhood policing boosted across Dyfed-Powys

Published

5 hours ago

March 20, 2026

Tom Sinclair

DYFED-POWYS POLICE has announced a significant expansion of its Neighbourhood Policing and Prevention Teams (NPPT), with more officers being deployed to frontline roles where demand is greatest.

From Monday (Mar 16), teams across the force area have been strengthened, with a renewed focus on tackling antisocial behaviour and preventing crime at its source.

The force says the move is aimed at reducing repeat demand by addressing the root causes of offending, rather than simply responding to incidents.

To achieve this, a number of officers have been redeployed from central departments back into frontline policing, while new posts are also being created to bolster capacity.

Temporary Chief Superintendent Steve Davies, head of uniform policing, said: “These changes are about increasing frontline visibility and ensuring we have the right resources in the right places.

“They form part of a wider programme of improvements across the force to enhance effectiveness and efficiency, while also supporting the wellbeing of our officers and staff.

“This is positive news for our communities, who will benefit from stronger neighbourhood teams focused on local priorities and proactive policing.”

The expansion has been made possible through Home Office funding under the Neighbourhood Guarantee scheme, which is designed to strengthen community safety and crime prevention.

Dyfed-Powys Police has been allocated £1.4 million for 2025/26, enabling the recruitment of police staff and freeing up officers previously in support roles to return to operational duties.

As a result, four sergeants and 29 police officers have now been reassigned to neighbourhood teams across the force.

Each NPPT area will also have a named officer, with full team details available via the ‘Your Area’ section of the Dyfed-Powys Police website.

The force has also secured early access to 2026/27 Neighbourhood Guarantee funding, which will see a further 12 officers recruited between April and the autumn—adding to overall officer numbers in the region.

Police and Crime Commissioner Dafydd Llywelyn said: “Neighbourhood policing is about more than numbers—it’s about relationships.

“Greater visibility helps build trust, strengthens community ties, and reassures the public that policing is present, responsive, and committed to keeping people safe.

“I remain committed to improving police visibility across our communities, and these additional officers will help turn that ambition into reality.”

Crime

Broad Haven man remanded in custody over sexual harm prevention order breach

Published

5 hours ago

March 20, 2026

Court Reporter

Defendant admitted using Xbox without informing police as required under court order

ANTHONY COOMBES, aged 26, of Sand Banks, Broad Haven, appeared before Llanelli Magistrates’ Court on Thursday (Mar 20) charged with breaching a sexual harm prevention order.

The court heard that between February 26 and March 19, 2026, at Haverfordwest, Coombes repeatedly breached the order by using an Xbox device without informing police within three days, as required.

The offences relate to a sexual harm prevention order imposed at Swansea Crown Court on October 20, 2021.

Coombes indicated guilty pleas to the offences at the first hearing.

Magistrates committed the case to Swansea Crown Court for sentence.

He was remanded in custody ahead of the next hearing, which is due to take place at 9:00am on Friday, April 3, at Swansea Crown Court.

The court refused bail on the grounds that he was likely to offend, citing the nature and seriousness of the offences and his previous record and character.

A pre-sentence report was ordered.