Crime

Ex-heroin addict threatened to slit the throats of young couple with children

Published

4 years ago

December 22, 2021

A 22-YEAR-OLD man who threatened to slit the throats of a young couple out walking with their two infants near Milford Haven is to appear before Haverfordwest magistrates for sentence.

Pleading guilty to the charge of using threatening behaviour before Haverfordwest magistrates this week was Rory Barnes of Ashgrove, Mount Estate, Milford Haven.

Crown Prosecutor Sian Vaughan said the offence took place on December 19 when Barnes accosted the couple and their two young children, one aged 11 months and the other just three days old, at Hubberston.

“The lady saw the defendant coming out of CK’s supermarket looking agitated and shouting,” she said. “His eyes were bulging, and he was foaming at the mouth.”

Ms Vaughan went on to say that when asked to leave them alone, Barnes picked up a large rock and held it as if he was going to throw it at them. “He said he was going to slit their throats and kill them. They became increasingly concerned at the weapon and thought that if he’d thrown it, it would have caused serious injuries or even death.”

Representing Barnes, Mr Tom Lloyd said that following his client’s previous dependency on heroin, his defendant is now making positive inroads. “He’s got his own flat for the first time, he’s clean from heroin and he’s begun working for his grandfather as a bricklayer,” he said. “All the facts are in place for him to rehabilitate but he’s let himself down big time.”

Magistrates agreed to adjourn sentence for probation reports and released Barnes on conditional bail, the conditions being that he resides at his home on Mount Estate, that he remains electronically tagged with a daily curfew between 7pm and 7am, that he adheres to a restraining order preventing him from visiting Hakin and Hubberston and that he refrains from contacting the complainants.

Sentencing will proceed on January 19.

Crime

Spittal man to stand trial accused of ABH

Published

18 hours ago

June 20, 2026

Court Reporter

A SPITTAL man is to stand trial accused of assaulting a man and causing actual bodily harm.

Robert Hedley, 41, of Wesley Way, Spittal, Haverfordwest, is charged with assaulting Liam Morley-Trivett at St Clears on August 30, 2025.

The case was before Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court on Thursday (Jun 18).

Hedley was granted unconditional bail and is due to stand trial at the same court on Monday, June 29.

The trial is listed for 10:00am and has been given a time estimate of twenty minutes.

Crime

Milford Haven woman spared jail despite string of shop thefts

Published

18 hours ago

June 20, 2026

Court Reporter

Repeat offender stole from Tesco, Home Bargains, Food Warehouse and petrol stations in wave of offences

A MILFORD HAVEN woman who admitted a series of shop thefts committed over a matter of weeks has been handed a suspended prison sentence by magistrates.

Marion Picton, aged 46, of Hawthorn Path, Milford Haven, appeared before Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday (Jun 18) and pleaded guilty to eight theft offences and a drugs-related offence.

The court heard that Picton carried out a string of thefts at stores across Milford Haven between April and June this year.

Among the offences, Picton admitted stealing meat from Food Warehouse on Apr 23, food worth £60 from Victoria Filling Station on May 29, groceries from Home Bargains on Jun 7 and Jun 8, food from Victoria Filling Station on Jun 7 and Jun 9, groceries and non-food items worth £51.09 from Tesco on Jun 16, and food worth £32.50 from Food Warehouse on the same day.

She also admitted failing to attend an initial drugs assessment after testing positive for Class A drugs, including cocaine and opiates.

Magistrates were told the offences represented persistent repeat offending and had been committed while Picton was already subject to a court order.

The bench imposed an eight-week prison sentence, suspended for 18 months.

As part of the order, Picton must complete up to 15 rehabilitation activity days under the supervision of the Probation Service.

The court ordered her to pay compensation to several of the businesses affected, including Tesco, Home Bargains, Food Warehouse and Victoria Filling Station.

In sentencing, magistrates said the offences were serious enough to justify immediate custody but suspended the sentence because there was a realistic prospect of rehabilitation and Picton appeared motivated to address her addiction issues.

Picton was warned that any further offending during the 18-month suspension period could see the prison sentence activated.