Crime
Local court to consider defendant’s claim that old Welsh law trumps community protection order
A MAN of no fixed abode will stand trial this summer for several breaches of quite an unusual community protection order.
34-year-old Matt Christoper, who also calls himself “King Arthwys The First” was given an order covering a large swathe of land within a five mile radius of the Cleddau, after making claims on land and upsetting local residents.
On March 10, Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court heard that Christopher was required not to approach or communicate with residents whose properties are within the specified area, not to deface anything within the specified area, not to harass, alarm or distress affected residents, and not to obstruct or impede any person using the land.
However the court heard that he allegedly did this and was arrested by police.
The defendant said that at his trial he will bring up an old Welsh law called a Tŷ Un Nos. Old Welsh legend has it if you could build a house overnight on common land, with smoke rising from the chimney by daybreak, it was yours to keep.
The defendant also claims that common land which is unused can be claimed, which he did, referring to the disputed land as his ‘royal residence’ of ‘Kingdom Cymru’ and that he was ‘King Arthwys the First’.
The court will look into if pathways which cross certain land were his, and if he gave permissive rights for people to use them. The defendant claims that it was he who made the pathways safe.
He also believes he owns the gates around the ‘common land’ and that police are denying his Freeman of The Land rights.
The next court date is set for May 30, and Christopher was given conditional bail.
Christopher is facing four charges. The alleged breaches of community protection notice were said to have taken place in Freystrop on January 10, 11, 12 and 14.
Crime
Haverfordwest man given restraining order for stalking ex
A HAVERFORDWEST man who had difficulty coming to terms with the end of his marriage has appeared before magistrates where he pleaded guilty to stalking his former wife.
Terry Mochan and his wife, Carol, separated in January 2024, but three months later, Ms Mochan found herself being harassed and intimidated by her former husband.
The first incident took place on April 13 when Mochan, 25, of St Issells Avenue, Merlins Bridge, Haverfordwest, raised his middle finger at his wife in a public place, and shouted at her.
Three days later Mrs Mochan noticed that her ex-husband was following her through Haverfordwest town centre.
“He was driving very closely behind her in his van,” Crown Prosecutor Sian Vaughan told Haverfordwest Magistrates this week.
In a victim impact statement that was read to the court, Mrs Mochan said both incidents have had a profound effect on her self-confidence.
“She’s now concerned, whenever she’s driving through town, that the defendant will be following her,” said Ms Vaughan. “It’s having an impact on her life and she’s concerned that he’ll attend her property.”
Mr Mochan was represented by solicitor Mr Gavin Rofer who said the defendant has no previous convictions.
“Both incidents were the result of the breakdown of their marriage,” he said. “But since April 16 there have been no further incidents.”
After considering the mitigation, magistrates fined Mochan £180 and ordered him to pay £325 court costs and a £72 surcharge. A 12 month restraining order was imposed, preventing him from having any contact with Carol Mochan.
Crime
Hostel resident brandished knife after seizure fears ignored
WHEN hostel resident Andrew Finan feared he was suffering a seizure, he attempted to contact the hostel’s support worker for help.
But when she failed to answer his calls, Finan walked up to the hostel’s CCTV camera, shouting angrily and brandishing a large kitchen knife.
“He’s been at the hostel since August, but he’s hard work,” Crown Prosecutor Sian Vaughan told Haverfordwest magistrates this week.
“He has various mental health issues and the staff have difficulty controlling him.”
Incident captured on CCTV
The incident took place in the early hours of December 22 at the Furnace Bank Hostel, Carmarthen.
“The CCTV covers the hostel, and the defendant was shouting angrily directly at the camera and holding a large kitchen knife in his hand,” said Ms Vaughan.
The support worker on duty at the time heard Finan shouting, “I’m sick of you, you b*******,” before turning away and going upstairs to his room.
Support worker left shaken
“I found the incident scary,” the support worker said in a victim impact statement. “His behaviour is erratic and unpredictable, and he scares me. I don’t know what to expect from him from day to day. Waving the knife around and directing it at me was extremely worrying.”
Defence cites frustration
But Finan’s solicitor, Fenn Richards, said his actions were the result of frustration at being ignored by staff.
“He believed he was going to have a seizure, as he’s had five brain bleeds in the past as a result of an assault,” she said.
“He tried to get the staff’s attention, but they didn’t answer the door, and the only way he could get their attention was to stand in front of the camera.”
Sentencing next month
Finan pleaded guilty to a charge of possessing an offensive weapon in a public place. Sentencing was adjourned to January 14 to allow a probation report to be prepared. Finan was released on conditional bail, with conditions including reporting twice a week to Carmarthen police station, not visiting the Furnace Bank Hostel, and having no contact with the support worker.
Crime
Local troublemaker back in prison 24 hours after release for Christmas
TWENTY-FOUR hours after being released from prison, a Pembrokeshire man found himself back behind bars for Christmas.
Mark Ion, 53, was sent back to HM Parc Prison, Bridgend, this week after breaching a protection order against his victim and spitting and making head-butting gestures towards two police officers.
Ion was arrested on December 20, just one day after his release from Parc Prison.
A protection order, imposed by Haverfordwest magistrates on December 10, prevented him from having any direct or indirect contact with a female victim living in Haverfordwest. However, on December 20, Ion was found at her property.
When police arrived, Ion, of Colley Court, Monkton, became verbally abusive and assaulted two officers. He spat at one officer—making no contact—and made a head-butting gesture towards another. Officers also discovered he was in possession of 3.5 grams of amphetamine and 1.5 grams of cannabis.
Ion appeared before Haverfordwest magistrates this week via video link from Parc Prison. He pleaded guilty to two charges of possession of Class B drugs, two charges of assaulting an emergency worker, breaching an interim stalking order, and failing to comply with a post-sentence supervision order. The failure involved being verbally abusive to a probation officer while highly intoxicated shortly after his release.
His solicitor, Tom Lloyd, told the court that despite Ion’s behaviour on December 20, he had displayed no violence towards the police officers or the female victim.
“He has significant mental health and substance misuse issues that he’s struggled with for many years,” said Mr Lloyd. “He’s schizophrenic and relies on heavy medication, but after his release, he consumed alcohol immediately, feeling excited about his freedom.
“He made a serious error of judgement.”
Ion was sentenced to 13 weeks in custody and ordered to pay £85 in court costs and a £154 court surcharge.
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