News

Gang jailed for targeting elderly

Published

10 years ago

July 31, 2014

Alf Probert

THREE burglars who travelled 100 miles to target elderly residents in Kilgetty and Whitland have been jailed today for a total of 11 and a half years.

Tony Smith, aged 20, of Chestnut Close, Rassau, Ebbw Vale, Alf Probert, 23, of Briar Close, Rassau, and John Hearne, 19, of The White House, Buckley, Flintshire, admitted three burglaries.

Huw Rees, prosecuting, told Swansea crown court how Probert, whose father lived at Kingsmoor Common, Kilgetty, provided the gang with details of elderly and vulnerable people and then drove Smith and Hearne to the addresses.

They struck first at The Trees, Ryelands Way, Kilgetty, the home of 76 year old Kenneth Ormerod. He arrived home to find the property had been ransacked. The intruders had got away with £1,500 in cash, five watches and his mother’s engagement ring—and had even opened his will.

Very shortly afterwards the trio targeted 18 Velfrey Road, Whitland, where 69 year old

Tony Smith

Richard Pearce was watching television.

Mr Pearce, who is blind in one eye, was held down while one of the other defendants made an “untidy” search of the upstairs before leaving with £175 in cash.

However, said Mr Rees, a neighbour who “did not like the look” of the men noted the registration number of the Peugeot driven by Probert as he arrived to collect them.

Within minutes they were back in Kilgetty and in the garden of 48 Millfield Close. The occupier, Jean McKnight, aged 82, confronted them and they made up a story of trying to find their dog.

As she returned indoors the two men followed and locked it behind her. One grabbed her by her wrist and pushed her into the sitting room “with some force.”

They demanded money and ripped out two telephones.

The ordeal lasted 35 minutes as one of the burglars stood guard over Mrs McKnight, and a

John Hearne

friend, Kathleen Litherland, who had been visiting, while the other searched the house. They

escaped with £200 in cash and some minor items.

Mr Rees said it was significant that both Probert junior and senior had at times carried out gardening jobs at the house.

By then police were armed with the registration number of the Peugeot and Smith was arrested as he approached the car. Probert was also arrested soon afterwards.

Barristers representing the men said they were deeply ashamed at what they had done.

Judge Paul Thomas said the burglaries were “exceptionally serious.”

The men, he said, had been on a “burglary expedition” and had targeted people who were vulnerable because of their ages or ill health.

“You turned their lives upsidedown and not just their homes. You roughly manhandled two of them and they had no way of telling just how far you would go,” he added.

He said Probert, who had a previous conviction for swindling an elderly person, had “set up” the operation.

Probert and Hearne were jailed for four years and Smith for three and a half.

They were each ordered to pay a £120 surcharge.

Crime

Police investigating attempted burglary at Haverfordwest shop

Published

1 hour ago

May 1, 2024

Tom Sinclair

POLICE in Pembrokeshire are investigating an attempted burglary at No.37 Food and Wine shop on High Street, Haverfordwest, at about 3am on Wednesday, April 3.

A window was smashed and the door handle broken.

Police said: “If you have any information that could help enquiries, please get in touch with PC 195 Tayler, either by: https://bit.ly/DPPContactOnline, by emailing [email protected], or by calling 101.

“Alternatively, contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously by calling 0800 555111, or visiting crimestoppers-uk.org.”

News

Don’t forget to vote on Thursday, May 2

Published

2 hours ago

May 1, 2024

Luke Sinclair

THURSDAY, May 2 is your chance to vote for the Dyfed-Powys Police and Crime Commissioner.

Don’t forget to use your vote and head to your local polling station between 7am and 10pm.

They are elected by the public to hold Chief Constables and the police force to account on their behalf.

A Police and Crime Commissioner’s job is to set the police budget and make sure it is spent effectively, appoint the local police forces Chief Constables, set police and crime plans in collaboration with residents and work closely with the local council and other organisations on these plans.

This is the first election in Wales where you will need photographic ID to vote.

Accepted forms of ID include a UK, European Economic Area (EEA) or Commonwealth passport or drivers’ licence; and some concessionary travel passes, such as an older person’s bus pass or an Oyster 60+ card. Voters will be able to use expired ID if they are still recognisable from the photo.

Or you may have applied for a Voter Authority Certificate which is also accepted.

If you plan on taking your Postal Vote to a polling station or County Hall main reception remember to fill in a vote return form. Without the completed form those postal vote(s) will be rejected.

You can only hand in your own postal vote, and postal votes for up to five other people.

You can find out more about the Police and Crime Commissioner Elections online (opens in new window).

Crime

Banned for sleeping in car whilst over the drink drive limit

Published

3 hours ago

May 1, 2024

Court Reporter

A MOTORIST caught sleeping in a BMW in MIiford Haven town centre has appeared before magistrates for being in charge of a motor vehicle when he was over the legal alcohol limit.

Police officers discovered John Steele, 30, soon after 5.30pm on March 9 when he was asleep in his red BMW which was parked in a car park at Hamilton Terrace.

“The engine was running and the lights were on,” Crown Prosecutor Abigail Jackson told District Judge Mark Layton who was sitting at Haverfordwest magistrates court this week.

“Officers smelt alcohol, he was intoxicated and he was slurring his words.”

Officers were unable to carry out a roadside breath test as a result of them not being in possession of a breathalyser at the scene of the incident. Steele was conveyed to a police custody suite where two samples of breath were subsequently taken, the lowest giving a reading of 44 mcg.

Steele, who is employed as a machine technician in Selby, pleaded guilty to the charge of being in charge of a motor vehicle while he was above the alcohol limit.

He was fined £400 and ordered to pay a £160 court surcharge and £85 costs. His licence was endorsed with ten penalty points.