News

Lily Sullivan’s murder motivated by sexual ‘frustration’, says judge

Published

3 years ago

August 23, 2022

Continuation from previous report

AT SWANSEA CROWN COURT this afternoon, Judge Paul Thomas QC has found that the murder of teenager Lily Sullivan was motivated by sexual “frustration” from Haines, who wanted to “go further” than Lily did after a night out in Pembroke.

The judge rejected the claim that Lewis Haines attempted to save Lily from the water after she entered the Millpond.

Haines was seen crouched in his seat with his head buried in his hands, while Lily’s family looked on from the public gallery, nodding with agreement at the Judge’s remarks.

The judge said: “I have no doubt that some degree of intimacy was intended between them and indeed occurred.

“Lily of course, tragically, cannot give evidence about what happened in the lane during that period.

Lewis Haines has chosen not to give evidence at the hearing.

“I am sure a degree of intimacy occurred in the lane. I am equally sure it did not progress to sexual intercourse or anything near it. I am sure that did not happen because Lily did not want that to happen.”
“There was no indication of distress but a clear indication she was now coming to meet her mother. That phone call ended abruptly mid-conversation, which Mrs Sullivan says was very atypical of Lily.
“There is some grainy footage from the lane. At one point Lily’s phone is seen to be moving rapidly around, when it seems to me that phone calls were incoming. At around the same time, a barber who lived above the alley heard a man and woman quarrelling, and a woman insisting she did not want to move from where she was.”

The judge added: “it was significant that Lily’s phone and jacket were left in the alleyway. I find she did not leave those voluntarily at that spot,” he said. “I find further that she did not leave the alley of her own volition but was forcibly taken to the Mill Pond by Lewis Haines.
“Her body, when recovered, was naked from the waist up. Her skimpy top was found slightly damp on vegetation near the Mill Pond. I come to the conclusion she was not wearing that top when she went into the river.
“Had she been it would have been completely saturated. I find it was removed from Lily against her will by Lewis Haines.
“Lewis Haines struck Lily on several occasions, as her injury and the presence of blood show. That was done with significant force. He then strangled her, probably to death, before putting her into the Mill Pond where she would not be seen at night.
“I wholly reject the account put forward by Lewis Haines that he went into the water to try to save Lily. If he went into the water at all – and he probably did – he wanted to make sure she had died. His intention was to silence her.
“He had a phone at all times. He passed many houses on the walk home. But he made no attempt to help her or get assistance from others.
“He didn’t want her to be in a position to tell anyone what had happened in the lane. Killing her was the only way he could be confident she would not survive to tell her family what had happened. It was only after he knew she had not survived that he let others know where she was.
“Why did he want to ensure that Lily could not be saved? He put in his statement that she had threatened to falsely accuse him of rape. I am sure, however, that having been in that lane for some time and having had intimate contact up to a point, Lily decided she was going to meet her mother… She did not want the intimacy to go as far as sexual intercourse.
“Fuelled as he was by drink, I am satisfied that Lewis Haines was frustrated by this… He became forceful towards her, and she resisted. I am sure from the evidence that Lily did not remove her top voluntarily to be naked in the middle of the night in December. I am sure Mr Haines took it off her.
“His account of her threatening to tell people what he had done with her does in fact have an element based in truth. I find she did say she would complain, not that he had actually raped her, because he had not, but because he had tried to force himself upon her against her will.”
Haines is due to be sentenced on Friday. He could face a life sentence with a minimum term of 30 years.

The judge thanked Lily’s family, many of whom were sitting in the public gallery. He praised their dignity amid an ‘excruciating’ case.

Local Government

Pembrokeshire Council faces backlash over £2.5m housing ‘buying spree’

Published

8 minutes ago

December 4, 2025

Tom Sinclair

Critics say policy inflates numbers while new-build programme stalls

PEMBROKESHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL is under growing pressure over its multi-million-pound programme of buying back former council houses, with critics warning that the strategy gives the illusion of progress while long-promised new-builds remain stuck on the drawing board.

The latest criticism comes from Haverfordwest councillor Mike Stoddart, who has accused the authority of “standing still” by funnelling Housing Revenue Account (HRA) cash into purchasing properties that were once part of the council’s own stock. In an email to fellow councillor Tom Sinclair, seen by this newspaper, Stoddart said the council’s approach “doesn’t increase the housing stock – it merely moves people from the private sector into the public sector”.

He added: “It would be much better if the money was spent on building anew.”

A temporary fix that became permanent

The buy-back scheme began in 2017 when the council adopted a new inflation-linked rent regime that delivered sizeable HRA surpluses. At the time, officers described buying ex-council homes on the open market as a “stop-gap” measure until the new-build programme ramped up.

But that programme has repeatedly faltered. Major schemes in Johnston and Tiers Cross have been hit by cost overruns of around 66%. In Milford Haven, new flats on Charles Street are costing close to £300,000 each for a one- or two-bed unit, before adding land costs, architects’ fees and planning expenses.

***Unhappy with the council’s home-buying spree: Cllr Mike Stoddart***

Stoddart said the pattern amounted to a “disaster”, arguing that buying existing homes had become the authority’s default option. “It gives the impression of making progress while actually standing still,” he said.

Brownfield sites left idle

In Stoddart’s own ward, three former school sites have stood empty since 2018. Their redevelopment is not expected to begin until 2027 or 2028. Meanwhile, the council’s purchasing programme has accelerated.

A Cabinet report for late 2025 shows more than £2.5 million spent on acquisitions in just the first half of the year.

The most striking deal was a bulk purchase of five homes in Harcourt Close, Hook, for £1.851 million — almost £400,000 each. Stoddart said the developer would think “all his birthdays have come at once”, with the council avoiding estate agents’ fees, reducing legal costs and allowing the seller to immediately stop paying interest to the bank.

Thirteen high-value purchases

All properties were bought for over £100,000 and moved into the council’s HRA stock:

Address	Location	Price	Completion
32 Southdown Close	Pembroke	£115,000	29/07/2025
8 Hyfrydle	Letterston	£115,000	01/08/2025
6 Precelly Place	Milford Haven	£120,000	22/09/2025
50 Heywood Court	Tenby	£125,000	02/10/2025
33 Croft Avenue	Hakin, Milford Haven	£130,000	20/10/2025
7 Hyfrydle	Letterston	£135,000	05/09/2025
18 St Clements Park	Freystrop	£140,000	14/07/2025
55 College Park	Neyland	£140,000	28/10/2025
26 Baring Gould Way	Haverfordwest	£146,000	15/08/2025
25 Station Road	Letterston	£170,000	10/10/2025
16 Woodlands Crescent	Milford Haven	£283,000	31/10/2025
26 & 27 Harcourt Close	Hook	£744,000	22/10/2025
23, 24 & 25 Harcourt Close	Hook	£1,107,000	30/07/2025

All purchases were made from HRA reserves with no borrowing, a point the council highlights as prudent financial management.

Fears over market distortion

Stoddart also warned that the authority’s deep pockets may be pricing out young families by outbidding first-time buyers for entry-level homes. “If classical economic theory is to be believed, it’s forcing up the price,” he said.

House prices in Pembrokeshire have risen around 15% in the past year, according to recent ONS data. Local estate agents, speaking anonymously, told this newspaper that council intervention “definitely nudges prices upward” in hotspots like Hook, Neyland and Milford Haven.

Council defends strategy

A council spokesperson said the approach was necessary to deliver homes “immediately” amid chronic shortages.

“Acquiring existing properties allows us to respond quickly to housing need,” they said. “New-builds remain a priority, but delays in planning, construction and funding mean we must use all available tools to meet demand. All purchases represent value for money and are compliant with our HRA strategy.”

Housing charity Shelter Cymru took a different view, arguing that “recycling stock is not a substitute for expansion”. The charity says Pembrokeshire needs around 500 new affordable homes a year to meet demand.

‘Residents deserve homes, not headaches’

Social housing waiting lists in Pembrokeshire now exceed 2,000 applicants. With another Cabinet briefing due later this month, Stoddart says he will push for a fundamental rethink.

“It’s time to stop standing still,” he told this newspaper. “Our residents deserve homes, not headaches.”

News

Angle RNLI launch stood down after false distress beacon alert

Published

1 hour ago

December 4, 2025

Tom Sinclair

ANGLE RNLI were paged at 10:47am this morning after an EPIRB (Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon) was triggered on a local fishing vessel in the Dale Roads area.

Dale Coastguard Rescue Team was also tasked to investigate the alert.

As the lifeboat crew prepared to launch, further checks by HM Coastguard — along with direct contact from the vessel’s skipper — confirmed the beacon had been activated accidentally.

With no-one found to be in difficulty, the launch was cancelled.

Business

Cardiff Airport announces special Air France flights for Six Nations

Published

2 hours ago

December 4, 2025

Tom Sinclair

Direct services to Paris-Charles de Gaulle launched to cater for Welsh supporters, French fans and couples planning a Valentine’s getaway

CARDIFF AIRPORT and Air France have unveiled a series of special direct flights between Cardiff (CWL) and Paris-Charles de Gaulle (CDG) scheduled for February 2026.

Timed to coincide with two major dates — the Wales v France Six Nations clash on Saturday 15 February and Valentine’s weekend — the flights are designed to offer supporters and holidaymakers an easy link between the two capitals.

For travelling French rugby fans, the services provide a straightforward route into Wales ahead of match day at the Principality Stadium, when Cardiff will once again be transformed by the colour, noise and passion that accompanies one of the tournament’s most eagerly awaited fixtures.

For Welsh passengers, the additional flights offer a seamless escape to Paris for Valentine’s Day, as well as opportunities for short breaks and onward travel via Air France’s wider global network.

Cardiff Airport CEO Jon Bridge said: “We’re thrilled to offer direct flights to such a vibrant and exciting city for Valentine’s weekend. Cardiff Airport is expanding its reach and giving customers fantastic travel options. We’ve listened to passenger demand and are delighted to make this opportunity possible. There is more to come from Cardiff.”

Tickets are already on sale via the Air France website and through travel agents.

Special flight schedule

Paris (CDG) → Cardiff (CWL):