Crime

Milford Haven man who assaulted partner is sentenced to prison

Published

2 years ago

August 31, 2022

A MILFORD Haven man has been reprimanded by a Crown Court judge for ‘demeaning’ his partner during a prolonged and persistent attack.

Warren Harper, 30, appeared at Swansea Crown Court on Tuesday (Aug 30) via video link, after pleading guilty to a charge of assaulting his partner, causing actual bodily harm.

Dressed in a dark blue shirt, he listened as barrister Sian Cutter, prosecuting for the Crown, described the events on the night of July 3.

Harper had been drinking in Milford Haven with his partner, Demi Oliver.

At approximately 11.p.m an argument broke out between the pair. Ms Oliver left the scene and returned home. Harper was waiting for her when she arrived.

Sian Cutter said: “They immediately got into an argument and the defendant held his hand over her mouth, held her down and squeezed her to the face to the point where she was unable to breathe properly,”

“He then grabbed her by her arms and pulled her hair, resulting in some of it falling out.”

Ms Oliver managed to escape from the property and ran to a neighbour’s house for help.

She suffered bruising to both her eyes, bruising to her right arm, right leg and beneath her chin as a result of the assault. She also sustained scratches to her hands, a cut to her top lip, and large abrasions across her back.

Harper has three prior convictions for battery against two of his former partners, according to the Crown.

Jon Tarrant, representing Harper, said: “This particular relationship was going quite well, but what caused this incident was the alcohol which is his predominant problem.”

While addressing Harper, Judge Huw Rees told him that his behaviour towards women is unacceptable.

“You must understand that when you attack women in this way, as you have done on three separate occasions to two other partners, you demean them as women,” he said.

“You also demean yourself as a human being.”

Harper was sentenced to 20 months in custody, half of which will be spent in prison while the remainder will be spent on probation.

“This assault was on a vulnerable woman in the confines of her own home,” said Judge Huw Rees.

“If you don’t watch what you do in the future as far as assaulting women is concerned, your sentences will increase incrementally.

“And you’ll now have time to consider this during the sentence which I’ve decided to impose.”

Crime

Tragic blaze and standoff in Haverfordwest home as eviction looms

Published

20 hours ago

May 2, 2024

Tom Sinclair

A HAVERFORDWEST man ignited his own home during a prolonged confrontation with police, fueled by distress over a forced move after his mother’s death.

The ordeal unfolded on Jury Lane where Robert Ward, 56, resided in a three-bedroom council property he previously shared with his mother. Following her demise, Pembrokeshire County Council requested Ward to relocate to a smaller residence, prosecutor Georgia Donohue informed Swansea Crown Court.

The crisis escalated on October 21 when a dispute involving Ward and his sister led to a distressing 999 call by a neighbour at 4 PM, after overhearing threats of self-harm from Ward.

Upon arrival, police were met with a barricaded house. Ward, claiming to have booby-trapped the premises and armed with jerry cans and knives, refused entry, declaring his intent to end his life and warning of gas bottles placed behind the entrance.

As tensions heightened, a specialist negotiator was brought in while nearby homes were vacated and utilities to the property cut to prevent further risk. The standoff persisted into the night until police forcibly entered around 12:30 AM, finding the home ablaze.

During the confrontation, Ward hurled an unknown substance at officers, initially suspected to be an accelerant, though he later claimed it was water. Fire services extinguished the flames within 15 minutes, and Ward was apprehended in the loft of the burning structure around 1:06 AM, amid a suicide attempt. He suffered significant burns and was subsequently hospitalized.

During police interviews, Ward expressed remorse, stating his actions were driven by despair over his impending eviction. “He said he was extremely sorry for his actions and didn’t intend to harm [the officers],” Donohue relayed.

The court heard of previous convictions, including a 1983 arson charge. His counsel, Dyfed Thomas, highlighted the emotional attachment to the home and Ward’s troubled mental health, which significantly influenced his drastic actions.

Judge Geraint Walters recognized the “complex background” and the mental health struggles Ward endured for years, describing the episode as not “the acts of a person in his right mind.” He emphasized the need for substantial support post-release to prevent future incidents.

Ward was sentenced to three years and four months in prison after pleading guilty to arson recklessly endangering life, affray, and two counts of assaulting emergency workers. The incident, leaving behind £4,819.15 in damages, raises poignant questions about mental health support and housing policies for the vulnerable.

Crime

Police appeal following assault outside Haverfordwest store

Published

1 day ago

May 2, 2024

Tom Sinclair

POLICE in Pembrokeshire are investigating an assault that happened outside B&M stores, Haverfordwest, at about 6.30pm on Tuesday, April 23.

The suspect is described as a teenage male wearing a balaclava and a cast on his wrist. He is believed to have left the location in a silver car.

The victim did not sustain any injuries.

The police have asked for assistance. Anyone who witnessed the incident or anyone with information that could help officers with their investigation is asked to get in touch with PC 1296 Clarke, either by:

| https://bit.ly/DPPContactOnline