News

John Cooper: Application to review two double murder convictions accepted

Published

3 years ago

April 25, 2023

JOHN COOPER, the man convicted of committing two brutal double murders in Pembrokeshire in the 1980s, has applied to the Criminal Cases Review Commission for a review of his case.

The independent body deals with cases where individuals have been possibly wrongly convicted.

The commission is the last avenue for appealing against a verdict if an individual believes they have been wrongly incarcerated. It is capable of forcing public bodies such as the police to release documents relating to a case.

Cooper, who is now 78, was found guilty of the murders of siblings Richard and Helen Thomas in December 1985, and of Oxfordshire couple Peter and Gwenda Dixon in June 1989, following a forensic review by the Dyfed-Powys police. He was sentenced to life imprisonment by Justice John Griffith Williams for both murders.

The commission confirmed that it had “accepted an application to review this case”.

Cooper has consistently denied having any involvement with the murders.

During his trial in 2011, CCTV footage was shown of Cooper on the television programme Bullseye, just a month before he committed the murder of Peter and Gwenda Dixon. The images were shown in court to allow the jury to compare the way Cooper looked at the time with a man seen on the programme using Peter Dixon’s bank card on the same day as the murders.

Cooper’s case was also dramatised in the ITV drama The Pembrokeshire Murders, in which Luke Evans played the lead role.

During the trial, Judge Griffith Williams described Cooper as a “very dangerous man who would more than likely escape justice were it not for advances in forensic science.”

Cooper was also found guilty of crimes against a group of young people in Mount Estate near Aberdaugleddau in 1996, including assault, indecent assault and attempted theft. His appeal against these charges was dismissed in 2012.

From April 1997 to February 2023, the Criminal Cases Review Commission received 29,845 applications, with 811 of those referred for appeal. Of the 791 cases heard in court, 557 verdicts were overturned, with the courts finding that there had been a miscarriage of justice.

Crime

Neighbourhood policing boosted across Dyfed-Powys

Published

3 hours ago

March 20, 2026

Tom Sinclair

DYFED-POWYS POLICE has announced a significant expansion of its Neighbourhood Policing and Prevention Teams (NPPT), with more officers being deployed to frontline roles where demand is greatest.

From Monday (Mar 16), teams across the force area have been strengthened, with a renewed focus on tackling antisocial behaviour and preventing crime at its source.

The force says the move is aimed at reducing repeat demand by addressing the root causes of offending, rather than simply responding to incidents.

To achieve this, a number of officers have been redeployed from central departments back into frontline policing, while new posts are also being created to bolster capacity.

Temporary Chief Superintendent Steve Davies, head of uniform policing, said: “These changes are about increasing frontline visibility and ensuring we have the right resources in the right places.

“They form part of a wider programme of improvements across the force to enhance effectiveness and efficiency, while also supporting the wellbeing of our officers and staff.

“This is positive news for our communities, who will benefit from stronger neighbourhood teams focused on local priorities and proactive policing.”

The expansion has been made possible through Home Office funding under the Neighbourhood Guarantee scheme, which is designed to strengthen community safety and crime prevention.

Dyfed-Powys Police has been allocated £1.4 million for 2025/26, enabling the recruitment of police staff and freeing up officers previously in support roles to return to operational duties.

As a result, four sergeants and 29 police officers have now been reassigned to neighbourhood teams across the force.

Each NPPT area will also have a named officer, with full team details available via the ‘Your Area’ section of the Dyfed-Powys Police website.

The force has also secured early access to 2026/27 Neighbourhood Guarantee funding, which will see a further 12 officers recruited between April and the autumn—adding to overall officer numbers in the region.

Police and Crime Commissioner Dafydd Llywelyn said: “Neighbourhood policing is about more than numbers—it’s about relationships.

“Greater visibility helps build trust, strengthens community ties, and reassures the public that policing is present, responsive, and committed to keeping people safe.

“I remain committed to improving police visibility across our communities, and these additional officers will help turn that ambition into reality.”

Crime

Broad Haven man remanded in custody over sexual harm prevention order breach

Published

3 hours ago

March 20, 2026

Court Reporter

Defendant admitted using Xbox without informing police as required under court order

ANTHONY COOMBES, aged 26, of Sand Banks, Broad Haven, appeared before Llanelli Magistrates’ Court on Thursday (Mar 20) charged with breaching a sexual harm prevention order.

The court heard that between February 26 and March 19, 2026, at Haverfordwest, Coombes repeatedly breached the order by using an Xbox device without informing police within three days, as required.

The offences relate to a sexual harm prevention order imposed at Swansea Crown Court on October 20, 2021.

Coombes indicated guilty pleas to the offences at the first hearing.

Magistrates committed the case to Swansea Crown Court for sentence.

He was remanded in custody ahead of the next hearing, which is due to take place at 9:00am on Friday, April 3, at Swansea Crown Court.

The court refused bail on the grounds that he was likely to offend, citing the nature and seriousness of the offences and his previous record and character.

A pre-sentence report was ordered.