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Crime

Red wine and cocaine led to crowbar threats, court hears

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A COURT has heard how a Haverfordwest man feared for his life after being threatened by a person wearing a balaclava and wielding a crowbar in the early hours of December 23.

Mathew Gardener arrived at his home in Winch Crescent, Haverfordwest, by taxi soon after 2am where he discovered a man standing in the street wearing a balaclava and carrying a crowbar and a pair of gloves. The man then walked over to Mr Gardener’s Toyota Avensis car which was parked outside his house, and got inside.

“The man was then seen getting out of the car and began moving towards the complainant,” Crown Prosecutor Abigail Jackson told Haverfordwest magistrates this week.

“The complainant was terrified as he didn’t know what he might do with the crowbar.”

Police officers were alerted of the incident and identified the defendant as Jack Mills, 24, of Glebe House, Winch Lane, Haverfordwest.

This week Mills pleaded guilty to charges of going equipped for theft by having a crowbar, balaclava and gloves in his possession; tampering with Mr Gardener’s motor vehicle and harassing Mr Gardener with fear of violence by waving the crowbar towards him.

He was represented in court by solicitor, Mr Michael Kelleher.

“My client has no recollection of what happened that night and he has no idea of what he did, nor why he did it,” he said.

“But he accepts what happened, and doesn’t dispute for one minute what the complainant says.”

Mr Kelleher went on to say that whenever Mills feels ill, he seeks help.

“But then as soon as he starts to feel better, he cancels everything,” he said.

“The crowbar was something he made himself in college and the balaclava he wears inside his helmet when he drives his motorcycle.

“My client doesn’t know the complainant and he has very little recollection, if any, of the incident.”

Meanwhile probation officer Julie Norman told magistrates that the complainant feared for his safety throughout the incident.

“This is a very serious offence, and the defendant knows this,” she said.

“He remembers consuming some red wine and some cocaine that night so this could possibly have been part of the reason why he behaved in the way that he did.”

Mills was sentenced to a 12 month community order during which he must carry out 20 rehabilitation requirement days and 150 hours of unpaid work.

He was fined £120 and ordered to pay £100 compensation to the complainant for the distress which he caused him. He must also pay a £114 court surcharge and £85 costs.

 

Crime

Man charged with attempted murder after A44 collision near Aberystwyth

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A 24-YEAR-OLD man has been charged following a single-vehicle collision on the A44 near Capel Bangor, Aberystwyth.

Dyfed-Powys Police said the incident happened on Tuesday, June 30.

Owen Rhys-Jones, of Dol-y-Bont, Aberystwyth, has been charged with attempted murder, dangerous driving, and controlling and coercive behaviour.

He has been remanded in custody and is due to appear before court.

Police are continuing to appeal for witnesses and are asking anyone who was in the Capel Bangor area at around 8.50pm on Tuesday, June 30, to come forward.

Officers are particularly keen to hear from anyone who witnessed a disturbance in or around Capel Bangor, or who may have phone, video or dashcam footage of the incident.

Anyone with information can contact Dyfed-Powys Police through the force’s dedicated online portal.

The force said: “We would like to thank the local community for their support while officers have carried out extensive enquiries, and to those who have supported our investigation so far.”

 

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Crime

Man sent to Crown Court over alleged Cardigan cocaine and cannabis supply

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A 24-YEAR-OLD man has been sent to Crown Court to face a series of alleged drug supply offences in Cardigan.

Harrison Casey, of Harebell Way, Brownsover, Rugby, appeared before Aberystwyth Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday (Jul 2).

He faces six charges relating to alleged offences at Bridge Street, Cardigan, between April 7 and April 24, 2023.

The charges include being concerned in the supply of cocaine, a Class A drug, and being concerned in the supply of cannabis, a Class B drug.

Casey is also accused of possessing cannabis with intent to supply, possessing tetrahydrocannabinol with intent to supply, being concerned in an offer to supply THC edibles, and possessing flualpazolam, a Class C drug.

There were no pleas to the charges at this stage.

Magistrates sent the case to Swansea Crown Court for trial under Section 51 of the Crime and Disorder Act 1998.

Casey was granted unconditional bail and is due to appear at Swansea Crown Court on August 3 for a plea and trial preparation hearing.

 

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Crime

Family’s anguish as politicians raise fears over killer driver’s possible early release

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THE WIDOW of a Carmarthenshire father killed by a dangerous driver has been left facing months of uncertainty after being told the man jailed over her husband’s death may fall under new sentencing rules.

Aaron Jones, 38, from Llanpumsaint, died while walking his dog on December 23, 2024. His death devastated his family and shocked the close-knit village community.

Daniel Douglas Wyke, from Carmarthen, later admitted causing death by dangerous driving. He was jailed at Swansea Crown Court for four-and-a-half years and banned from driving for eight years and two months.

Now Aaron’s widow, Lisa Jones, has received correspondence indicating that Wyke may be affected by provisions introduced under the Sentencing Act 2026.

The family has been told it may not know until the end of August whether the changes will affect the time he spends in custody.

Ann Davies MP for Caerfyrddin and Nerys Evans MS for Sir Gaerfyrddin have now written to the Ministry of Justice seeking assurances that Aaron’s family will be heard during any review process.

They said the uncertainty had added further pain for a family already living with unimaginable loss.

“Our thoughts remain firmly with Lisa Jones, her family and the community of Llanpumsaint, who continue to endure unimaginable grief following the tragic loss of Aaron,” they said.

“To now face uncertainty over the sentence of the man responsible for his death adds further distress at an already devastating time.

“It is vital that the Ministry of Justice listens to victims and their families. Any move to shorten sentences in cases of this seriousness must be approached with the utmost caution and sensitivity.”

Nerys Evans MS said victims and their families must remain at the centre of the justice system.

She added: “We have written to the Ministry of Justice to seek assurance that the voice and view of Aaron’s family are able to be heard as part of any process to review the sentence.”

Ann Davies also raised the case in Westminster on Thursday, July 2.

Speaking in the House of Commons, she said her constituent Aaron Jones had been killed in a hit-and-run while walking his dog, and that his widow had since received a letter from the Ministry of Justice about sentence changes under the Sentencing Act 2026.

She asked whether ministers accepted that waiting until the end of August to learn whether Wyke could be released earlier than expected was causing further distress to victims’ families.

Sir Alan Campbell, Leader of the House of Commons, said he understood the sensitivity of the case and the distress caused to Aaron’s family.

He said: “These are difficult decisions, but I understand the point about assurances as far as they can be given to families.”

He added that he hoped the Ministry of Justice had heard the concerns and said he would raise the matter directly.

The Sentencing Act 2026 received Royal Assent in January. The Government says the reforms are intended to tackle prison overcrowding, increase the use of tougher community restrictions and make greater use of supervision and tagging after release.

However, the case has highlighted the anxiety caused to victims’ families when changes to release arrangements are communicated before the full impact on individual cases is known.

For Lisa Jones and her children, the question now is not only what decision will be made, but why they must wait weeks to find out.

 

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