IN a hearing at Swansea Crown Court this week (May 10), a Pembrokeshire man, Lee Morgan, 42, of Green Close in Steynton, admitted to one count of strangulation under the influence of alcohol. However, he denied further charges related to another incident involving the same victim.

The court was informed that Morgan had no recollection of the incidents due to his intoxication. On April 5, 2023, he allegedly strangled a woman and committed battery. He pleaded guilty to the strangulation but denied the battery charge. A second accusation of strangulation was made against Morgan for an incident that occurred on April 30, 2023. This later accusation only came to light during the police investigation of the initial charges and was not reported at the time it occurred.

Prosecutor Ieuan Rees accepted Morgan’s pleas on behalf of the prosecution, indicating that the focus would be on the charges to which Morgan had admitted guilt. Defense attorney David Singh highlighted Morgan’s ongoing issues with alcohol, which he claimed contributed to his client’s lack of memory regarding the incident.

Presiding Judge Geraint Walters has ordered the preparation of a pre-sentence report and remanded Morgan back into custody. Morgan is scheduled to appear in court again on May 31 for further proceedings.

The case continues to develop as the community and legal system grapple with the serious allegations and Morgan’s admission of guilt under the influence of alcohol.

AT Swansea Crown Court on Friday (May 10), former Pembroke Dock Mayor Terry Judkins has pleaded guilty to possessing indecent images of children.

Judkins, who held office as mayor from May 2021 until his resignation in November 2021, faced multiple charges related to child abuse images.

The court heard that Judkins was charged with creating two Category C indecent images of children and possessing a prohibited image of a child during a period spanning from September 27, 2018, to August 5, 2021.

The 55-year-old admitted to these offences in a hearing that has drawn considerable attention.

However, Judkins denied charges related to possessing extreme pornographic images that depicted bestiality, covering a timeline from January 2010 to August 2021.

Prosecutor Helen Randall indicated that the Crown would pursue a trial on these allegations given Judkins’ not guilty plea.

Additional charges against Judkins include making 52 Category A indecent images of children within the same dates as his earlier admissions.

The former mayor has been granted extra time to consider his plea on this charge, with a future court appearance scheduled for a later date.

This case has cast a shadow over Judkins’ brief tenure as mayor. He resigned last year citing personal reasons and extra work commitments.

RE-ELECTED Dyfed-Powys Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) Dafydd Llywelyn begun his new term in office this week with a series of key meetings aimed at shaping his strategic vision for the region’s policing priorities over the next four years.

The Commissioner’s first official day was Thursday 9^th of May, and saw key discussions taking place, beginning with a meeting with the Chief Constable to gain an update from Dyfed-Powys Police on operational matters, and also to outline his vision and priorities for the new term in Office.

In addition, the Commissioner met with staff from his Office for discussions on the development of a new Police and Crime Plan for Dyfed-Powys for 2025-2029. The Police and Crime Plan will be the strategic blueprint that will represent the Commissioner’s vision and priorities, further reinforcing his dedication to delivering effective and efficient policing services tailored to the needs and expectations of our diverse communities.

In coming weeks, the Commissioner’s Office will launch a public consultation on the new Police and Crime Plan, whereby the public will have an opportunity to have their say on policing and crime matters in their area.  Online questionnaires and focus groups will form part of the consultation, to ensure that the Office provides plenty of opportunities for communities to have their say.

Reflecting on his ambitions for the upcoming term, Mr Llywelyn expressed that his focus will be on improving public confidence and trust in policing: “I am honoured to be re-elected as the Police and Crime Commissioner for Dyfed-Powys for my third successive term. 

“As I start this new term in Office, I am committed to build on the achievements to date and address the challenges that lie ahead.

“My vision is clear: to develop safer communities for all through proactive crime prevention and ensuring a justice system that is both fair and efficient. 

“I will work in collaboration with the Force and other criminal agency partners to ensure transparency and accountability, to ensure that we can we work collectively to improve public trust and confidence in policing.

“Your safety will continue to be my top priority. I want to ensure that the Dyfed Powys Police area remains one of the safest places to live in Wales and England”.