News

Rape trial at Swansea Crown Court expected to last three weeks

Published

2 years ago

February 6, 2024

KEVIN OFFLAND, a 45-year-old man currently of Nichols Road, Great Yarmouth, stands accused of a series of grave sexual offences spanning over two decades.

The trial, unfolding at Swansea Crown Court, sees Offland vehemently denying eighteen charges levied against him, including the rape of three women and a child, alongside multiple counts of sexual activity with a child. The alleged offences trace back over a 24-year period in both Pembrokeshire and Shrewsbury.

The prosecution, led by Mr Davies, paints a chilling portrait of Offland as a “sexual predator” who allegedly exploited the vulnerability of women and children.

According to the charges, Offland’s spree of abuse began in February 1998 when he is accused of anally raping an 18-year-old woman after binding and gagging her.

A pattern of predatory behaviour emerges with further accusations detailing the anal rape of another woman between December 2000 and December 2003, under circumstances of restraint.

Disturbingly, the charges extend to the abuse of minors, with Offland accused of raping an 11-year-old girl between 2008 and 2009, allegedly after intoxicating her with vodka and Red Bull.

Another instance in October 2014 involved a complainant who suspected her drink was spiked by Offland in Pembrokeshire, leading to her waking up in pain without recollection of the preceding events.

Further allegations involve sexual abuse against two young girls, aged 14 and 15, across different time periods and locations in Pembrokeshire.

Offland is accused of forcing one girl to perform a sex act on him in Milford Haven and of sexually abusing her and another girl on multiple occasions.

The prosecution claims that Offland took advantage of his position to inappropriately touch the girls under the guise of massages and applying fake tan.

The trial, presided over by Judge Catherine Richards, is expected to last three weeks.

The case continues

Crime

Pembroke Dock woman admits breaching community order

Published

54 seconds ago

February 3, 2026

Rieve Nesbitt-Marr

Magistrates revoke sentence after missed appointments

A PEMBROKE DOCK woman has admitted breaching the terms of a community order.

Shannon Charge, aged 30, of Pater Court, appeared before Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court on Monday (Feb 2).

She admitted failing to attend a scheduled probation appointment and a drug dependency appointment.

Magistrates revoked the existing community order and ordered her to pay £60 in court costs.

The court heard the order related to earlier offences, for which she had been made subject to rehabilitation and drug treatment requirements. A further review hearing is listed for March 2.

Crime

Milford Haven man given extra unpaid work after breaching court order

Published

5 minutes ago

February 3, 2026

Rieve Nesbitt-Marr

Magistrates add hours after missed appointments

A MILFORD HAVEN man has been ordered to complete extra unpaid work after breaching the terms of a community order.

Peter Jones, aged 33, of Precelly Place, appeared before Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court on Monday (Feb 2).

He admitted failing to attend scheduled unpaid work and a probation appointment earlier this month.

Magistrates varied the order, imposing an additional 10 hours of unpaid work. Jones was also ordered to pay £60 in court costs.

The court heard the original community order followed an earlier conviction.

Business

St Clears discount store in closing down sale after chain enters administration

Published

11 minutes ago

February 3, 2026

Tom Sinclair

A WELL-KNOWN discount retailer in St Clears is advertising a closing down sale after its parent company fell into administration, raising fresh concerns about the future of another high street store in west Wales.

The Original Factory Shop, which trades from Pentre Road in St Clears, has launched an “up to 30% off” sale as administrators attempt to secure the future of the business.

The chain, which sells clothing, homeware, garden products, toys and everyday essentials, appointed joint administrators Rick Harrison and James Clark of Interpath Advisory last week.

Founded in 1969, the retailer operates 137 stores across the UK and employs around 1,180 staff.

In a statement, Interpath said the company had faced difficult trading conditions common across the high street, including rising costs, weaker consumer spending and increased employment expenses. It added that problems with a third-party warehouse and logistics provider had also disrupted sales.

Despite the administration, the joint administrators say all stores will continue trading for now while options for the business are explored. The company’s online store is set to close.

Rick Harrison, managing director at Interpath and joint administrator, said the retailer had long been a fixture in town centres across the country but had struggled in the current climate.

Over the coming weeks, administrators will review whether parts of the business can be sold or restructured.

However, signage and social media posts from the St Clears branch suggest uncertainty locally, with the store promoting a closing down sale and urging shoppers to “grab a bargain while stocks last”.

The St Clears outlet is one of the last remaining branches in west Wales. Stores in Fishguard, Haverfordwest and Milford Haven closed last year. The Cardigan branch is also understood to be running a similar clearance sale.

The loss of another discount retailer would mark a further blow for smaller town centres already facing reduced footfall and rising costs.