Crime

Father sentenced for ‘wilful refusal’ of £4,500 child maintenance payments

Published

2 years ago

March 7, 2024

A ST CLEARS father has appeared before magistrates after ‘wilfully refusing’ to pay over £4,500 in child maintenance payments.

The 29-year-old, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was ordered to pay a total of £5,957.32 by a child maintenance order imposed by Cardiff Magistrates court, with payment scheduled to be completed by February 20, 2021.

But this week Haverfordwest magistrates heard that payments amounting to just £1,379.76 were made by the defendant.

“£4,577.56 is still outstanding and the defendant has demonstrated a willful neglect in his refusal in paying,” commented a spokesperson for the Child Support Agency.

“He was told that the matter would go to court if his repayments weren’t addressed, but he failed to respond to the caution, and no information for this was provided.”

The Child Support Agency went on to state that analysis of the defendant’s personal accounts confirmed that between May and November 2022, a total of £11,917.15 was held in one account while an additional £8,178.33 was in another.

“A final warning was sent to him about our intention to go to court, but again he did not respond,” added the CSA spokesperson.

As a result of his non-payment, the defendant was this week sentenced to six weeks in prison. The custodial sentence was postponed on condition he pays £20 a week towards the child maintenance order repayments.

“There has been wilful refusal and culpable neglect, with the result that only committal to prison is appropriate,” commented the presiding magistrates, Mary Smith.

But Ms Smith postponed his custodial sentence on condition that he makes weekly payments of £20 together with £41 costs to the CSA.

Crime

Begelly man remanded over alleged May Day assault

Published

7 hours ago

June 9, 2026

Sarah-Jane Absalom

A PEMBROKESHIRE man has been remanded in custody following an alleged May Day assault against a woman in Begelly.

Tomas Baker, 34, of Ty Dee, New Road, Begelly, is accused of assaulting the woman, causing actual bodily harm, at an undisclosed location in Begelly on May 1.

Baker appeared before Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court this week by video link from Swansea Prison.

He pleaded not guilty to the charge.

His trial will take place at Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court on June 22.

Crime

Waterston man denies child rape and sexual assault charges

Published

7 hours ago

June 9, 2026

Tom Sinclair

A WATERSTON man has appeared before magistrates charged with 13 sexual offences against children, including three allegations of raping a girl under the age of 13.

Chaisee Price, 25, of Biggins Hill, Waterston, Milford Haven, appeared before Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court this week.

He faces three charges of raping a girl under 13, eight charges of sexually assaulting girls aged between five and eight, and two charges of intentionally inciting girls under 13 to engage in sexual activity.

The offences are alleged to have taken place between 2014 and 2019.

Price denied all charges.

Because of the seriousness of the allegations, magistrates declined jurisdiction and the case will now proceed to Swansea Crown Court on July 10.

Price was released on conditional bail.

The conditions include a daily electronically monitored curfew between 6:00pm and 6:00am, no contact with the prosecution witness, no unsupervised contact with children under 18, and a requirement to surrender his passport to police.

Crime

Haverfordwest pair accused of £80,000 rogue trading frauds

Published

7 hours ago

June 9, 2026

Sarah-Jane Absalom

TWO men from a Haverfordwest traveller family have been described in court as “rogue traders” following a series of alleged frauds totalling almost £80,000.

Billy Alfred Gary Lovell, 38, and Timothy Dean Lovell, 36, both of Under the Hills, Merlins Bridge, appeared before Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court this week.

They are accused of offences linked to ground clearance and gardening work in Mathry, Sardis and two addresses in Carmarthenshire.

Prosecuting on behalf of Pembrokeshire County Council’s Trading Standards Department, barrister Harry Dickens told the court: “These men have to be described as rogue traders.”

Billy Lovell faces 16 charges, including fraud by false representation, fraud by failing to disclose information, and unfair commercial practices.

The most serious allegation relates to Diana and Martin Hearnshaw, of Sardis. It is alleged that between January 30, 2022, and January 16, 2025, Billy Lovell dishonestly represented that he would complete clearance and gardening works worth £71,631, but failed to carry out work to that value.

He is also accused of offences involving Richard Gardner, of Penygroes, Carmarthenshire, Irene Williams, of Mathry, and Daniel Watts, of Ty Croes, Carmarthenshire.

Timothy Lovell faces ten charges arising from alleged incidents involving Richard Gardner and Irene Williams.

The allegations include claims that the defendants failed to provide accurate invoices, receipts, written contractual terms, cancellation rights and refund information. Some charges also allege that aggressive commercial practices were used, including harassment, coercion or undue influence.

No pleas were recorded. Because of the seriousness of the allegations, District Judge Mark Layton declined jurisdiction.

The case will now proceed to Swansea Crown Court on June 12.

Both defendants were granted conditional bail. They must not contact prosecution witnesses directly or indirectly, must live and sleep each night at their respective addresses in Under the Hills, Merlins Bridge, and must not undertake any gardening or landscaping work.