Crime

Jailed for assaulting police officers and racially aggravated harassment

Published

2 years ago

March 21, 2024

IN a disturbing incident at Swansea railway station, Jordan Mruk, a 25-year-old man from Martletwy, near Narberth, has been sentenced to 12 months in prison by Swansea Crown Court. It’s for a series of offences including assaulting emergency workers and racially aggravated harassment.

The conviction comes after police were dispatched to the railway station on May 28, following reports of an altercation involving two men. Although the individuals initially departed upon police intervention, they soon returned, prompting further police action.

It was during this subsequent engagement that Mruk displayed aggressive behaviour and, upon an attempt to arrest him, assaulted a police officer by punching them in the chest. Mruk was subsequently subdued using PAVA spray but continued his assaultive behaviour by spitting at an officer while being escorted to a police vehicle.

The situation escalated further while Mruk was in custody, where he made multiple racial slurs, urinated on his cell door, and shockingly, smeared faeces on the intercom and over himself. Despite claiming his actions were in self-defence and denying spitting at an officer during his interview, Mruk’s history of 16 previous convictions, including multiple assaults on emergency workers, weighed heavily against him.

In addition to the assault charges, Mruk admitted to criminal damage and racially aggravated harassment, all while under a suspended sentence order from a previous conviction for threatening to damage property. This previous sentence had been suspended for two years just last February.

Caitlin Brazel, speaking in mitigation, highlighted Mruk’s embarrassment and regret over his actions, noting his stable accommodation and employment as positive steps towards rehabilitation. Mruk, who had previously turned to alcohol and drugs as coping mechanisms, has since ceased these habits and is keen on making amends for his behaviour.

The court’s decision includes a three-month jail term for the recent offences, with an additional nine months for breaching the suspended sentence.

Mruk’s accomplice in the initial altercation, 22-year-old Alfie Cooper-Tenain of Erw Lon, Penycwm, has also been found guilty of assaulting an emergency worker and faced penalties in Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court.

Crime

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

Published

14 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.

Crime

Illegal dog breeders ordered to pay over £129,000 after council probe

Published

15 hours ago

March 20, 2026

Tom Sinclair

FOUR people from Mynyddygarreg, Kidwelly, have been ordered to pay more than £129,000 following a successful prosecution for illegal dog breeding.

At Swansea Crown Court on Tuesday (Mar 10), before His Honour Judge Thomas KC, Stacey May June Edwards, Peter John Edwards, Sian Eleri Thomas and David Malcolm James Thomas, all of Sea Breeze, Mynyddygarreg, pleaded guilty to offences under the Breeding of Dogs (Wales) Regulations 2014.

The court imposed confiscation orders totalling £129,873.41 under the Proceeds of Crime Act across the four defendants. They were also ordered to pay £8,000 in costs, while each defendant received a £2,000 fine.

The investigation began in April 2021 after Carmarthenshire County Council’s Animal Health team received an enquiry from Peter Edwards about obtaining a dog breeding licence. Although licensing guidance was provided and a partial application was submitted in February 2022, this was later withdrawn.

In March 2024, the council received a complaint that puppies were being advertised for sale without the required licence. Officers subsequently contacted online advertising platforms and issued data requests to assess the scale of activity.

Analysis of records from Pets4Homes, Freeads and Gumtree revealed multiple litters being advertised by members of the same household.

Correspondence under the Police and Criminal Evidence Act confirmed that up to 25 dogs were kept at the property, including between 16 and 19 breeding females.

While some defendants claimed joint ownership of the dogs, others attempted to minimise their involvement.

The Herald understands that numerous puppy advertisements were posted between July 2020 and April 2025, demonstrating a sustained pattern of unlicensed breeding.

Carmarthenshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Climate Change, Decarbonisation and Sustainability, Cllr Aled Vaughan Owen, said: “This case demonstrates the council’s firm stance against unlicensed and illegal dog breeding.

“These regulations are in place to protect animal welfare and ensure that breeding activities are subject to proper oversight. The scale of activity uncovered at this property was entirely unacceptable, and we welcome the court’s decision to issue significant confiscation orders under POCA.”

He added: “We urge anyone with concerns about illegal dog breeding to report it. Our Animal Health officers will continue to investigate thoroughly and take action against those who disregard the law.”

Residents are reminded that anyone breeding and selling dogs must comply with licensing regulations designed to protect both animal welfare and consumers.

Crime

Publican jailed for six years for supplying cocaine and cannabis

Published

16 hours ago

March 20, 2026

Rieve Nesbitt-Marr

Milford Haven man sentenced at Swansea Crown Court following drug dealing operation

A MILFORD HAVEN publican has been jailed for six years after admitting supplying cocaine and cannabis.

The defendant, who previously appeared before magistrates and was remanded in custody, was sentenced at Swansea Crown Court following an investigation into drug dealing activity linked to the town.

The court heard that he had been involved in the supply of Class A and Class B drugs, with evidence including material recovered by police and analysis of mobile phone data. Investigators said the activity had been ongoing since at least 2024.

Cocaine, a Class A drug, carries the most serious penalties under UK law, and the involvement of both cocaine and cannabis was reflected in the length of the sentence imposed.

During proceedings, the court was told that the case went beyond isolated incidents, with the defendant playing a significant role in the supply chain. The judge said the offending was serious and sustained, warranting an immediate custodial sentence.

He was sentenced to six years in prison.

The case had previously been heard at Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court, where the defendant was remanded due to the seriousness of the allegations before being sent to the Crown Court for sentencing.