Crime

Crown Court backlog at a record high, Victims’ Commissioner warns

Published

2 years ago

March 29, 2024

THE VICTIMS’ Commissioner for England and Wales, Baroness Newlove, has voiced profound concern over the escalating backlog of cases in the Crown Court, which has surged to a record 67,573 outstanding cases. This latest figure not only signifies a 1% increase from the previous quarter but also marks a staggering 65% rise from pre-pandemic levels and a near double increase since June 2019.

Baroness Newlove, reflecting on the dire statistics, emphasized the intolerable delays victims are facing, often stretching to years, before their cases are heard in court. With 27% of all outstanding cases now pending for over a year, the situation has reached a critical point, resulting in unprecedented strain on victims and the frontline services supporting them.

The duration from the receipt to the completion of cases at the Crown Court remains significantly above pre-pandemic figures, showcasing an 82% increase from the end of March 2020 and an 84% rise from the end of June 2019. Specifically troubling is the average completion time for rape cases, which now stands at 393 days, surpassing all previous records and highlighting a 52% increase from before the pandemic.

The Victims’ Commissioner pointed out the growing burden on victim services and the potential for increasing numbers of victims to withdraw from the process due to prolonged wait times. The statistics reveal a 14% victim withdrawal rate post-charge in the latest quarter, coupled with 26% of cases being adjourned on the day of trial, further exacerbating the challenges faced by those seeking justice.

Baroness Newlove criticized the apparent systemic issues within the judicial process, noting that despite a 4% decrease in new case volumes, the backlog continues to rise, with completed cases also experiencing a decline. This situation underscores the critical need for systemic reforms to address the inefficiencies plaguing the court system, ensuring that victims do not continue to suffer from prolonged delays in obtaining justice.

As the Crown Court backlog hits another record high, the call for urgent action to alleviate the pressure on victims and the judicial system has never been more pressing, with justice delayed increasingly equating to justice denied.

Crime

Milford Haven man admits assault and harassment charges

Published

4 days ago

May 21, 2026

Court Reporter

A MILFORD HAVEN has admitted assaulting a family member and harassing another relative following incidents in the town last year.

Wayne Whatling, 39, of Howarth Close, Milford Haven, appeared before Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court on Thursday (May 21).

Whatling changed his pleas to guilty to one charge of assault by beating and one charge of harassment without violence.

The assault charge relates to an incident in Milford Haven on September 13, 2025, when Whatling assaulted Ben Whatling by beating him.

He also admitted pursuing a course of conduct amounting to harassment against Carol Whatling between September 1 and September 13, 2025.

The court heard the harassment allegation involved repeatedly asking Carol Whatling for money, with the complainant said to have feared repercussions if she did not provide it.

Magistrates adjourned the case for the preparation of a pre-sentence report.

Whatling was remanded on conditional bail and ordered not to contact Carol or Ben Whatling directly or indirectly.

He is due to be sentenced at Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday (June 9).

Crime

Milford Haven man admits affray after alleged pub incident

Published

4 days ago

May 21, 2026

Court Reporter

A MILFORD HAVEN man has admitted affray following an incident at a town centre pub.

Stephen Collier, 38, of Vaynor Road, Milford Haven, appeared before Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court on Thursday (May 21).

Collier has pleaded guilty to affray, relating to an incident at Nos Da, Victoria Road, Milford Haven, on December 3, 2025.

The charge states that he used unlawful violence towards John Dean Hilton and that his conduct was such as would cause a person of reasonable firmness present at the scene to fear for their personal safety.

Collier also faces a separate charge of burglary dwelling with intent to inflict grievous bodily harm. It is alleged that, on the same date, he entered a flat at Nos Da as a trespasser and inflicted grievous bodily harm on Mr Hilton. He denies that charge.

The court also dealt with a breach of bail allegation after Collier was arrested on May 20 for allegedly breaching a curfew condition. He admitted the breach.

Magistrates re-admitted him to conditional bail.

His bail conditions include a daily electronically monitored curfew between 9:00pm and 6:00am, residence at his Vaynor Road address, and exclusions from Mount Estate, Milford Haven town centre, and Nos Da.

He must also not contact prosecution witnesses, including Molly Martin, Jack Martin, Lily Rose Martin and John Hilton.

Collier is due to appear at Swansea Crown Court on Friday, June 5, for sentence.

A spokesperson for Nos Da said the incident was connected with rooms upstairs at the Victoria Road premises, and did not take place in the bar itself, in the licensed area.