Crime

Stalker filmed standing on victim’s doorstep in early hours

Published

2 years ago

April 24, 2024

A HAKIN man has been sentenced for stalking his ex-partner to the point where she became fearful for her personal safety.

“I don’t know what he’s capable of,” the victim said in a personal statement read out to Haverfordwest magistrates this week.

“Scott Horton is unpredictable and won’t take no for an answer. I don’t want him at my address, but I’m scared he’ll turn up.”

The court was told that the relationship between the couple began to deteriorate in December 2023. The stalking commenced the following March.

“On March 8 the victim returned to her home at approximately 11pm and 40 minutes later she heard a car pulling up outside,” said Crown Prosecutor Abigail Jackson.

“She saw the defendant’s vehicle, and then saw him standing outside her living room window, and heard him say ‘I can’t believe you’ve done this to me’.”

Six days later the victim was contacted by a neighbour who informed her that CCTV footage showed the defendant standing outside her property in the early hours of the morning and again at 7am.

“He attended on three further occasions that day, which was March 14, and the victim notified the police about what had happened,” said Abigail Jackson.

“On numerous occasions she received unwanted contact from him concerning the breakdown of their relationship, including doorbell footage which showed him standing outside her house at 5am in the morning, creeping past the front door and ducking past her camera.”

Ms Jackson said Horton’s behaviour has left her fearful for her safety.

“He knows my normal routine and I’m scared,” she continued in her personal statement.

“I’ve had to change the locks on my doors and I’ve had to install a CCTV camera. I’m afraid to walk anywhere in case he approaches me and I’m frightened to go to work in case he sees me there.”

Horton, 42, of Harbour Way, Hakin, pleaded guilty to a charge of stalking involving serious alarm or distress.

He was sentenced to a 12 month community order during which he must carry out 20 rehabilitation activity requirement days.

He must also pay £250 compensation to the victim, £85 costs and a £114 surcharge. He will be subject to a daily electronic monitoring curfew between 10pm and 7am for three months.

Crime

Hakin man’s appeal delayed again as Crown Court seeks guidance on insurance law

Published

4 minutes ago

February 3, 2026

Rieve Nesbitt-Marr

A HAKIN man’s long-running legal battle over road traffic convictions has been delayed again after a judge granted the Crown Prosecution Service more time to review the latest legal guidance on motor insurance law.

Seventy-six-year-old Niall Taylor, of Haven Drive, appeared at Swansea Crown Court on Tuesday (Jan 13) for a mention hearing in his appeal against conviction.

Taylor is challenging findings that he drove without a valid licence and without insurance.

The case has already followed an unusual procedural route. Taylor initially pleaded not guilty before changing his plea part-way through the original magistrates’ court trial. That later raised questions over whether the plea had been “equivocal”, prompting the court to reopen proceedings under Section 142 of the Magistrates’ Courts Act 1980.

A full rehearing was ordered, during which Taylor again entered not guilty pleas. Following a trial of the facts, magistrates found him guilty and sentenced him on Wednesday (Dec 3).

He has since lodged an appeal.

CPS given 28 days

During Tuesday’s hearing, His Honour Judge Walters granted counsel for the Crown Prosecution Service 28 days to review Wilkinson’s Road Traffic Offences (32nd Edition), the leading legal reference text used by courts and practitioners in road traffic cases.

The judge indicated that the legal position surrounding insurance cover may still require closer examination.

Addressing the court, Judge Walters said: “The court still might want to reconsider the sentence even if the insurance company is right. It does look as if different insurance companies do things in different ways.”

He added: “It is not in fact void, but it is voidable.”

Ongoing dispute

Taylor maintains that although there were administrative issues with his driving licence, a valid insurance policy was in force at the time and that, under retained European motor insurance law, third-party cover cannot simply be voided.

He argues that the matter amounts to a technical breach rather than deliberate offending.

Next hearing

The appeal is now scheduled to return to Swansea Crown Court on March 27, when further legal argument is expected.

Crime

Pembroke Dock woman admits breaching community order

Published

3 hours 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.