Crime

Sex offender jailed for sending explicit image to ‘teenage boy’

Published

2 years ago

July 24, 2024

A PEMBROKESHIRE man who sent an indecent photograph to someone he believed was a 14-year-old boy has been sentenced to five years in prison at Swansea Crown Court.

Andrew Gold, 41, of no fixed abode, was found guilty of attempted sexual communications with a child and attempting to incite a child to engage in sexual activity. The court heard that Gold, formerly of Tenby, had contacted a decoy account posing as a teenage boy named Ryan between June and September last year.

Judge Catherine Richards, presiding over the case, described Gold as “devious and manipulative” in her sentencing remarks. She outlined how Gold had initially made contact via a dating app before moving the conversation to Snapchat, where he sent an explicit image and encouraged the ‘boy’ to masturbate.

“Your conversation soon turned sexual,” Judge Richards said, summarising the evidence presented at trial. “Your actions were determined and calculated.”

The court was told that Gold had chosen Snapchat specifically for its disappearing messages feature, and had subsequently deleted the app in an attempt to conceal his actions.

Prosecutor Georgia Donohue informed the court of Gold’s relevant previous convictions. In mitigation, defence barrister Dyfed Thomas acknowledged the limited grounds for leniency, stating, “This was an online offence. I accept there was some discussion about meeting. It didn’t really develop.”

Judge Richards imposed a five-year sentence, comprising three years in custody and two years on extended licence. She also ordered Gold to register as a sex offender for life and made him subject to an indefinite sexual harm prevention order.

“I’m sure there is a serious risk to young boys,” Judge Richards concluded as she passed sentence.

Crime

Man used vulnerable victim’s bank card at Milford Haven Tesco

Published

22 hours ago

May 16, 2026

Court Reporter

A 41-YEAR-OLD man has been given a suspended prison sentence after using a vulnerable man’s bank card at Tesco Extra in Milford Haven.

Mark Anthony Hambrook, of Keeston, admitted fraud by false representation when he appeared before magistrates.

The court heard that Hambrook dishonestly used the card on April 29, 2025, spending £220.

Magistrates said the offence crossed the custody threshold because it involved a breach of trust, a vulnerable victim, and was committed while Hambrook was on post-sentence supervision.

He was sentenced to 16 weeks in prison, suspended for 12 months.

Hambrook was also ordered to pay £220 compensation, together with a £154 surcharge and £85 costs.

Crime

Cilgerran man denies breaching court ban on keeping animals

Published

23 hours ago

May 16, 2026

Court Reporter

39-year-old accused of keeping a dog despite court-imposed disqualification order dating back to 2019

A CILGERRAN man has denied breaching a court-imposed ban on keeping animals.

Max Huntley, 39, of Castell Corwg, Cilgerran, appeared before Aberystwyth Magistrates’ Court on Thursday (May 14) for a further case management hearing.

He is accused of breaching a disqualification order imposed under the Animal Welfare Act 2006.

The court register states that Huntley was disqualified following conviction and sentence at Swansea Crown Court on March 14, 2019, for an offence under section 4 of the Animal Welfare Act.

The allegation now before the court is that, on or about August 10, 2025, at Castell Corwg, Cilgerran, he breached that disqualification by having custody of a dog.

Huntley has pleaded not guilty to the charge.

The case was adjourned to allow the prosecution to confirm details relating to the defendant and how a solicitor could contact him.

He was remanded on unconditional bail and must attend the next hearing at Aberystwyth Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday, May 27, at 10:00am.

The hearing is listed for further case management and is expected to last around 20 minutes.