News

CPS given time to reconsider ‘unfair and oppressive’ court proceedings

Published

9 years ago

September 8, 2016

Thomas Sinclair (right) and Matthew Paul (left) at Llanelli Magistrates’ Court (pic. Alan Evans)

THE EDITOR of The Pembrokeshire Herald has been in court today (Sep 8) charged with naming a youth defendant in court proceedings.

Thomas Sinclair, 37, of Hamilton Terrace, Milford Haven, appeared at Llanelli Magistrates’ Court this morning to confirm his name, address and date of birth.

His barrister, Matthew Paul, successfully argued that Sinclair should not have to make a plea at the hearing, because he raised the point that the Milford Haven Port Authority, the organisation who prosecuted the youth, had also breached the same act of Parliament by releasing a press release which allows the identity of that defendant to be easily discovered.

Matthew Paul told the court that The Port of Milford Haven were effectively acting as the Crown when they secured a conviction against a young fisherman who crashed his boat in 2015.

That prosecuting authority, he said, put a press release on their website which clearly stated the defendant’s place of work.

This is a breach of the same Act of Parliament, albeit a different section, which Mr Sinclair is charged with.

Mr Sinclair accepts that he has no defence to the charge, but in these circumstances, it would be both “unfair and oppressive” to prosecute him.

District Judge, Simon Morgan, told Sinclair: “As a journalist you should know proceedings in the youth court are subject of the 1933 Act.

“Even if this youth had appeared in the adult court, an order prohibiting publication of his identity would have been issued automatically, and as a matter of course due to his age.

“Any journalist not present at the hearing could have contacted the court to check what court orders were in place in relation to the youth who had appeared.”

District Judge Morgan accepted that the CPS should be given time to consider whether the prosecution against Sinclair was in the public interest, in light of the fact they had chosen not to prosecute the Port of Milford Haven.

Barrister Matthew Paul told the court that this is a case where the youth in question was only a few months away from his 18th birthday, had already gained notoriety in both local and national press, and as the captain of a fishing vessel he was in a unique position of responsibility, in charge of both the vessel and lives of the crew.

During the hearing the solicitor representing another client passed his smartphone to Mr Paul. Mr Paul held up the phone and pointed out to the judge that the identity of the youth concerned was there for all to see on the Daily Mail website, at that moment in time, as well as in other national newspapers.

Simply Googling the name of the vessel which, was until recently, on the Port Authority website would have revealed the name of the defendant.

Mr Paul requested 14 days adjournment, but when questioned by the judge the CPS prosecutor requested more time. The judge granted adjournment for 28 days and the case will continue on October 10.

Speaking after the case, Tom Sinclair said: “I do not want to see The Port of Milford Haven prosecuted, what I want is for the CPS to come to their senses and drop this case.”

Crime

Man charged with strangulation and assault offences after October incident

Published

10 minutes ago

December 14, 2025

Court Reporter

A MAN recorded in court as having no fixed abode has appeared before magistrates charged with intentional strangulation and two further assault offences.

Michael Sudbury, 50, whose address was not read out in court, but in Herald records is Glan Hafan, Llangwm, appeared before the bench facing multiple charges.

The charges relate to an incident on 22 October 2025 and include:

Intentional strangulation, contrary to section 75A of the Serious Crime Act 2015
Common assault
Assault by beating

No further details of the alleged incident were opened in court, and no plea was entered at this stage.

Sudbury was remanded on conditional bail, with the case listed to return to magistrates later this month.

Crime

Haverfordwest man sent to Crown Court on multiple serious charges

Published

33 minutes ago

December 14, 2025

Court Reporter

Defendant remanded in custody

A HAVERFORDWEST man has been sent to Swansea Crown Court to stand trial on a series of A 49-year-old Haverfordwest resident has been committed to Swansea Crown Court to face trial on multiple serious charges deemed too grave for magistrates to handle.

David Guy, of Market Street, Haverfordwest, appeared before Haverfordwest magistrates facing a series of allegations stemming from a single case. The charges, which were not detailed in open court, include:

Assault occasioning actual bodily harm (ABH)
A second count of assault
Criminal damage
An additional allegation of interpersonal violence
A public order offence

Magistrates declined jurisdiction, determining that the matters exceeded their sentencing powers, and sent the case in its entirety to Swansea Crown Court.

Guy was remanded in custody pending his next appearance. The court register notes: “Sent to Crown Court for trial in custody – next hearing at Swansea Crown Court.”

A date for the initial Crown Court hearing will be set administratively. Guy will remain in custody until then.

The Pembrokeshire Herald will provide further updates as the case progresses in the Crown Court.

Crime

Castlemartin man back before magistrates over multiple alleged assaults

Published

39 minutes ago

December 14, 2025

Court Reporter

Defendant remanded on conditional bail ahead of further hearing

A CASTLEMARTIN man has appeared repeatedly before magistrates this month over a string A 40-year-old man from Castlemartin has made repeated appearances before magistrates this month in connection with a series of serious alleged offences, including assault occasioning actual bodily harm (ABH), intentional non-fatal strangulation, common assault, and criminal damage.

Anthony Alcock, of Pwll Street, Castlemartin, is facing six linked charges stemming from incidents said to have occurred earlier this year. These appear to relate to the same complainant in what is understood to be a single ongoing domestic abuse prosecution.

During recent administrative hearings at Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court, Alcock did not enter pleas while matters of bail and case management were addressed.

Charges Include:

Assault occasioning actual bodily harm (ABH)
Intentional non-fatal strangulation
Common assault on a woman
Criminal damage in a domestic context
Additional assault allegations involving the same complainant
Breach of bail conditions

Alcock was initially granted conditional bail but was subsequently brought before the court on two occasions for alleged breaches. On those instances, magistrates remanded him in custody ahead of further hearings. He was later re-granted conditional bail, subject to strict conditions such as no contact with the complainant and exclusion from specified locations.

Magistrates have now declined jurisdiction, ruling that the case—particularly the more serious charges involving non-fatal strangulation—is too grave for summary trial. It has been committed to Swansea Crown Court for plea, trial, or sentencing.

No detailed evidence has been presented in open court at this preliminary stage. Alcock remains on conditional bail pending his next appearance at the Crown Court.