My Blog List

Saturday, December 31, 2016

newport,South Wales - Man set fire to home he shared with mother and threatened to kill police

Steven Newman, 37, was sentenced at Cardiff Crown Court after pleading guilty to arson and other offences

A man who threatened to kill police officers as he set fire to the house he shared with his mother has been jailed.
Cardiff Crown Court heard that defendant Steven Newman told officers he had “nothing to live for” because he believed he had testicular and prostate cancer.
Police were called because of an altercation outside a shop. The 37-year-old had threatened to stab Paul Mitchell. He intervened after he saw Newman, of no fixed abode, shouting at his mother because she would not give him money.
Newman pleaded guilty to threatening a person with an offensive weapon, arson and two counts of assault.
Prosecutor Gareth James described the incident which began just after noon on June 25.

Defendant occupied home with mother

“Police were summoned by the shopkeeper and officers went to the defendant’s address,” he said.
“That’s one he occupied with his mother, it’s a mid terrace property in Lliswerry, in Newport .”
The officers knew the defendant and shouted to ask if they could help him. The court heard
Newman told them to “f*** off”.
The officers called for help. More police arrived wearing helmets and carrying shields.
Newman began barricading himself into the house.
“The defendant was not compliant with requests to come down stairs and started to erect a barricade at the top of the stairs,” Mr James said.
“He was telling officers he had nothing to live for.”

"I will kill one of you if you come up here"

He told the police he thought he had testicular and prostate cancer.
“I’m not f***ing going anywhere, I will kill one of you if you come up here,” the court heard Newman said.
“I’m going to burn the place if you come in here, with you in it.”
A blaze was started. Officers felt they needed to stop the situation and started trying to dismantle the barricade.
Steven Newman, 37, was sentencd to three years and three months imprisonment
Newman began throwing things down the stairs including a car battery, a door and the worktop.
The door and the worktop each hit officers.
The defendant only stopped after he was tasered and pinned down with a shield. The fire service were then called to deal with the flames.
Newman had committed 63 previous offences. None were arson but included robbery, GBH and violent disorder.
Ben Waters, defending, told the court his client had been diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia when he was 20. Newman’s sister died when he was young and he had had a “troubled upbringing.”

Mental health problems

“These social factors have contributed to the defendant’s mental health,” Mr Waters said.
He was unable to say whether Newman’s misuse of drugs was down to his illness but reports said he had suffered from hallucinations.
“More recently and through his adult life his mental health problems have been exacerbated by continued misuse of drugs,” Mr Waters said.
Sometimes his client would not take the medication prescribed to him.
“Since he has been in custody he has been prescribed and administered an oral psychotic medication which is having a beneficial effect upon him,” Mr Waters said.
He hoped that any prison sentence would create a routine that would result in his taking medication becoming second nature to him.
Mr Waters told the court that when Newman threatened Mr Mitchell the attack was not planned.
“He was doing some work in the house and had the screwdriver with him,” Mr Waters said.

Arson "serious aspect" of case

Sentencing, Judge Patrick Curran QC took Newman’s early guilty plea into consideration.
He said the arson was the most serious aspect of the case.
“Fire can spread rapidly and always represents a real source of danger to the lives of others,” Mr Curran said.
Newman was sentenced to three years and three months imprisonment.
http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/man-set-fire-home-shared-12385837

Denbigh,North Wales - Appeal to find couple who helped 'distressed' Denbigh attack victim

Police are appealing for a man and woman who spoke to a woman who had been assaulted in Beacon Hill to come forward

Police want to track down a couple who helped a “distressed” woman who was attacked in the street.
Officers are appealing for information to trace a man and woman who spoke to the victim after she was assaulted in the Beacon Hill area of Denbigh.
The incident happened sometime between midnight on Boxing Day and 5am on Tuesday December 27.
North Wales Police statement said: “Police are appealing for information to trace a man and woman who spoke to a distressed woman who had been assaulted in the Beacon Hill area of Denbigh sometime between midnight on Boxing Day, December 26 and 5am on Tuesday December 27.
“Anyone with information is asked to contact DS Dave Tierney on 101 quoting reference U193759.”
http://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/appeal-find-couple-denbigh-attack-12388809

Wrexham,North Wales Victim left scared in own home after burglars ransack her house

Mum of two Becca Lennard says raiders left her four-year-old twin daughters' birthday presents scattered across the house after smashing way in

A mum-of-two has told of her distress after burglars ransacked her home just days after Christmas.
Becca Lennard, 26, was devastated to arrive home in Johnstown, Wrexham , to find thieves had smashed their way through patio doors leaving shards of glass littered on the floor.
The heartless raiders had torn through her home and left her four-year-old twin daughters birthday presents scattered across the floor before stealing a laptop and other treasured items.
Becca says she is so upset and scared by the break-in she is considering moving home.
The estate agent said: “I’d been staying at my mum’s house over Christmas and came back to pick up a few things. I went into the lounge and noticed that a few things had been moved and that cupboard doors were open that I know I’d closed.
“I was really scared so I went to get my neighbours to come in with me and they noticed that my patio door was completely smashed and there was glass everywhere. It was just horrible.”
Becca says that the raiders used a large rock to smash her patio doors to gain entry to the house.
Thieves broke into Becca Lennard's house in Johnstown, Wrexham, leaving glass on the guinea pig cage
Thieves broke into Becca Lennard's house in Johnstown, Wrexham, leaving glass on the guinea pig cage 
She said: “My daughters’ birthday presents were just thrown around the room as the thieves had just rummaged through everything to get to valuables and my belongings.
“They only turned four on Christmas Eve so it’s been awful. I haven’t told them what’s happened as I don’t want to frighten them.
“There was also shattered glass left in my childrens’ guinea pig cage and one of the things that really upset me was that they were left covered in glass and next to the smashed patio doors and as temperatures were freezing overnight they were really cold.
“It’s making me think about whether I want to stay in this house now. We love our home but because I’m on my own with the kids it’s quite scary now so it is making me think about moving somewhere else.
“I just feel so violated that someone has gone through my house and all my personal things.”
North Wales Police spokesman said: “We have received a report of a burglary at an address in Johnstown and are investigating. It is believed to have happened sometime between December 28 and 29. The patio door was smashed and a laptop was stolen from the property.
“Anyone with information should call police on 101 quoting reference U194882.”
http://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/wrexham-single-mum-left-scared-12386860

Blaenau Ffestiniog,Snowdonia National Park,North Wales - Up to 20 sheep illegally butchered and dumped at Gwynedd beauty spot

The carcasses and their fleeces were found at the Dwyryd estuary, near Maentwrog

The decomposing remains of up to 20 illegally butchered sheep have been found dumped at a beauty spot
The carcasses and their fleeces were discovered at the Dwyryd estuary, near Maentwrog, Gwynedd on Wednesday.
The shocking image shows some of the remains in black bin bags and others left in the open air.
Police say the animals ears tags were also removed, making it difficult to trace the owner.
The North Wales Police rural crime team are now appealing for help to find those responsible.
Video thumbnail, Sheep savaged in dog attack
They tweeted: “Up to 20 sheep fleeces and body parts dumped at the Dwyryd Estuary, near Maentwrog. Illegal butchering and likely theft.
“We need to know whose responsible. Ear tags removed to avoid detection. Lets catch the offender together #someonemustknow.”
Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact police on 101.
The slaughter of animals - whether or not for human consumption - is governed by strict rules.
Legislative requirements such as slaughterhouse design, layout and equipment must be met by business operations, while people conducting certain slaughter operations must hold a certificate of competence for the operations they perform.
The incident comes after a sheep was found professionally slaughtered and hanged from a tree at Rhosbodrual near Caernarfon in July last year.
http://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/up-20-sheep-illegally-butchered-12386694

Wrexham,North Wales - Ambulance rampage man jailed for 20 weeks

A "high risk" man who threatened paramedics and caused £1,000 worth of damage to an ambulance in a pre-Christmas rampage was locked up for 20 weeks today.
Ian John Taylor, 28, of Crescent Close, Wrexham, ripped drain pipes from his home to threaten medics after he woke up while they were treating him.
He also hurled items around the ambulance and tried to let the handbrake off while two paramedics locking themselves in the back to escape.
Another fled to the safety of a fast response vehicle on Thursday December 22.
Prosecutor Rhian Jones told Wrexham magistrates he also threatened to “get a blade”.
They branded his actions “beyond belief” and rejected a plea from Elizabeth Kenny, defending Taylor, to give him a suspended sentence as he was trying to get his life together.

Taylor a 'high risk to the community'

Instead Taylor, who the court heard has 60 previous convictions, was immediately led away to the cells by custody officers to start his sentence.
At a special Christmas Eve Court, he admitted damaging the ambulance, using threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour with intent to cause fear of violence, and causing £300 of damage to his home, which is owned by Wrexham council.
He claimed he could not remember anything about the incident.
The Probation Service told magistrates he was “a high risk to the community, the public and individuals and continued to offend in a violent way”.

'Your actions were really beyond belief'

Magistrates chairman Rowland Humphreys said he had offended “against public servants trying to do their job.”
“Your actions during the whole episode were really beyond belief,” he added.
The court heard Taylor had a history of problems with drugs. He had also been diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and probably had a personality disorder.
He had been drinking the night before and missed a Probation Service appointment the same day.
An unknown person called the ambulance service to Taylor’s address because it was thought he had taken a heroin overdose – which the defence disputed.

Ian Taylor's actions were branded 'beyond belief' by magistrates after paramedics locked themselves in to escape

Police were called as Taylor’s rampage continued and he was arrested.
The 28 year-old was sentenced to 20 weeks in jail, with eight weeks for the ambulance damage, four weeks for the council house damage and two weeks for breaching custodial supervision, all to run concurrently.
He was also ordered to pay a £115 statutory charge plus £300 compensation to Wrexham council and £1,000 to the Welsh Ambulance Service.
http://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/wrexham-ambulance-rampage-man-jailed-12387613

Caernarfon,North Wales - Man stole live lamb....for Christmas dinner

Gareth Williams brought it back to his garden off Maes Barcer because he 'didn't fancy turkey'

A man who fancied lamb for Christmas instead of turkey snatched a live animal from a farm and took it home.
But when butcher Gareth Williams took the Dorset lamb to his garden in Caernarfon, his unhappy partner told him to return it.
He took it to an industrial estate where the animal was released and vanished, prosecutor Sheyanne Lee told a district judge at Caernarfon.
Miss Lee said: ”He had determined the lamb would somehow find its way back to Alwyn Phillips’s farm.”

'He didn't fancy turkey for Christmas'

Williams, 34, of Lon Bach, Caernarfon, who pleaded guilty to theft, had visited the farm on December 6 in his car, the court heard.
Miss Lee said: “He said he didn’t fancy turkey for Christmas this year and asked if he could buy a live lamb.”
Video thumbnail, seatbelt sheep
A price of £100 was agreed but Williams instead stole the animal and took it to his council estate home.
Defence solicitor Bethan Williams said: ”He’s very embarrassed to be here. He’s never been to court before.”
Judge Gwyn Jones said Williams made an “extremely foolish” decision.

'He's very embarrassed to be here'

He said: ”The rural community very much depends on the element of trust.”
He added: ”You took the lamb to an industrial estate in the hope it would be able to make its way back to the farm. That clearly indicates you may not fully understand farming matters.”
He must do 75 hours unpaid work, pay £100 compensation and £170 costs.
After the case, North Wales Police Rural Crime Officer PC Dewi Evans welcomed the sentence.
He said: “The theft of livestock is an attack, not just on an individual’s livelihood but also their way of life and North Wales Police will vigorously investigate and pursue this type of crime.
“We are fortunate to live and work in a low crime area but this has come about through hard work with our partners and the local community.”
http://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/caernarfon-butcher-stole-live-lambfor-12387521

North Wales,UK - New figures reveal domestic violence nightmare across North Wales

PC George Howat, the force's strategic domestic abuse officer, talks to the Daily Post about the problem

Shocking figures reveal the scale of domestic violence in North Wales, with more than 11,000 incidents reported to police last year.
Statistics released by North Wales Police show there have been 54,400 calls reporting domestic violence in less than five years.
PC George Howat, the force's strategic domestic abuse officer, has worked with domestic victims for more than ten years.
He says that on average 35 incidents take place before a victim goes to the police.
For victims wary about giving evidence, the officer says body worn cameras have become useful in investigating domestic abuse cases, as footage can be used as evidence in any future prosecutions.
During the festive period there is a spike in domestic abuse incidents - alcohol is often a factor but PC Howat says there are a number of other aggravating factors including mental health issues and drug abuse.
“During the Euros in the summer we were busy as we are during any sporting event, but Christmas time is the busiest,” said the officer.
“It’s an emotional time Christmas, especially when there are children in the equation.
“Parents spend Christmas together thinking it’s in the best interests of the children, but it doesn’t always end very happily.”
Before taking on his more strategic role, PC Howat used to check his phone every morning to see if there’d been any overnight domestic homicides.
“I got a call from my partner once at 6.30am, she’s also a police officer and she told me there had been a domestic homicide,” he said.
“When she told me a row of women’s faces came to my mind, whilst I waited for a name.
“It was a woman who we’d been helping, and the last time I’d spoken to her we had discussed the situation could turn into a murder.
“Obviously when something like that happens you start questioning as to whether we could have done anything more.”
Women who are in a high risk situation are advised by the police and their partners like Women’s Aid, to get an overnight bag ready, filled with any important documents they may need and perhaps with a spare phone at close hand.
PC Howat said: “We try and empower the victim if they are in a domestic violence situation.
“Many of these people are frightened to death, and suffering from low self-esteem.
“There are major complexities involved.
“One woman I remember managed to leave with her son to a refuge, but it only lasted less than 24 hours because her son was autistic and he couldn’t cope being out of his routine.
“Sometimes middle class women feel very trapped, if they have no money of their own and they have to rely on their partners for money.
“Domestic violence happens to people all walks of life, one in four women and one in six men will experience it at some point in their lives.
“And it can vary from sexual, physical, emotional, financial and psychological abuse, each case if different.”
PC Howat added: “I do this job even though it’s hard, as it’s incredibly rewarding.
“I joined the police to protect the vulnerable and this is what this job it all about.”
“I think about the people we’ve helped who have managed to take back control of their lives.

“Women should feel safe in their own homes.”
http://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/new-figures-reveal-domestic-violence-12386263