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Friday, March 31, 2017

Cardiff,South Wales - Defence begins in psychiatrist Dr Brian Harris sex trial


Dr Brian Harris at Merthyr Crown Court
Image captionDr Brian Harris had worked at Trealaw Clinic in Pentre, Rhondda Cynon Taff
The defence case has begun in the trial of a psychiatrist accused of rape and assaulting patients.
Dr Brian Harris, 77, denies 13 counts of rape, sexual assault and indecent assault against five men between 1991 and 2011.
The jury at Merthyr Crown Court was told on Friday he will not give evidence in his own defence.
Dr Harris had worked for the NHS and in private practice in Cardiff for 40 years.
His legal team told the court he had been assessed by a clinical psychologist last July and August who concluded Dr Harris was likely to have experienced significant cognitive decline, more than would be expected as part of normal ageing.
There was strong evidence, the court was told, of a significant decline in his intellectual ability and his ability to recall.
The trial began three weeks ago.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-south-east-wales-39454623

Gwent,South Wales - Murder arrest after body found at Cambria Close, Caerleon


Cambrian CloseImage copyrightGOOGLE MAPS
A 38-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of murder after a pensioner's body was found in Newport.
Gwent Police was called to an address at Cambria Close, Caerleon, at about 04:25 BST on Thursday, after a disturbance.
A 66-year-old man was found dead at the scene, police said.
The man from Newport who was arrested on suspicion of murder has now been released on bail, pending further enquiries.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-south-east-wales-39455471

Holywell,North Wales - Flintshire thug locked up for attacking disabled man and bottling his own friend

Joshua Roberts, 18, attacked his first victim who had cerebral palsy and had suffered a stroke before later assault on friend

A teenager was locked up for more than 16 months today after he punched and kicked a disabled man and in a separate attack bottled his own friend.
Joshua Roberts, 18, attacked his first victim who had cerebral palsy and had suffered a stroke.
Violence erupted at Abbey Court in Greenfield, in October 14 last year, Mold Crown Court , heard.
The assault happened when the victim tried to help his mum who was being confronted by a group of youths near their home.
Roberts, who was aged 17 at the time, punched the vulnerable man in the face and kicked him in the right eye when he was on the floor causing it bleed.
He then threatened to follow the man to his workplace and “carry it on”.
Afterwards Roberts, of Meadow Bank, Holywell, then rang the police to say what he had done, but gave no reason for doing it.
While out on bail for that offence Roberts he went onto attack his own friend with a bottle on February 13 this year.
Clare Jones, prosecuting, said on that occasion victim Dylan Davies, 19, Roberts’ friend, was walking home along the Holywell High Street after finishing a shift at the Flint McDonald’s.
Mr Davies heard the clink of two bottles before Roberts rushed up to him and smashed a bottle over his head, while shouting “I’m mad Dylan, I’m mad.”
It left Mr Davies with a large cut and swollen head.
Police were called and found Roberts in the Meadow Bank area.
The court heard Roberts then threatened to stab the officers and he struggled when they tried to arrest him, kicking out at them.
Mr Davies said in a personal victim statement the attack “had shocked me to the core” and although he did not know Roberts well, thought of him as a friend.
Roberts admitted two counts of causing actual bodily harm and resisting arrest.
Myles Wilson, defending, said Roberts had lost a brother, in 2014, and the loss had deeply affected him, but it was not an excuse.
Judge Tracey Lloyd Clarke sentenced Roberts to a total of 16 months, saying he had “humiliated” his first victim who was “very obviously disabled” and had already been before the court five times.

“It’s clear you have not yet learnt how to deal with your grief without hurting yourself or others,” the judge said.

Ruthin,North Wales - A brazen flasher comes over all shy after he's found guilty of exposing himself to old lady

Leon Pleavin fled court with his head down after being found guilty of what judge called a 'filthy and immature' act

A “filthy” flasher came over all shy as he scrambled from court after being convicted of brazenly exposing himself to an old lady.
Leon Pleavin pulled his coat up high over his mouth and his hood down low over his head as he made his way from court after being warned he faces jail for indecent exposure.
The 28-year-old - described as “cunning and filthy” by the judge - targeted his elderly victim in the Vale of Clwyd. The woman, who can’t be named for legal reasons, was out walking having just visited her seriously ill husband in hospital when Pleavin pulled over asking politely for directions to Llanrhaeadr
The lady thought he seemed a “pleasant man” as he drove away. But he turned his car around, drove back and called out to her “can you give me a hand with this?” as he exposed his penis to her.
As he drove off, his victim memorised the number plate and phoned the police later that night.
During the trial Pleavin’s partner of four years, Francesca Norcross, told the court the delivery driver as “respectful” and “trustworthy” and said that she didn’t think he was capable of this sort of act.
She said: “I have never had any reason to mistrust Leon, he is an honest and hardworking man.”
After the verdict was returned, Judge Huw Reese told Pleavin he had left the woman in a “very distressed” state at the time of the incident last August.
He said: “You intended to expose your genitals intending to cause alarm and distress.
“The victim has now had to give evidence twice because of your filthy and immature habits.
“You specifically targeted a vulnerable victim who had other issues weighing heavily on her mind.
“I was not impressed with your evidence and I found you to be quite cunning.
“It is at the forefront of my mind to impose a prison sentence and you should be prepared for that.
“Your actions are potentially dangerous for innocent people and your filthy habit could cause great distress and for this reason I am likely to send you to prison.”
Pleavin, of Flat 7, Felindre, Ruthin , will be sentenced on April 21 and remains on bail until then.
http://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/flasher-leon-pleavin-video-ruthin-12826828

Kinmel Bay,North Wales - Man banned from keeping animals for 10 years after dog found dead under trampoline

Nathan Lee Fisher admitted causing unnecessary suffering to the Akita and its mother which was a 'bag of bones'

A man has been banned from keeping animals for 10 years after a dog was found dead under a trampoline.
The mother of the dead dog was also described as a “bag of bones” when an RSPCA inspector visited the owner’s home in Kinmel Bay.
Nathan Lee Fisher of Rose View Crescent admitted causing unnecessary suffering to the two dogs which are both Akitas and named Layla and Kuma, at Llandudno Magistrates Court.
RSPCA Cymru got involved after North Wales Police attended the 24-year-old’s address where they found a dead dog in the back garden underneath a trampoline.
The Akita dog found dead under a trampoline in Kinmel Bay
The Akita dog found dead under a trampoline in Kinmel Bay 
Its mother was also found at the house and was described as “so skinny that bones were clearly visible through her coat”.
The RSPCA said the dogs suffered unnecessarily due to a failure to adequately explore and address their weight loss.
As a result of the way the two dogs were treated, Fisher will not be allowed to keep any animal for a decade.
Magistrates also imposed 12 week prison sentences for the two charges, to run concurrently, suspended for 18-months.
He was given a 12 month community order, a nine month alcohol treatment order and told to undertake 180 hours of community work.
He was fined £750, and ordered to pay a £115 victim surcharge.
Nathan Lee Fisher, 24 from Kinmel Bay was banned from keeping animals for 10 years after two Akita dogs, Layla and Kuma were found neglected. One was discovered dead under a trampoline, the other was said to be a "bag of bones."
Nathan Lee Fisher, 24 from Kinmel Bay was banned from keeping animals for 10 years after two Akita dogs, Layla and Kuma were found neglected. One was discovered dead under a trampoline, the other was said to be a "bag of bones." 
Another individual living at the property was given a caution.
RSPCA inspector Phil Lewis said: “These poor Akita dogs were subject to outright neglect and ill-treatment, which cost one of the dogs their life.
“Fortunately, the other has been happily re-homed from an RSPCA animal centre.
“When she was found at the Kinmel Bay property, she looked an absolute bag of bones but thankfully her suffering is over.”
He added: “People have very clear and important legal responsibilities towards their dogs, and there was an outright failure in this case to deal with shocking levels of weight loss, and to provide the dogs with food and necessary care.”
http://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/kinmel-bay-man-banned-keeping-12827287

Caernarfon,North Wales - Drug dealing Caernarfon wedding shop owner ordered to pay back thousands

Wedding shop owner jailed for selling ecstasy and cannabis ordered to pay back £15,000

A wedding shop owner who was jailed last year for selling ecstasy and cannabis has been ordered to pay back £15,000.
Melanie Jayne Chirgwin , of Rhosgadfan, Caernarfon was sentenced to four years in prison last September for her peddling drugs.
She has now been ordered to pay the money under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002.
Today at Caernarfon Crown Court the Honourable Judge Huw Rees ordered Chirgwin to pay up within six months or be sentenced to nine months in jail on top of her current term.
Chirgwin, 37, who ran the former Mel’s Brides store in Caernarfon, was found guilty of possessing drugs with intent to supply at Caernarfon Crown Court six months ago.
During the trial Mr Recorder Jeremy Jenkins ordered for a Proceeds of Crime Investigation to be carried out into Chirgwin’s affairs.
Melanie Jayne Chirgwin, of Rhosgadfan, Caernarfon, was jailed for possessing illegal drugs with intent to supply
Melanie Jayne Chirgwin, of Rhosgadfan, Caernarfon, was jailed for possessing illegal drugs with intent to supply
She was first arrested after police officers carried out a search of her vehicle in August 2015 after she was stopped on Penrallt, Caernarfon.
Officers found 120 ecstasy tablets with a street value of around £380, tucked under her belt and a small amount of cannabis.
A further search found several mobile phones and sim cards.
At the time of sentencing messages on Chirgwin phone suggested that she was making as much as £1,000 a week from selling narcotics.

She even boasted in one message saying ‘who says crime doesn’t pay’, although she claimed her phone had been hacked and she had not sent the messages.
http://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/drug-dealer-caernarfon-wedding-shop-12828485

Wrexham,North Wales - Binman pleads guilty to string of terror offences

Aabid Ali from Yale Park published videos on YouTube urging others to take up jihad and terrorism

A council binman has pleaded guilty to a string of terror offences.
Aabid Ali, also known as Darren Glennon before he converted to Islam, was found in possession of two terror manuals, one believed to be from Osama bin Laden's terror group al Qaeda.
Married Ali, 49, from Yale Park, Wrexham, also published a statement on YouTube encouraging others to take up jihad and terrorism.
He worked as a council refuse collector before he was raided by counter-terror police last autumn after he became radicalised.
Today he pleaded guilty at Manchester Crown Court to three offences under anti-terror legislation.
Council worker Aabid Ali being arrested at a house on Yale Park in Wrexham
Council worker Aabid Ali being arrested at a house on Yale Park in Wrexham
Ali, who has a shaved head, ginger beard and wearing a grey sweatshirt, appeared in court via a video link from HMP Chelmsford.
He will be sentenced on April 24 by the Honorary Recorder of Manchester Judge David Stockdale.
The defendant spoke only to confirm his name and enter his guilty pleas.
He admitted on October 25 last year he had an electronic document, Inspire 13 - believed to be an online publication by Osama bin Laden's terror group al Qaeda, which included instructions on how to make explosives.
Terror police at Yale Park in Wrexham
Terror police at Yale Park in Wrexham
Ali was also found to have a copy of another document, titled Palestine: Betrayal of a Guilty Conscience, which again showed how to make bombs.
Counter-terror police also found he had posted a comment on YouTube, on or before November 10 last year, intended to directly encourage others to commit, prepare or instigate acts of terrorism.
Reporting restrictions were lifted after Ali's guilty plea but the case was not opened by the prosecution and further details will be made public when he is sentenced next month.
Temporary Deputy Chief Constable Richard Debicki of North Wales Police said the force had strong links with the Muslim community who "worked with us to provide support to this investigation".
"Extremism and radicalisation is something that we continue to be constantly vigilant about. We also work hard to ensure that efforts to victimize or commit hate crime against Muslim communities across North Wales are met with a no tolerance approach. It is crucially important that this work continues.
"Nobody is better placed to detect something that is out of place in their communities than the people living in them. To effectively combat the terrorism threat the police, businesses, government and the general public need to work together."
Anyone with information is asked to call the anti-Terrorism hotline on 0800 789 321.
The public can also anonymously refer terrorist internet-based content to the Counter Terrorist Internet Referral Unit here
http://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/wrexham-binman-terror-offences-youtube-12828180

Thursday, March 30, 2017

Swansea,South Wales - Police investigating after 'children approached' by men in vehicles

But officers stress the reported incidents in two areas of Swansea are not linked

Police are investigating reports of a series of “suspicious incidents” in which children have been approached by men in vehicles in areas of Swansea, but stress they are not linked.
Reports have emerged on social media about the alleged incidents in the Penllergaer and Gorseinon areas in recent weeks and been shared thousands of times by concerned parents and residents.
The first incident was reported to have taken place in the Parc Penderri area on Thursday March 9 in which a Facebook user described her son being approached by a man in a black car.
The post added: “He stopped my son while walking back from [the] shop and asked if he wanted to get in the car and go and buy sweets.”
Officers are also looking into a second incident which reportedly took place on March 29 near Penllergaer Post Office but a similar report, which was claimed to have happened in the in the Garden Village area on March 13, has been dismissed as an “innocent misunderstanding”.
A spokesperson for South Wales Police said: “We can confirm that three suspicious incidents, in which children were approached by men in vehicles in the Penllergaer and Gorseinon areas, have been reported to us in recent weeks.
“One of the incidents, which occurred in the Garden Village area on March 13, was found to be an innocent misunderstanding.
“Officers are continuing to investigate two other incidents, which occurred at approximately 3.25pm on March 9th at Ffordd y Meillion, Penllergaer, and on March 29th near Penllergaer Post Office on Gorseinon Road.
“Local Policing Inspector for Gorseinon, Ralph Harris, said: “The public are understandably concerned about incidents of this nature but I want to reassure them that all of the reports are being thoroughly investigated.
“None of the incidents are being linked, and we have been able to confirm that the one in particular was an innocent misunderstanding.
“Enquiries in to the two remaining reports are continuing and I would appeal to anyone who witnesses anything suspicious or who believes they have information that could assist the investigation, to contact us via 101.”
http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/police-investigating-after-children-approached-12822076